# The terrorirsts only have to be right once **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120 "2006-05-25T01:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jebus\_H.Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/1 "2006-05-25T01:49:51Z")
I am so sick of this stupid idea. As if the terrorists being right once means they win. Let’s imagine a worst case scenario; terrorists sneak a nuclear bomb into New York or DC (or both) and explode it. Have the terrorist won? Is America now doomed? The answer to both is of course not. Sure it would suck if the terrorists when the terrorist are right once (and we already seen them be right more than once), but in no way no they only need to be right once. They need to be right over and over again. Hell, if any side can be hurt by the other side being right once, it is the terrorists. One well placed attack by the United States can damage al Qaeda in a way al Qaeda could never hurt the US with a single attack. We have lots of cities, lots of military bases, lots of people, and lots of other things. It will take more than the terrorists being right once to bring that down. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/2 "2006-05-25T02:44:21Z")
May I ask what set this rant off? Who’s claiming the terrorists only have to be right once? In what context? “Right” meaning they succeed in carrying out another attack in the United States? Not being snarky, I’m genuinely confused about the precise target you’re aiming for. ---
**Author:** ![Jebus\_H.Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/3 "2006-05-25T02:55:31Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > May I ask what set this rant off? Who’s claiming the terrorists only have to be right once? In what context? “Right” meaning they succeed in carrying out another attack in the United States? > > Not being snarky, I’m genuinely confused about the precise target you’re aiming for. Sec. of State Rice said it again on an interview on FoxNews tonight. I’ll see if I can find a copy. ---
**Author:** ![Jebus\_H.Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/4 "2006-05-25T03:02:53Z")
Can’t find the interview from today: > [@](#): > > But the terrorists only have to be right once. We have to be right 100 percent of the time. And that’s why we have to fight the war on terrorism, not just this defensive war but also on the offense. [http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/56888.htm](http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/56888.htm) > [@](#): > > Because the truth of the matter is that as much as we are trying to defend the homeland, the terrorists only have to be right once. We have to be right 100 percent of the time. And so we’re fighting this war. We’re being effective. But it is going to take some time. [http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/45281.htm](http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/45281.htm) > [@](#): > > The hard thing about terrorism is that they only have to be right once, and we have to be right 100 percent of the time. And nobody can be certain that there won’t be another attack. But, of course, we are concerned about the election cycle. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117427,00.html](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117427,00.html) In some contexts she will say the terrorists only have to be right once to suceed in an attack. But usually it is this naked statement that the terrorists only need to be right once. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/5 "2006-05-25T04:24:33Z")
Yeah, the sentiment the OP is talking about usually uses the word “succeed” or “get lucky.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/6 "2006-05-25T04:35:04Z")
She’s not saying America will collapse, she’s just stating the obvious - that for America to get the outcome it wants (no terrorist attacks), they have to stop every attempt. For terrorists to get what they want (damage and dead Americans), they only have to succeed on one attempt. Rice’s statement is almost surely a paraphrase of a famous remark made by the IRA to the British government after a failed bombing attempt in 1984: “Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You have to be lucky always.” So what’s the problem here? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/7 "2006-05-25T04:37:26Z")
Here’s Bush giving a pretty standard version of the phrase: > [@](#): > > July, 2004 > “Terrorists only need to be right once; we need to be right every single time”. [President Bush Discusses Progress in Homeland Security](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040722-12.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jebus\_H.Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/8 "2006-05-25T05:00:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > For terrorists to get what they want (damage and dead Americans), they only have to succeed on one attempt. " > > So what’s the problem here? The problem is that is not what the terrorists want. They want the destruction of America. Or at least a serious change in America’s foreign policy. Damage and dead Americans are jsut a means to what they want. And it will take a lot more than one success to get this. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/9 "2006-05-25T05:08:33Z")
