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Thinking About 9/11

By W. James Antle, III on 9.11.11 @ 12:33PM

It's hard to believe that ten years have passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On a beautiful fall day, airplanes came out of the clear blue sky and rained death upon thousands of Americans. Commuter trains and phone lines were jammed as the country fell into a state of panic. This was all followed by days of public mourning.

The cliche at the time was that 9/11 changed everything. Perhaps it should have, but it is not entirely clear that this turned out to be true. In some ways, that's a good thing. The death toll ended up only being about half the 6,000 some outlets were originally reporting. The regular follow-up attacks many of us expected never materialized, though not for a lack of trying. For days after 9/11, my office in Boston was regularly evacuated due to bomb scares. Now everything is back to normal.

Except the way the country has been roiled by debates over civil liberties and foreign policy, the First Amendment and dealing with Islam, immigration and homeland security. That dark day that forever erased the World Trade Center from New York City's landscape did change some things.

Ultimately, there is little that can be said about these topics that hasn't been written before. There is even less that can be said that will do justice to the memories of those whose lives were lost either in the attacks or while trying to save their countrymen, either in rescue attempts ten years ago or in the fight against terrorism that continues to this day. Less still can probably said to comfort the family and friends they have left behind.

But we remember. And we know two things: America is still here and bin Laden is rotting in hell.

View all comments (20) | Leave a comment

Oldefarte| 9.11.11 @ 1:08PM

We also should know also that Democrat administration [previous to Bush's] failed this country by turning a blind eye within eight years to the creeping Muslim terrorism attacks upon our worldwide embassies, the first WTC bombing, and the USS Cole bombing in Yemen. The obvious signs were there, but he/they chose to ignore same due to POLITICAL CORRECTNESS [the same PC that Michelle Malkin editorialed recently and which permiates our daily lives due to he/them]. They simply want to hide the truth, cover it up and pretend it doesn't exist [well, it didn't stop it in 1933, in the 1990's and it won't ever stop it in the future]!!!!!!!!!!

martin j smith| 9.11.11 @ 3:07PM

I memorialize 9/11 on my own. I do not have a family member that died that day. I am a citizen whose nation almost came to life that day but has since died a moral death. The election of Obama and his extremely dangerous foreign policies and his total denial of the need for a national defense policy to the popularization of " peace" and "pacifism" to the avoidance of talking about terrorism and the "war on Islamic radicals in the
Presidential debates. Its as if there is an agreement: "lets forget about everything happening out there except: " the economy", "jobs" and that is it. In reality all of this talk about jobs can come to nothing if we suffer another major terrorist attack. People are angry about the economy but they are blind to the dangers that could strike us from within and without.

It is not that I do care about the individuals who died as a result of these attacks and it is not that I do not have admiration for those Heroes who saved lives even at their own expense. Its that in some ways we have lost our way. I did not pay much attention to today's events commemorating 9/11--I did dread GWB's speech in Pennsylvania and it was quite moving. But, I think we have been poorly served by ALL of our presidents in regard to terrorism and the meaning of the threat posed by Radical Islam. But I must say that BHO is even worse than those that preceded him. I am watching and waiting but not optimistic that we will have a President who is unafraid of the truth and telling the American People the truth that Radical Islam poses a threat to our way of life and we must be capable of defending ourselves. That Russia and China are our enemies and while we must try to work with them in a peaceful way whenever possible, we can never let our guard down. That Russia and China do want to harm us. These are important things that must be said.
But i doubt they will--at least not the cast of characters we see so far.

Simon Templar| 9.11.11 @ 3:48PM

There is something that I have been wanting to address and write about for years regarding 9-11 that needs to be said.

All of us have heard at one time or another just how America pulled together those days and we were one happy bunch of unified critters all pulling together and rallying around our troops and our nation.

Nice fairy tale. I am sure it makes some people feel better. Now, reality.

The country was sharply divided and had just finished a bitter contested election that I believe was the culmination of twenty years of intense political strife, the reemergence of conservativism and the decline of liberalism, and an emerging, very aggressive Left wing media and educational system.

Think back. What really happened was a burst of intense patriotism and personal evaluation for many on the center and right of the spectrum and for many Americans that, for the most part, still loved their country and tended to shy away from blaming it first.

Then there was the other crowd. The media, the progressives, the liberals, and the Democratic party. The same bunch that is now in control of everything.

First, as I distinctly recall, was a look of complete shock, panic and worry. In the first week, the talking heads remained rather reserved while the nation reeled in pain and anger.

Many of us rallied. Many of us flew our flags, bought flags, and demanded action and justice.

If you were looking closely, you would have noticed the strong uneasiness in those reserved faces of the liberal elite. You could bet on what they were thinking....'we are toast.' But something happened after that first 14 days and that appearance of unification soon blew away with the autumn leaves. A crisis should never go to waste. A new chance..the sixties all over again...a rebirth...on new terms and fresh propaganda and divisiveness. I remember the exact night it was born when Lawrence O'Donnell went off like a roman candle with every explicative he could muster like a rabid dog attacking the patriotism and motivations of the other talk show guests.

