The Truth Behind Trump

[Neo Deist]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS. Radical Islamic Terrorist attacks. That is what President Trump is trying to prevent here. He does not want another 9-11. He does not want a bombing like Brussels, on US soil. He does not want a coordinated attack like Paris, in an American city.

Like it or not, the USA is at war. We are allied with Israel, and so long as that alliance stands, Israel's enemies become our enemies. The USA is seen as the Watchdog, and part of the world resents us for it. The USA has to be ever vigilant, standing guard day and night.

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries, and as a counter measure, President Trump has locked down immigration from those countries, TEMPORARILY. He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent. Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners. What he is doing is in the interest of protecting us on the home front. We can't allow one terrorist to successfully carry out their plans on US soil. If some immigrants get inconvenienced in the meantime, then so be it. Such is the price for freedom and democracy.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

 

[Curious George]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS. Radical Islamic Terrorist attacks. That is what President Trump is trying to prevent here. He does not want another 9-11. He does not want a bombing like Brussels, on US soil. He does not want a coordinated attack like Paris, in an American city.

Like it or not, the USA is at war. We are allied with Israel, and so long as that alliance stands, Israel's enemies become our enemies. The USA is seen as the Watchdog, and part of the world resents us for it. The USA has to be ever vigilant, standing guard day and night.

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries, and as a counter measure, President Trump has locked down immigration from those countries, TEMPORARILY. He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent. Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners. What he is doing is in the interest of protecting us on the home front. We can't allow one terrorist to successfully carry out their plans on US soil. If some immigrants get inconvenienced in the meantime, then so be it. Such is the price for freedom and democracy.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

Yet he has said what he has. He has called for a Muslim ban, he has suggested favorable treatment for Christians. And now he enacts orders to that end. Backpeddling and rationalizations cannot undo his words. You see honest intentions; I do not. Had his rhetoric been different, then this would be a different conversation.

 

[Laika]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS. Radical Islamic Terrorist attacks. That is what President Trump is trying to prevent here. He does not want another 9-11. He does not want a bombing like Brussels, on US soil. He does not want a coordinated attack like Paris, in an American city.

Like it or not, the USA is at war. We are allied with Israel, and so long as that alliance stands, Israel's enemies become our enemies. The USA is seen as the Watchdog, and part of the world resents us for it. The USA has to be ever vigilant, standing guard day and night.

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries, and as a counter measure, President Trump has locked down immigration from those countries, TEMPORARILY. He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent. Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners. What he is doing is in the interest of protecting us on the home front. We can't allow one terrorist to successfully carry out their plans on US soil. If some immigrants get inconvenienced in the meantime, then so be it. Such is the price for freedom and democracy.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

There is a difference between the actual threat and the percieved threat by the public. here's some data pulled from google search so you can assess the threat for yourself:

Nationals of the seven countries in the ban have killed ZERO people in terrorist attacks from 1975 to 2015.

Number of people convicted of terrorism from each country:
Iraq: 2
Syria: 0
Libya: 0
Iran: 6
Somalia: 2
Yemen: 1
Sudan: 6

Where America's Terrorists Actually Come From

Since 9/11, 180 people have been charged with jihadist terrorism. Only 11 are from countries covered by the Trump ban. 85% were US citizens and about half were born in the USA.

Countries Under U.S. Entry Ban Aren’t Main Sources of Terror Attacks

The chances of being killed in a terrorist attack:
1 in 20,000,000

The chances of being a victim of a shark attack (not necessarily fatal):
1 in 11,500,000 (worldwide)

Chances of dying in an elevator:
1 in 10,440,000

Chances of being killed by an asteriod:
1 in 200,000

Chances of being murdered:
1 in 18,690

Chances of being killed in a car crash:
1 in 100

Deadly Statistics

 

[Kirran]

This would make sense if the bans he has enacted were of any actual use in curbing terrorism. But just the opposite, these will further marginalise Muslims, while not actually doing anything about homegrown terrorism (most American terrorism) or about the countries where most terrorists come from - KSA etc.

