To the Point

How Much Is Too Much in War on Terror, Homeland Security?

President Bush today thanked the Marines at Camp Pendleton, California for helping to fight what he calls "the war on terror." Although terrorists killed 3000 Americans in 2001, about the same number that died from drowning. In the meantime, the "war on terror" has consumed massive resources, while heart disease has killed 700,000 a year, cancer a half million, and accidents 100,000 more. Does the threat of terrorism justify the battle against it? Is the money being spent in the right way? Are Americans worried about the wrong things? We explore America's culture of fear with sociologists and experts in homeland security, including a former advisor to President Bush. Making News: Hamid Karzai Sworn in as President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai was sworn in today as Afghanistan's first elected president. Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld were in the audience, surrounded by massive security. Karzai wore his traditional green robe and black lambskin hat. Victoria Burnett is in Kabul for the Financial Times. Reporter's Notebook: Controlling Computers by Thinking about Them Because of disease or injury, more than a half-million people are paralyzed, unable to control muscles that would allow them to activate machines to improve their lives. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports that scientists at New York's Department of Health and State University have developed a means to control computers that can operate wheelchairs and robotic arms just by thinking about it. Robert Lee Hotz wrote the story.