World trade center attacked
There is a video of the second plane from the other side of the building. That is what is disturbing. You can see the plane slice through the heart of the building and even appear to come out of the other side.
I am amazed that either building stood as long as it did.
I am amazed that either building stood as long as it did.
article on ABC on why the towers collapsed
http://www.abcnews.com/sections/scitech/Da...ture010911.html
http://www.abcnews.com/sections/scitech/Da...ture010911.html
I too offer my condolences to all involved and enjoin you to pray to whatever diety you hold sacred. I also encourage you, as others have, to continue on with your daily lives as best possible. Deny the terrorists the objective of their actions.
I was on my way to teach a class this morning when I heard the news. Just got home and have been watching the film and listening to the radio. I cannot express my grief at this tragedy any better than all the rest of you have. I can only hope that the people I know that work in the area are o.k.
In terms of retaliation, I'm afraid we are being pushed in a direction which, in the past, I have never condoned. I have never supported assassination, or the use of heavy weapons with high collateral damage to civilians in a surgical strike. That meant that the occasional act of terrorism killed people here and there, but in some ways, I have felt that the price of our freedom has always been paid in the blood of the innocent, and that is not a phrase that I coined. And the desire for a fair and democratic nation has always meant, to me, that we had to operate on a higher level. Where terrorists sneak attack, kill and hide, we had to find, arrest and try. To do any less diminished us
However, today the line has been crossed. The purpose of terrorism is to disrupt a society, to alter behavior, to create widespread fear. If we allow that to happen, then the terrorist has succeeded. To a lesser extent, the perpetrators of terrorist acts dare those more "civilized" entities to retaliate in kind. In the case of the U.S. and our democracy, terrorists know that such a response in disfavorable, disliked and difficult to sanction. In a way, they use our civility against us.
Its a fine balance we must keep, but there comes a time when the price is too high. When the very fabric of our society is torn asunder, when our way of life is so seriously threatened - and make no mistake, it has been - then we must unsheath the double edged sword of vengenance. It must be swift, and it must be complete. The diminishment we will suffer by undertaking such actions has been outweighed by the human price extracted by these murderers. Unfortunately, more innocents will die and more hatred will be unleashed, but we have been left no choice in my opinion. Those who feel that their god sanctions the death of innocents through cowardly attacks must be dealt with. You cannot negotiate with a rabid dog, you cannot heal him. You can only kill him. I regret that I must condone such actions, for the death of one innocent does not make the death of others fair or desirable. But we must undertake a painful mission to make the price of terrorism much higher than it is now. Rescind the executive order against assassination, demand the surrender of known terrorists and when they don't comply, and we know they won't, kill each and every last one of them, and pray for the souls of the innocents that suffer with them.
Note that I have not pointed the finger at any particular individual or group. I pray that this was not a domestic act. But all terrorists must be stopped.
UL
I was on my way to teach a class this morning when I heard the news. Just got home and have been watching the film and listening to the radio. I cannot express my grief at this tragedy any better than all the rest of you have. I can only hope that the people I know that work in the area are o.k.
In terms of retaliation, I'm afraid we are being pushed in a direction which, in the past, I have never condoned. I have never supported assassination, or the use of heavy weapons with high collateral damage to civilians in a surgical strike. That meant that the occasional act of terrorism killed people here and there, but in some ways, I have felt that the price of our freedom has always been paid in the blood of the innocent, and that is not a phrase that I coined. And the desire for a fair and democratic nation has always meant, to me, that we had to operate on a higher level. Where terrorists sneak attack, kill and hide, we had to find, arrest and try. To do any less diminished us
However, today the line has been crossed. The purpose of terrorism is to disrupt a society, to alter behavior, to create widespread fear. If we allow that to happen, then the terrorist has succeeded. To a lesser extent, the perpetrators of terrorist acts dare those more "civilized" entities to retaliate in kind. In the case of the U.S. and our democracy, terrorists know that such a response in disfavorable, disliked and difficult to sanction. In a way, they use our civility against us.
Its a fine balance we must keep, but there comes a time when the price is too high. When the very fabric of our society is torn asunder, when our way of life is so seriously threatened - and make no mistake, it has been - then we must unsheath the double edged sword of vengenance. It must be swift, and it must be complete. The diminishment we will suffer by undertaking such actions has been outweighed by the human price extracted by these murderers. Unfortunately, more innocents will die and more hatred will be unleashed, but we have been left no choice in my opinion. Those who feel that their god sanctions the death of innocents through cowardly attacks must be dealt with. You cannot negotiate with a rabid dog, you cannot heal him. You can only kill him. I regret that I must condone such actions, for the death of one innocent does not make the death of others fair or desirable. But we must undertake a painful mission to make the price of terrorism much higher than it is now. Rescind the executive order against assassination, demand the surrender of known terrorists and when they don't comply, and we know they won't, kill each and every last one of them, and pray for the souls of the innocents that suffer with them.
Note that I have not pointed the finger at any particular individual or group. I pray that this was not a domestic act. But all terrorists must be stopped.
UL
On a different note, I recently heard the account of the cell phone call from a CNN correspondent on the plane that struck the Pentagon. The report stated that the hijackers (more than one, number uncertain) had knives and boxcutters and had herded the passengers to the back of the plane. I suspect that the passengers probably complied in fear, and probably subconsciously believed that it was a typical hijacking - one where the terrorists make demands, change the plane's destination, etc. Had they known the true intent, I have no doubt those poor passengers would have done everything in their power, including giving their lives, to stop the terrorists from carrying out their acts.
And while I don't want to add to speculation, I suspect that the flight which crashed in Pennsylvania might have underwent a similar process. Whether the passengers and/or crew knew of the events transpiring elsewhere, or simply refused to surrender the aircraft, the plane did not make it where the terrorists intended to go. If someone on that plane sacrificed their life in stopping these animals then they are heroes that we will never know.
UL
And while I don't want to add to speculation, I suspect that the flight which crashed in Pennsylvania might have underwent a similar process. Whether the passengers and/or crew knew of the events transpiring elsewhere, or simply refused to surrender the aircraft, the plane did not make it where the terrorists intended to go. If someone on that plane sacrificed their life in stopping these animals then they are heroes that we will never know.
UL
A little more fuel to the fire...
[QUOTE]
There is little doubt in Washington about who was behind the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. U.S. intelligence officials told CNN, "There are good indications that persons linked to Osama bin Laden may be responsible for these attacks."
[QUOTE]
There is little doubt in Washington about who was behind the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. U.S. intelligence officials told CNN, "There are good indications that persons linked to Osama bin Laden may be responsible for these attacks."




