Centerfield

This chronology occurred to me. Four years after the previous great attack on US soil (Pearl Harbor), the war was over and we were victorious. Now four years after this attack (9/11) the war continues and victory is uncertain.

Posted by: c3 at September 11, 2005 10:48 PM

I agree with so many that we should be angry with terrorists.

But it begs the question whether a war in Iraq was the answer. Where is Osama? Where are these terrorists? And why are we still in Iraq? Weren't we there to find the terrorists, or find the nukes...? No. It has changed to spreading democracy.

How did the war on terror become an American version of the Holy Crusades? Spreading the "ideal" of democracy to countries that just want to be left alone to kill each other... Isn't that why we were attacked to begin with?

Just thoughts. Not liberal, not conservative. Just thoughts.

Posted by: Modern Guy at September 11, 2005 11:48 PM

So does this guy.

Posted by: Blue Jean at September 12, 2005 01:25 PM

But it begs the question whether a war in Iraq was the answer. Where is Osama? Where are these terrorists? And why are we still in Iraq? Weren't we there to find the terrorists, or find the nukes...? No. It has changed to spreading democracy.

That hasn't changed, for me. I advocated regime change for its own good before we went into Iraq, and I haven't changed my views. If the White House wanted to spin the war in whatever way it felt was best to get people on board, I figured that was their prerogative. Roosevelt and Wilson were hardly innocent of a desire to get us into the first and second world wars, and have frequently been charged with duplicity to get us there. I don't much care whether America declared war on Germany under false pretenses, it was he right thing to do.

I'm not, by the way, saying that Iraq isn't a part of the war on terrorism; it is, I just don't have time to write at any length right now explaining why the spread of democracy in the middle east directly relates to the war on terror.

Posted by: Simon at September 12, 2005 02:25 PM

Jean;
C'mon. Linking to what is essentially a letter the editor from a citizen (airline pilot). And this quote

I am hoping that in 2006 Democrats win back control of Congress and open their first session with impeachment proceedings of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, because the Republicans refuse to do so.

Your post is a reply/concurrence to what Guy posted. I would suggest that this editorial that you've linked to is NOT consistent with Guy's statement

Just thoughts. Not liberal, not conservative. Just thoughts.

Posted by: c3 at September 12, 2005 04:00 PM

Obviously, the addition of a new government in the Middle East that will act in the best interest of the American government is the goal for this administration. In the long term, can this be a useful tool in the "war" against terrorism? Sure, I suppose it could, though it comes with the known risk that a puppet government with strings controlled in D.C. also draws a larger target on the American flag.

But now, as we remember the events of 9/11 and are reacquainted with the anger we have for Osama and company..I also am becoming a little bitter that we are not directly going after those that were responsible.

I agree that our war in Iraq could have and probably would have occurred whether 9/11 occurred or not.

Posted by: todd at September 12, 2005 04:40 PM

Chris,

What I posted was a memory of 9/11, not a reply to Guy per se. If you check the paper headline, you'll see that it's from the New Hampshire Union Leader, which has usually been a staunch supporter of W and company. Besides, the author doesn't say that he is a liberal or a conservative, Republican or Democrat; he is just a concerned citizen, who never wants to see the United States suffer again as we did on that terrible day. Neither do I.
That's why I agree with him that the current leadership needs to come to account.

Posted by: Blue Jean at September 12, 2005 04:57 PM

At least Mike Brown has resigned which is a step in the right direction.

Posted by: Blue Jean at September 12, 2005 05:06 PM

Goodie goodie! One resume-puffing idiotcrat gone, replaced with a disaster pro. Good news.

Posted by: Tully at September 12, 2005 05:36 PM

Winds of Change has a very detailed discussion of the state of al-Qaeda, four years on.

Posted by: David Fleck at September 13, 2005 08:42 AM

Is anyone else uneasy at the so-called "Freedom March"? It seems to me that the Administration has an incentive to keep 9/11 uppermost in peoples' minds as a way of keeping support for Iraq. Forgive me my cynicism, but I see this as a bit of propaganda. 9/11 was an awful, horrendous day, but I resent what I see as the manipulation of the day for political purposes.

Posted by: Marc at September 13, 2005 12:10 PM

Jean;

That's why I agree with him that the current leadership needs to come to account.

So you want the President impeached also?

Posted by: C3 at September 13, 2005 04:42 PM

No, Chris, I wouldn't go that far. (At least, not now. ;-)

I think W has been elevated far above what his intelligence, talent and industry actually merit, but contrary to some of my dear spammers say, I don't believe in disrupting government for the sake of disrupting government, nor do I impeach people because I dislike them or disagree with their ideology. (Another thing that separates moderates from the far right and the far left.)

The author I cited spoke out of anger and fear, and I don't blame him. When I read accounts in Time and Newsweekthat the most powerful man in the world doesn't like to keep up with current events, and his aides are afraid of bringing him bad news, then it certainly scares the bejeezus out of me. ;-)

I agree with the author that the response to Sept. 11 was a war fought at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong weapons, but as Rick says, we have to win it now. I do think that W and company need to take a long, hard look at where they're going and what they want to accomplish, and, most importantly, what people can help them achieve it. If they're not willing to do it themselves, then the rest of the GOP needs to do it for them. Thankfully, Brown's resignation seems to signal that they're beginning to get that message.

Whether one is liberal, conservative, or moderate, everyone can agree that we want to keep this country and our citizens safe, and that's a difficult task. If the three top people in the administration are on vacation, (and Karl Rove is in the hospital) when a disaster hits, then what is difficult becomes nearly impossible.

Posted by: Blue Jean at September 13, 2005 06:39 PM

#$@%! I hit "Post" when I meant to hit "Preview". Sorry about that, folks.

Posted by: Blue Jean at September 13, 2005 06:43 PM