> [@Jebus H. Christ](#): > > Damage and dead Americans are jsut a means to what they want. And it will take a lot more than one success to get this. So they have to kill Americans to get what they want, yes? If you weren’t clear about what Rice meant when you started this thread, I think you should be at this point. This still doesn’t seem Pit-worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Jebus\_H.Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/10 "2006-05-25T05:14:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > So they have to kill Americans to get what they want, yes? No the don’t have to kill Americas to get what they want. That is the method they are using now, but I am sure al Qaeda would stop all attacks if every American agreed to become a Muslim and live under al Qaeda’s interpretation of Islam. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/11 "2006-05-25T05:18:12Z")
9/11 caused the shut down of air traffic in the United States, seriously damaged the economy, killed 3,000 people and is still having effects on the nation 5 years after the event. A nuclear bomb in DC or NYC would obviously have far worse consequences. End of the United States would be a stretch but I’d have to say it would be a victory for the terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/12 "2006-05-25T05:23:15Z")
> [@The Long Road](#): > > 9/11 caused the shut down of air traffic in the United States, seriously damaged the economy, killed 3,000 people and is still having effects on the nation 5 years after the event. A nuclear bomb in DC or NYC would obviously have far worse consequences. End of the United States would be a stretch but I’d have to say it would be a victory for the terrorists. Ya think? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/13 "2006-05-25T05:25:29Z")
> [@Jebus H. Christ](#): > > No the don’t have to kill Americas to get what they want. That is the method they are using now, but I am sure al Qaeda would stop all attacks if every American agreed to become a Muslim and live under al Qaeda’s interpretation of Islam. And if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle. 😛 But that’s my problem. They do have to kill Americans to get what they want because that shit _isn’t going to happen_, so why are you even bringing it up? If America was a Muslim nation and had troops in the Middle East, AQ would indeed still have a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/14 "2006-05-25T05:25:49Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Ya think? Yeppers, sure do, even if Jebus doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/15 "2006-05-25T06:37:52Z")
> [@The Long Road](#): > > Yeppers, sure do, even if Jebus doesn’t. I’m sitting outside when :smack:, it hits me that I’m using different wording than the OP . I’m talking total victory here, not as in a single battle. Hitting DC or NYC with a nuke would be about as total a victory as a terrorist organization could hope to achieve against the US outside of some form of biological warfare incident. So they win, we lose. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/16 "2006-05-25T06:48:12Z")
I agree with the OP. Taking out one city won’t destroy a country. Even a good attack on multiple cities won’t. Countries much smaller than us have had most of their urban centers destroyed, but continue to survive with strong spirits. There is only so much damage a terrorist can do. That’s why they are called “terrorists”- because their trade is fear. The people that can destroy countries are called “militaries”. Sure, 9/11 was spectacular. But it was a handful of buildings. Hurricane Katrina was more damaging by the numbers. Hell, we already know what happens when one of our cities gets destroyed. It sucks, but life and America go on. Theres not much to actually _do_ with this knowledge. It’s still just as prudent to try to stop terrorism. But perspective never hurt anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/17 "2006-05-25T10:05:56Z")
I genrally oppose zero tolerance, but as it applies to nuclear terrorism I think it’s a pretty good policy. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/18 "2006-05-25T12:17:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Hell, if any side can be hurt by the other side being right once, it is the terrorists. One well placed attack by the United States can damage al Qaeda in a way al Qaeda could never hurt the US with a single attack. So why the blue blazes hasn’t the US done so? I personally think that at some point, the terrorists will detonate a nuclear device in the US and/or Israel. It will have great economic impact but will not destroy either country. I’m much more worried about Bush destroying our freedoms than terrorists doing the same. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/19 "2006-05-25T12:50:39Z")
> [@](#): > > The problem is that is not what the terrorists want. They want the destruction of America. Or at least a serious change in America’s foreign policy. What the terrorists want is irrelavant, they ain’t getting it. They at best can kill a few of us here and there. It is their only realistic goal, so yes they only need to be ‘lucky’ once, but for every time they are ‘lucky’ they loose a country or 2. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120/20 "2006-05-25T13:07:47Z")
Are we just counting bodies? Cause I’d have to think that a nuclear attack on one of our major cities – heck anywhere in the US for that matter – would cause nearly as many casualities among terrorists and terrorist sympathizers as it would amongst Americans. The details of the mechanism of this is left up to the imagination of the reader. However, in doing so America would doubtless create more terrorist sympathizers, but the question is – how many? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-terrorirsts-only-have-to-be-right-once/358120.md?page=2)