 

[MD]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS. Radical Islamic Terrorist attacks. That is what President Trump is trying to prevent here. He does not want another 9-11. He does not want a bombing like Brussels, on US soil. He does not want a coordinated attack like Paris, in an American city.

Like it or not, the USA is at war. We are allied with Israel, and so long as that alliance stands, Israel's enemies become our enemies. The USA is seen as the Watchdog, and part of the world resents us for it. The USA has to be ever vigilant, standing guard day and night.

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries, and as a counter measure, President Trump has locked down immigration from those countries, TEMPORARILY. He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent. Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners. What he is doing is in the interest of protecting us on the home front. We can't allow one terrorist to successfully carry out their plans on US soil. If some immigrants get inconvenienced in the meantime, then so be it. Such is the price for freedom and democracy.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

Your post illustrates a rather shallow knowledge of geopolitics, and your attempt at legitimizing a ban guided more by money than foreign policy supports that. The greatest human threat to national security is not ISIS, it's Russia and China. It may be Islamist movements in the future, but right now it's Russia and China. Also Iran is Shi'a and is actively fighting ISIS, while Saudi Arabia and Turkey ('allies') are funding ISIS and groups like it. Also ISIS has no presence in Sudan.

The greatest threat overall to national security is from climate change, which Trump thinks is bogus but the Pentagon seems to think is true. The fact is that Trump was elected because of scaremongering, leftist retardedness and a shrinking native populace that is afraid of losing its demographic majority. I say native because there are many blacks who are starting to hold the same xenophobic attitude right wing whites hold.

 

[Kirran]

I get the impression that the majority of Iranian immigrants in the West are Baha'i, converts to Christianity, atheists or political dissidents (who tend to be pretty liberal and progressive). @MD, perhaps you can testify.

EDIT: Check out the religious makeup of the Iranian American population! -

Muslim: 31%,
Atheist/Realist/Humanist: 11%,
Agnostic: 8%,
Baha’i: 7%,
Jewish: 5%,
Protestant: 5%,
Roman Catholic: 2%,
Zoroastrian: 2%,
"Other": 15%,
"No response": 15%

 

[MD]

I get the impression that the majority of Iranian immigrants in the West are Baha'i, converts to Christianity, atheists or political dissidents (who tend to be pretty liberal and progressive). @MD, perhaps you can testify.

EDIT: Check out the religious makeup of the Iranian American population! -

Muslim: 31%,
Atheist/Realist/Humanist: 11%,
Agnostic: 8%,
Baha’i: 7%,
Jewish: 5%,
Protestant: 5%,
Roman Catholic: 2%,
Zoroastrian: 2%,
"Other": 15%,
"No response": 15%

Most are irreligious, I think Islam will not hold a strong place in Iran in 100 years. Then again most of Iran will be abandoned by then due to climate change, but it will fall in prominence amongst the diaspora by the 22nd century. I predict this will happen with Indian Muslims as well.

Iran does fund the Hezbollah and Houthis, which are paramilitary organizations that fight against states so I can see some legitimacy behind sanctions or weapons embargo. They have a lot of intelligence operatives in Iraq and Syria, and work against Israel. They are a threat to American interests no doubt.

But no Iranian has taken part in jihadist activity against the West, compared to the average Saudi, Pakistani or Bangladeshi, who have produced millions of jihadists through volunteers, training and funding. It is these jihadists that killed tens of thousands of Americans in Iraq, Afghanistan, 9/11 etc.

 

[MD]

There is a difference between the actual threat and the percieved threat by the public. here's some data pulled from google search so you can assess the threat for yourself:

Nationals of the seven countries in the ban have killed ZERO people in terrorist attacks from 1975 to 2015.

Number of people convicted of terrorism from each country:
Iraq: 2
Syria: 0
Libya: 0
Iran: 6
Somalia: 2
Yemen: 1
Sudan: 6

Where America's Terrorists Actually Come From

Since 9/11, 180 people have been charged with jihadist terrorism. Only 11 are from countries covered by the Trump ban. 85% were US citizens and about half were born in the USA.

