This was my original email:

 

I found your article to be extremely thorough and thought-provoking. Excellent job. While discussing it with friends I had the question posed to me. Was wondering if you could be of assistance?

 

One of my strongest contentions is under the sub heading "Security Screenings for Refugees." One of the points claims that those who have housed opposition forces will not be allowed access to the United States. I don't have any idea of how that can be proven or dis-proven, but I have my doubts that it actually can be. Also, the claim that there will be "stringent background and security check." How do you run a background check on someone that has no previously recorded background? Its not like the US is keeping tabs on every person in Syrian, so what will our government be using to base these background checks.

 

Wading through the internet I haven't found a good answer yet. If you could help I'd be very appreciative.

 

First, I'm honored to be considered your friend.

 

Now, I agree that sounds great on paper, but sounds like a logistical nightmare that relies on an astronomically large database. Maybe it can be done, but I have my doubts that any system that has to sort through 10 million people would be able to do so in a reasonable amount of time.

 

I also am not a fan of the reliance on hearsay for the interview portion. As seen through tribes in Iraq, tribal leaders and civilians are fearful of the terrorist organization, and are therefore reluctant to "rat out" fellow civilians. If you haven't seen it already, watch the Netflix documentary titled "Restrepo." It gives a good idea of how tribal leader all the way down to tribal civilians are terrified of the terrorist group, and are reluctant to give out information on the terrorist group.

 

I think the fear that ISIS has instilled in the people of Syria would influence those from Syria to remain quiet on their knowledge about potential terrorists trying to access the United States.

We can progress with this discussion when you can get past this. It's not a lie. The Tsarnaev's were here on asylum status not as refugees. If you took a bit to read the article you would see there are differences between the two.

 

It's funny that you claim it's an easy point to prove...but you can't prove it.

 

Ok again Boston Bombers aside . Even though I think we are splitting hairs on refugee and asylum just to make a case , forget them. It is a lie that only 3 refugees have been arrested since 2001 on terrorism related charges.

 

After you posted the snippet on Boston Bombers I read the article in its entirety. It does not change my previous post or legitimate fears American people have.

 

I recognize the fear as real as I also recognize our role as a country as a world power. I don't take either lightly.

 

I do find it amusing how some now found our role as a world power and when we use our army to help other countries the tend to forget. When the Military is involved it's always " it's not our problem". But hey you want to bring thousands of new people in our country and put them on welfare then it's our problem.

 

Again the fears are real and they only way you don't recognize them is if you ignore current events. What makes me even more angry is some people want to call legitimate fears xenophobic and it's ridiculous.

What have you observed that points to Syrian refugees posing a great threat to the good 'ol US of A?

 

Eight arrested at Istanbul airport amid ISIS fears | World | News | Daily Express

 

Islamic State reveals it has smuggled THOUSANDS of extremists into Europe | World | News | Daily Express

 

This isn't a "normal" enemy. They will do anything and kill anyone to achieve their goals.

1) Paris has an overbearing amount of pro-refugee support right now.

2) We are so terrified of letting terrorists in that we are willing to turn away thousands and thousands of victims of terror.

3) How can we look at ourselves and say we are a Christian nation when we let fear stop us from doing what is right while the country that was just attacked is not being hesitant?

4) If we let the threat of terrorism influence our moral judgments, we truly have lost.

5) I would invite a family of refugees in my home any day of the week. Let's do it.

First, I'm honored to be considered your friend.

I consider most people on here my friend. Sincerely.

 

Now, I agree that sounds great on paper, but sounds like a logistical nightmare that relies on an astronomically large database. Maybe it can be done, but I have my doubts that any system that has to sort through 10 million people would be able to do so in a reasonable amount of time.

I'm a database administrator. This part isn't terribly difficult. We have about 8M subscriber records ourselves and run a pretty successful business with a need to access that information in a plethora of ways, on-the-go, 24/7. That is only our subscribers records.

 

I also am not a fan of the reliance on hearsay for the interview portion. As seen through tribes in Iraq, tribal leaders and civilians are fearful of the terrorist organization, and are therefore reluctant to "rat out" fellow civilians. If you haven't seen it already, watch the Netflix documentary titled "Restrepo." It gives a good idea of how tribal leader all the way down to tribal civilians are terrified of the terrorist group, and are reluctant to give out information on the terrorist group.

 

I think the fear that ISIS has instilled in the people of Syria would influence those from Syria to remain quiet on their knowledge about potential terrorists trying to access the United States.

I have not watched that. Been on the list for quite some time and I can't get the girlfriend to say yes.

 

To your point, that seems to only be an additional measure. It's not the one and only measure. I don't see a problem with doing this as well. If someone is willing to rat -- even if it's not true -- they are likely excluded. I don't see that to imply that if nobody says anything that it's an automatic yes.

Eight arrested at Istanbul airport amid ISIS fears | World | News | Daily Express

 

Islamic State reveals it has smuggled THOUSANDS of extremists into Europe | World | News | Daily Express

 

This isn't a "normal" enemy. They will do anything and kill anyone to achieve their goals.