From that day till today, they went on the march renewed. Quagmire! Hilter! Facsist! Murderers! Protests! Body counts! America to Blame! Haliburton! No WMD! He lied, people died! On and on until we arrived at man made oversea contingency operation. Eight years of propaganda, subterfuge, political manipulaton, and undermining every effort to protect and defend this nation. We are still dealing with this enemy within and those that would rather call it a 'very sad tragedy' than the act of war that it was.

The very crown of their achievment and efforts is now sitting in the white house like a raised middle finger to all of us that were fundamentally changed that day.... a radical with muslim background and family roots.

Strange. Now we are sitting on the edge of a precipice and potential collaspe as a nation. A lot has certainly changed since that day 0n 9-11-2001. So, as Franklin said to the woman who asked, 'what type of government did you make for us, Sir', "A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it!"

Let us go forward and save it, renewed and remembering! God bless, America! It is worth keeping and fighting for.

Lesser Weevil| 9.11.11 @ 5:53PM

Excellent comment, Simon. One of the very first things that we heard from the usual suspects after the attack was the incredibly stupid argument that this somehow discredited the strategic defense initiative. I saw a column written the very next day by a prominent lefty commentator that had nothing to say about the atrocity, but merely used it to take potshots at Bush and the SDI. And of course, it took no time at all before Bush was being accused of every kind of negligence, incompetence, and malfeasance, culminating in the loathsome celebrity of Michael Moore.

Then there was the deafening chorus of tut-tutting about how the dark American masses would surely be moved to commit bigoted acts of violence, followed in short order by the de facto ban on images from the attack by the MSM.

Today, the memory of that awful day is in danger of being corrupted into just another piece of politically correct claptrap. A headline in my local newspaper captures it nicely: "From Fear to Friendship." Intolerance, you, see causes fear (and other undesirable attributes), but if we can just learn to overcome our prejudices, why, we can all march off arm in arm to a day of "service" (you can go to the wonderfully named web site Serve.gov for specific instructions).

I am going to make sure that my kids watch George Bush's dedicatory speech at Shanksville to give them an inkling of what is really at stake. And I join you in your call to go forward and save our Republic.

Clint | 9.11.11 @ 4:04PM

The Heritage Foundation's Robert Moffit used that exact Franklin Quote at our Friday Tea Party meeting.

We Tea Party Patriots aren't letting GOP RINO-CINO's Bastardize Franklin's Republic .

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Simon Templar| 9.11.11 @ 4:15PM

Clint, you are exactly what I was writing about. Those that would use anything including an act of war against this nation to further their selfish political aims. Those that would create division, derision, and disunity to achieve their agenda. Those lacking any sense of decency, respect for the truth, and the ability to set aside one's political ambitions to come to the aid and defense of their country. Those that can not recognize allies from enemies. Give it a rest for one day.

C Bowen| 9.11.11 @ 5:59PM

Umm--Simon, you are the one who created a strawman. All the bogeymen: Kennedy, Kerry, Hillary et al, were all for war against anybody and were vocal advocated to wage war against Iraq because he had "WMDS."

(That is how intelligent conservatives knew that Iraq obviously had no WMDs, because Hillary/Kennedy/Kerry said he did.)

My 9/11 moment came a month later when Ashcroft, who had valiantly fought against Patriot Act Version 1 when Clinton tried to pass the same bill after OKC in 1996, signed on for it.

Double crossed.

I am still waiting for one member of the trillion dollar intelligence/defense apparatus who were employed around 9/11 to be publicly humiliated for incompetence, and, at the least, have their pension stripped.

Still waiting, these 10 years gone.

Simon Templar| 9.11.11 @ 7:42PM

No, I am not. It surpises me that you would think so. Just what do you disagree with me here and what is exactly incorrect about it. In fact, I agree with you on the point that most of these leading democrats were in favor of taking action against Iraq before 9-11. That is my point..the complete hypocricy and political manipulation. Clinton actually called for a strike and invasion against Saadam when he was President as HE BELIEVED they were a national threat. I sat here that day and said to my wife, when Powell kept emphasizing that our major reason for invasion was WMD, that they better damn well find them as the Democrats will kick that up their asses for the next 8 years if they do not find them. Stupidity, there were a dozen more legitimate reasons for striking them...that does not imply that I was infavor of a 10 year occupation or nation building.

Read my comments again. I think we are on the same team.

C Bowen| 9.11.11 @ 8:22PM

Yes, you are--and I don't dislike you...and there were no reasons beyond We Can, to "strike Iraq" our former ally, such as it was, who protected the most ancient Christian minority, for better or worse--this is the Evil One's world of course, I trust we still know that.