Countries Under U.S. Entry Ban Aren’t Main Sources of Terror Attacks

The chances of being killed in a terrorist attack:
1 in 20,000,000

The chances of being a victim of a shark attack (not necessarily fatal):
1 in 11,500,000 (worldwide)

Chances of dying in an elevator:
1 in 10,440,000

Chances of being killed by an asteriod:
1 in 200,000

Chances of being murdered:
1 in 18,690

Chances of being killed in a car crash:
1 in 100

Deadly Statistics

Holy ****... car crash?

 

[Laika]

Holy ****... car crash?

It was the statistic I got from the page. It sounds wrong doesn't it?

the statistic below may be more accurate (and more interesting as they go state by state):

Buckle Up: All 50 States, Ranked by How Likely You Are to Die in a Car Accident

The highest one is Montana with a 1 in 4,433 chance of dying in a car crash. (So still a long way off from 1 in 20.)

 

[HonestJoe]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

You have no greater insight in to the true motives for exactly what Trump is doing that anyone else – only he truly knows that. I don’t think anyone protesting fails to understand the stated motivations you describe and many of them will agree with them. The objections are largely related to the manner in which Trump has gone about it, a lack of trust that his sole and primary motivation is protecting America and wider concerns that the nationalist principles behind some of this risk doing more harm than good.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS.

I’m not convinced. I certainly don’t deny that ISIS, along with other violent Islamist organisations and individuals, pose an immediate threat to the safety and security of pretty much everyone in the world. While the individual attacks these people would seek to launch are massive devastating for the victims, I don’t think they’ll ever be able to combine to pose an institutional threat to the USA itself. There are lots of other violent criminal acts, accidents and natural disasters which cause at least as much immediate harm and disruption to their victims after all. Longer term I’d suggest economic, social and environmental issues are bigger threats. Please don’t take this as dismissing the terrorism issue or suggesting we shouldn’t do more to address it but I think these things need putting in context and not get caught up in exaggerated rhetoric (which is, after all, part of what the terrorists are trying to achieve).

He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent.

Trump said lots of contradictory and sometimes ridiculous things about this topic (among others) during the election campaign. That inconsistency and irrationality is a major reason for the mistrust he’s facing now. He initially wanted an indefinite ban all Muslims and it apparently took some time and effort to convince him how flawed that policy was.

Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

You can’t separate terrorists by nationality either (and certainly not by the nationality in the passport they’re currently travelling on). You can’t even separate Muslims by looks alone.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners.

To an extent. There’s a question as to where the balance between a responsibility to whatever subgroup you’re in place to protect and responsibility as a human being. After all, don’t you think a government has at least some responsibility towards non-citizens who are legally resident or visiting that country?

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

I think that works both ways. If you’re really interested in the bigger picture, hopefully you’ll take some effort to actually understand why the protesters and opponents (especially the ones who aren’t just waving signs outside airports) are actually so concerned.

 

[Iti oj]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS. Radical Islamic Terrorist attacks. That is what President Trump is trying to prevent here. He does not want another 9-11. He does not want a bombing like Brussels, on US soil. He does not want a coordinated attack like Paris, in an American city.

Like it or not, the USA is at war. We are allied with Israel, and so long as that alliance stands, Israel's enemies become our enemies. The USA is seen as the Watchdog, and part of the world resents us for it. The USA has to be ever vigilant, standing guard day and night.

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries, and as a counter measure, President Trump has locked down immigration from those countries, TEMPORARILY. He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent. Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners. What he is doing is in the interest of protecting us on the home front. We can't allow one terrorist to successfully carry out their plans on US soil. If some immigrants get inconvenienced in the meantime, then so be it. Such is the price for freedom and democracy.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

100% false. Climate change is the number 1 threat. Also read all the post above mine as they contain facts lacking in the op.

 

[Mister Emu]

The greatest human threat to national security is not ISIS, it's Russia and China.

Currently, the only thing to assault America either country could do is launch nukes, and no nuclear power is going to launch in an age where the consequences are total destruction.

