"The vast majority of attention-focusing would serve a much better purpose at the country's air and sea ports, border crossings, etc."

I agree, Jim, but those points are so far reaching and the variety of threats so great they defy the word "focus". We've been so successful with illegal immigration and drug smuggling through the years, after all.

Besides, whats to keep us safe from the garden variety domestic terrorist or a foreign one that's already here? Al Qaeda isn't producing well trained new ones, but who knows who might be living next to you.