What you don't want to concede is that 9/11 and its absurd aftermath is the action of the Government, cleverly marketed. The opposition, always Red, commie red, colored, is organized and paid for by the same operation to insure a consensus.

In marketing terms, the reaction was Leftist so it was necessary to invent a more Leftists criticism. A Rightist reaction would have punished the incompetents, and thrown out the threats on student visas--let alone ended the Refugee Program that continues to import threats--and live off the debt financed regime.

A payment here or there, would have netted bin Laden's scalp--it's not that tricky--the Talbian would have done it--US diplomacy was working with them as late at Aug 2001, they just asked for evidence (that is cover) that has yet to be provided to the American public, even though it was promised these 10 years ago.

When you digest the reality of our situation--the implications of what you have written, we on the Alt/Old Right will welcome you.

Americans are not cut out for Empire, they have no interest, or lack the stomach--I happen to love her for this trait. So indeed, things are presented in different context--for the tele masses. It's no wonder it always fails.

Simon Templar| 9.12.11 @ 12:00AM

"What you don't want to concede is that 9/11 and its absurd aftermath is the action of the Government, cleverly marketed."

Ok, I did not know who I was dealing with here. Another Paulbot..that can not think beyond insane government conspiracies, has an idiotic understanding of world conlict, and holds a general delusion that we can have national security without EVER having to defend it.

Please spare me the horseshit about who and who is not a conservative or on the right or whatever.
Stop telling me what I think while you are at it.

I do not seek and empire. I do not think we always have to react with war. I do not support long occupations. Diplomacy has its merits but great limits as well. Yes, Iraq was a threat, had been a threat, and had to be dealt with. A full scale invasion and over 8 years of occupation, perhaps not.

If you think this whole war on terror comes down to Bin Laden and that is it, then you really are deluded or just plain stupid. Yeah, the Taliban, right? We could not get Pakistan to flip him for billions of dollars in aid.

Please do not bother to respond. I am tired of communicating with crazies like you. God help us if this nation does fall and we find ourseves with you Paulbot idiots in the same foxholes. I have no doubt you would sell the rest of us out to the enemy to save your asses.

aware| 9.12.11 @ 6:25AM

Conspiracy? See what you think about this. What stage are we at?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvoZCtpYCRI

Simon Templar| 9.12.11 @ 10:15AM

We are at the last stage where we have Liberals and Paulbots running around screaming at the rest of us either about how America is the worst country in the world or the latest paranoid self destructive cinspiracy theory like 9-11 was a government plot annd this is the first time steel ever melted from fire.

They are the product of the program as the seed of self hatred and self doubt was planted sometime around the late 1950's. Yes, this kind of warfare is quite possible.

C Bowen| 9.12.11 @ 12:34PM

You seem to confuse the Government with America--that idea was indeed planted in the 1950s as you say.

How on earth anyone can say that in 2001 Iraq was even in the top 30 of 'threats' faced by the American citizenry is beyond insane. It's downright criminal.

Clint | 9.11.11 @ 7:27PM

You RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooge Apologists Don't Own Us,Tea Party Patriots, Asshole.

You Want War With The Tea Party Bring It.

We'll Defeat You, Eventually, Just Like We Defeated The King's Redcoats.

Bring It RINO-CINO Apologist Flunkie Stooge, Girl.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is here.

Don't Tread On Me !

Simon Templar| 9.11.11 @ 7:49PM

Clint, or whoever you are, you have just confirmed to the world that you are indeed mentally ill. This is all you can say. I really do not understand why any of us including myself have fallen into the trap of ever having replied to your comments. From now on, I intend on ignoring you. Don't feed the trolls.

Clint | 9.12.11 @ 6:48AM

You Screwball Israel Firster Fanatics are The Big Yellow Bus Callin' The Lemon Pie Yellow, Simpleton.

You don't own Us Tea Party Patriots and you don't own this website, Asshole.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Simon Templar| 9.12.11 @ 10:06AM

American Spectator? Did you hear something?
No, it was just the wind. Nothing significant but the movement of hot air.

rssg| 9.11.11 @ 4:49PM

High immigration is one of the main reasons why 9/11 happened.

on 9/12/01, our leaders should have pushed emergengy legislation to stop all muslim immigration for a temporary period (to be determined later). Now it is too late. They are here in quicly growing numbers.

None of the 9/11 terrorists were born in the USA. They all immigrated here either legally or illegally. They came here either on immigrant visas, or student visas or came illegally. Islam had a tiny, tiny presence in our country before 9/11. Now it is everywhere and growing fast because of the NUMBERS of muslim immigrants. Just like Spanish langage is now everywhere in the USA – because of the NUMBER of Latino immigrants (legal and illegal).

Numbers matter. When you import large numbers of any people, you import their culture too. And Islam is not a culture we should want to import.

Islam is here. It has planted it's flag (the mosque). We are fools.