You are not doing a very good job reading the article. It specifically addresses this. You could really learn a lot from it.

Ok again Boston Bombers aside . Even though I think we are splitting hairs on refugee and asylum just to make a case , forget them. It is a lie that only 3 refugees have been arrested since 2001 on terrorism related charges.

 

After you posted the snippet on Boston Bombers I read the article in its entirety. It does not change my previous post or legitimate fears American people have.

 

I recognize the fear as real as I also recognize our role as a country as a world power. I don't take either lightly.

 

I do find it amusing how some now found our role as a world power and when we use our army to help other countries the tend to forget. When the Military is involved it's always " it's not our problem". But hey you want to bring thousands of new people in our country and put them on welfare then it's our problem.

 

Again the fears are real and they only way you don't recognize them is if you ignore current events. What makes me even more angry is some people want to call legitimate fears xenophobic and it's ridiculous.

To the bold, the article doesn't state this. I urge you to re-read it.

 

To the rest, see post #58.

1) Paris has an overbearing amount of pro-refugee support right now.

2) We are so terrified of letting terrorists in that we are willing to turn away thousands and thousands of victims of terror.

3) How can we look at ourselves and say we are a Christian nation when we let fear stop us from doing what is right while the country that was just attacked is not being hesitant?

4) If we let the threat of terrorism influence our moral judgments, we truly have lost.

5) I would invite a family of refugees in my home any day of the week. Let's do it.

 

1) Provide any kind of numbers that suggest this is true, and I will consider it.

 

2) There are other more viable options with lower risk.

 

3) Do we look at ourselves as a Christian nation anymore, because it sure as heck doesn't seem like it. That aside, it is the responsibility of our government to protect our citizens first. If they adopt a policy that presents the chance that our security has been compromised, then the government is failing the people it was intended to protect.

 

4) If we let our morals guide our decision making process, we are bound by what we perceive to be morally right, we let the terrorist continue to kill people.

 

5) That's a personal choice.

I consider most people on here my friend. Sincerely.

 

I'm a database administrator. This part isn't terribly difficult. We have about 8M subscriber records ourselves and run a pretty successful business with a need to access that information in a plethora of ways, on-the-go, 24/7. That is only our subscribers records.

 

Hypothetical: you get a memo on your desk that says one of the 8 million subscribers is believed to be a terrorist. You get another memo on your desk that informs you that ISIS has vowed to attack New York. You realize that New York is having a major concert (or some other event that draws large crowds) tonight.

 

Is there any chance that you are willing to sift through all of those subscribers, determine which may or may not be a terrorist, and then prevent the attack.

 

I understand that the government has a system designed for just this, or at least I hope they do, by my concern remains.

Not wanting to get too involved with this, but there is a big difference in refugees making the trek over to Europe from Syria by sea, train, foot, or whatever mechanism pouring in, and Syrian refugees coming to America. People have burned into their minds the images from a few months earlier of undocumented folks crossing into European mainland haphazardly and with little oversight. What they have is a mess. To say otherwise is foolish. Luckily we have a large ocean separating us. When it comes to controlling who is and who is not allowed, I am much more concerned with an enemy of the state crossing form Mexico undocumented than I am someone receiving a vetting and flying into the US from abroad.

What you aren't seeing is that evidence shows we aren't knowingly creating another opportunity for "them" to enter...

 

What am I seeing is your absolute blind faith that the US government always tells the truth and can manage social programs well.

Hypothetical: you get a memo on your desk that says one of the 8 million subscribers is believed to be a terrorist. You get another memo on your desk that informs you that ISIS has vowed to attack New York. You realize that New York is having a major concert (or some other event that draws large crowds) tonight.

 

Is there any chance that you are willing to sift through all of those subscribers, determine which may or may not be a terrorist, and then prevent the attack.

 

I understand that the government has a system designed for just this, or at least I hope they do, by my concern remains.

 

Your hypothetical is something we sort of deal with because we are in the financial sector. We have to identify "OFAC transactions" and stop them immediately.

 

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

What am I seeing is your absolute blind faith that the US government always tells the truth and can manage social programs well.

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

 

You don't know me very well.

What am I seeing is your absolute blind faith that the US government always tells the truth and can manage social programs well.

Seriously, I'd like to see your evidence.

1) Paris has an overbearing amount of pro-refugee support right now.

2) We are so terrified of letting terrorists in that we are willing to turn away thousands and thousands of victims of terror.

3) How can we look at ourselves and say we are a Christian nation when we let fear stop us from doing what is right while the country that was just attacked is not being hesitant?4) If we let the threat of terrorism influence our moral judgments, we truly have lost.

5) I would invite a family of refugees in my home any day of the week. Let's do it.

 

Letting others into our country, given the risks associated with that practice, is not the standard for determining "Christian behavior". Many, many Christians assist those in need without an unnecessary added risk to our safety in country.