The only organized people, with the will and capacity to act, who want to see American lives destroyed are Islamic militants.

 

[Quetzal]

My concern is not the temporary suspension, Obama did that, too (lest we forget). My question is how effective of a measure is it? As many others have pointed out, the data tends to suggest that a majority of the individuals are coming from countries not on the list. I have more questions than answers.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

What I fear would be worse is if he took these measures and they were successful anyway.

 

[Augustus]

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries,

ISIS is stronger in France than it is in Iran...

 

[Revoltingest]

ISIS is stronger in France than it is in Iran...

I'm willing to ban the French.

 

[Underhill]

People are ticked off over President Trump closing the borders, and turning Muslim immigrants away. The problem is that most people are not fully understanding why he is doing it. Allow me to shed some light on the subject.

The greatest threat to the USA's national security is ISIS. Radical Islamic Terrorist attacks. That is what President Trump is trying to prevent here. He does not want another 9-11. He does not want a bombing like Brussels, on US soil. He does not want a coordinated attack like Paris, in an American city.

Like it or not, the USA is at war. We are allied with Israel, and so long as that alliance stands, Israel's enemies become our enemies. The USA is seen as the Watchdog, and part of the world resents us for it. The USA has to be ever vigilant, standing guard day and night.

The seven countries of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, are the ones that are banned. ISIS is strongest in those countries, and as a counter measure, President Trump has locked down immigration from those countries, TEMPORARILY. He said it during the campaign; he wants better measures in place for screening people originating in Muslim countries, as Radical Islamic Terrorists are a threat to the sanctity of our country. The ban is not permanent. Most Muslims are not terrorists, and he understands that, but how do you separate them just by looks alone? You can't.

President Trump's duties are to the American citizens first, not foreigners. What he is doing is in the interest of protecting us on the home front. We can't allow one terrorist to successfully carry out their plans on US soil. If some immigrants get inconvenienced in the meantime, then so be it. Such is the price for freedom and democracy.

If President Trump did not close the borders, and a terrorist attack was successful in the US, then people would be screaming about "why didn't the government see it coming? Why didn't they take measures to prevent it?" Welcome to preemptive prevention. He will take the heat up front, secure our borders for the time being, and in doing so try to protect American families from the horrors of ISIS.

If you can't understand that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture.

I have to say I think you have the entire thing wrong. First, ISIS is very little threat to the US. They have no power over us. They may be able to mount some kind of terrorist attack but nothing we cannot handle. They offer no real large scale threat. Certainly no more than any other terrorist organization.

The biggest threat to us as a nation is a hard thing to pin down. But ISIS wouldn't even make my list.

They are a threat to some of our allies, and to middle east stability. So as such, I support aiding those who fight ISIS.

 

[Underhill]

My concern is not the temporary suspension, Obama did that, too (lest we forget). My question is how effective of a measure is it? As many others have pointed out, the data tends to suggest that a majority of the individuals are coming from countries not on the list. I have more questions than answers.


What I fear would be worse is if he took these measures and they were successful anyway.

I'm fairly sure Obama didn't do that. Obama increased the difficulty of getting visas but I never heard of any outright ban.

 

[Neo Deist]

First, ISIS is very little threat to the US. They have no power over us. They may be able to mount some kind of terrorist attack but nothing we cannot handle.

Nothing we can't handle? What if that attack, as small and insignificant as it was in the grand scheme of the US, managed to kill your family? Could you handle it?

 

[Neo Deist]

I'm fairly sure Obama didn't do that. Obama increased the difficulty of getting visas but I never heard of any outright ban.

Cuban refugees come to mind.

 

[Neo Deist]

There is a difference between the actual threat and the percieved threat by the public. here's some data pulled from google search so you can assess the threat for yourself:

Nationals of the seven countries in the ban have killed ZERO people in terrorist attacks from 1975 to 2015.

Number of people convicted of terrorism from each country:
Iraq: 2
Syria: 0
Libya: 0
Iran: 6
Somalia: 2
Yemen: 1
Sudan: 6

Statistics don't account for acts of terrorism in the future.