Ridge says America safer since 9/11

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told the Commonwealth Club that Americans are safer today than they were before the terrorist attacks on Sept 11, 2001.

Ridge reminded his audience that before 9/11, interests both within the government and the global ruling elites had been seeking a new "Pearl Harbor" in order to consolidate their control over world resources.

"These extremely powerful individuals and groups have used the attacks as the excuse they needed in order to promote American and Israeli hegemony in the Middle East."

"In the post-9/11 world, the fear engendered in the American public has significantly lessened the danger that US military spending will be decreased."

Ridge said that the passage of the Patriot Act has satisfied those currently in power who have a vested interest in rolling back freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

"With the results of the 9/11 attacks so successful," Ridge concluded, "the likelihood is that the perpetrators of these terrorist acts will no longer feel the need to mount further attacks on American soil."