How does america protect itself now from 911 happening?

Seriously? Have you even tried to get on an airplane lately? You do know there are armed air marshalls on every plane and the cockpit is locked down like Fort Knox right?

Homeland Security has authorized all airports to use metal detectors to scan passengers and luggage to prevent weapons from being carried aboard domestic and international flights. Liquids that could be used to ignite combustion aboard a plane are prohibited in excess of 2 ounces in any one container and carry on baggage is openly searched and scrutinized to assure that these standards are being adhered to. That is why one must arrive one hour ahead of scheduled domestic flights and two hours ahead of international flights in order to complete check-in at the boarding gate. Announcements are repeatedly made in the airport for travelers to watch and do not become separated from their bags and proper picture/address identification is required to purchase airline tickets in person. This is done with consistency, although many air travelers do not like the inconvenience, it is still done. Better to be safe than sorry/dead.

By having dudes beep their metal detectors in between my legs for unnecessarily long periods of time, before using their hands to feel me down from head to toe and cupping my crotch while others watch and whisper to each other "Look, I bet that guy has a gun or something."

And saying "We can't let you pick up that minor because you weren't the one who was supposed to come get him. Even though we got a phone call from the person who was supposed to come pick him up saying you had to do it because of last-minute complications and that you are the birth parent of that minor, we have to take precautions in case you are a child rapist. Go wait over there for four hours until the actual parent of that child arrives and stop lying about being the actual father of this child because you're what, sixteen? Go back to prison, you psychopathic molester."

All of the above, plus the terrorists' knowledge that we will blow the **** out of any country that does something that stupid to us again, as well as at least 1 other country that had nothing to do with the attack, but is a potential ally of the terrorist group.

By not letting the government blow up buildings and blaming it on middle eastern nations in order to start a war, just because FOX news feels you so...

By treating everyone, even its honest citizens, as potential criminals and terrorists.

No system is perfect therefore you can never fully protect yourself.

with security

fact: gays are NEVER terrorists.