9/11
For the first time since 9-11-2001 I watched one of those 9-11 shows reliving that day. This one is the MSNBC rebroadcast of the MSNBC coverage of 9AM-Noon that day.
Yes, it is heartbreaking. And brutal. Those are the two words that come to mind.
But I'm almost as shocked how I'm not as moved as I'd expected. The real 9/11 was so horrifying and -- I don't want to say I'm used to it -- but I'm amazed that I'm not more shocked. And as someone who basically changed dramatically that day, that's not what I expected at all.
Over the past 6 years I've often marveled at how so many people just don't seem to regard 9/11 as the same world-changing event that I do. Life goes one and we adjust to new realities.
My conclusion went something like this -- we will not stand for countries and people who don't play by the same fundamental rules that we do. Specifically, perpetrators and supporters of terrorism should expect the free world to use all means available to go after them. We will not take a defensive posture.
Dennis Kucinich is probably in a different category. He's an "anti-war" guy probably above all. Before 9/11 that position had credibility with me and frankly I wondered if Dennis was right. I know his supporters still believe he is correct. Me, I can't imagine him being more wrong.
The irony of Kucinich is that his positions logically lead to more war, more suffering, and less freedom. He doesn't see how "blessing" Assad with his presence emboldens Syria to explode bombs in downtown Beruit or to look the other way as extremist Arab fighters pass through Syria to join up with AQ in Iraq. He doesn't see how touring Hizbollah-land in southern Beruit just validates the Hizbollah strategy of provocation and death of it's own to win stupid PR battles. He doesn't get that it's a cycle that can't end unless we oppose it.
There's no point in going on too far. The arguments are all pretty obvious and well worn on all sides. I don't think I'm changing any minds. Least of all Dennis's. Not tonight anyway.
Yes, it is heartbreaking. And brutal. Those are the two words that come to mind.
But I'm almost as shocked how I'm not as moved as I'd expected. The real 9/11 was so horrifying and -- I don't want to say I'm used to it -- but I'm amazed that I'm not more shocked. And as someone who basically changed dramatically that day, that's not what I expected at all.
Over the past 6 years I've often marveled at how so many people just don't seem to regard 9/11 as the same world-changing event that I do. Life goes one and we adjust to new realities.
My conclusion went something like this -- we will not stand for countries and people who don't play by the same fundamental rules that we do. Specifically, perpetrators and supporters of terrorism should expect the free world to use all means available to go after them. We will not take a defensive posture.
Dennis Kucinich is probably in a different category. He's an "anti-war" guy probably above all. Before 9/11 that position had credibility with me and frankly I wondered if Dennis was right. I know his supporters still believe he is correct. Me, I can't imagine him being more wrong.
The irony of Kucinich is that his positions logically lead to more war, more suffering, and less freedom. He doesn't see how "blessing" Assad with his presence emboldens Syria to explode bombs in downtown Beruit or to look the other way as extremist Arab fighters pass through Syria to join up with AQ in Iraq. He doesn't see how touring Hizbollah-land in southern Beruit just validates the Hizbollah strategy of provocation and death of it's own to win stupid PR battles. He doesn't get that it's a cycle that can't end unless we oppose it.
There's no point in going on too far. The arguments are all pretty obvious and well worn on all sides. I don't think I'm changing any minds. Least of all Dennis's. Not tonight anyway.
posted by Michael at 10:53 PM
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