9/11 Remembered

[old_pop2000]

To those who died, just going to work, on September 11, 2001. Let's take a quiet momemt for them.

One especially is 1st. Lt. Richard Rescorla, who died in WTC Tower 2. Lt. Rescorla was also in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, in November 1965. The Battle of LZ X ray was popularized in We were Soldiers Once....and Young. How ironic, to have survived such a ferocious battle, only to die just doing your daily job. Somehow life just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Apparently Mr. Rescorla was credited with saving thousands of lives in the WTC attacks.

[keschofield]

To those who died, just going to work, on September 11, 2001. Let's take a quiet momemt for them.

One especially is 1st. Lt. Richard Rescorla, who died in WTC Tower 2. Lt. Rescola was also in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, in November 1965. The Battle of LZ X ray was popularized in We were Soldiers Once....and Young. How ironic, to have survived such a ferocious battle, only to die just doing your daily job. Somehow life just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Apparently Mr. Rescorla was credited with saving thousands of lives in the WTC attacks.

This is a sad anniversary indeed. Our prayers are with everyone involved in any way.

[JMS]

To those who died, just going to work, on September 11, 2001. Let's take a quiet momemt for them.

One especially is 1st. Lt. Richard Rescorla, who died in WTC Tower 2. Lt. Rescola was also in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, in November 1965. The Battle of LZ X ray was popularized in We were Soldiers Once....and Young. How ironic, to have survived such a ferocious battle, only to die just doing your daily job. Somehow life just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Apparently Mr. Rescorla was credited with saving thousands of lives in the WTC attacks.

I disagree, if I have to go, what better way to go than savings other's lives? just a single live saved would have made a life worthy of being lived.

[old_pop2000]

I disagree, if I have to go, what better way to go than savings other's lives? just a single live saved would have made a life worthy of being lived.

I won't disagree except, that Lt. Rescorla had already saved a lot of the lives of his men at LZ X ray, how much is enough for one person? Anyway, it was a valuable life lost.

[Fleet Command CC]

To those who died, just going to work, on September 11, 2001. Let's take a quiet momemt for them.

One especially is 1st. Lt. Richard Rescorla, who died in WTC Tower 2. Lt. Rescola was also in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, in November 1965. The Battle of LZ X ray was popularized in We were Soldiers Once....and Young. How ironic, to have survived such a ferocious battle, only to die just doing your daily job. Somehow life just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Apparently Mr. Rescorla was credited with saving thousands of lives in the WTC attacks.


This is a sad anniversary indeed. Our prayers are with everyone involved in any way.

Well said old_pop2000 and keschofield their were a lot of HERO'S that day and we should remember the great thing's they did on this sad day.

[Ed Rotondaro]

I won't disagree except, that Lt. Rescorla had already saved a lot of the lives of his men at LZ X ray, how much is enough for one person? Anyway, it was a valuable life lost.

Dennis:

It's so hard to believe that it's been 7 years since that horrible day. What really struck me today while waiting at the school bus stop with my son was that 9/11 was a beautiful, sunny day, a true perfect September morning. And chance would have it, today the weather in upstate NY is identical to that tragic day. A prayer for all those lives lost and for the men and women of our armed forces who are doing their best to make sure that never happens again.

[john964]

I would like to dedicate to the current and future crews of the USS New York, USS Arlington and USS Somerset. May they always have Fair Winds and Following Seas when they sail into Harms Way and Kick Ass and Take Names.

[keschofield]

I would like to dedicate to the current and future crews of the USS New York, USS Arlington and USS Somerset. May they always have Fair Winds and Following Seas when they sail into Harms Way and Kick Ass and Take Names.

Amen brother! I'll raise my glass to that dedication.

[ksf1973]

Hard to believe it's already been seven years...:(

[Ed Rotondaro]

I would like to dedicate to the current and future crews of the USS New York, USS Arlington and USS Somerset. May they always have Fair Winds and Following Seas when they sail into Harms Way and Kick Ass and Take Names.

Well said John!

[Spook046]

From pictures I took last year -- the Ground Zero cross near the WTC site and a post-board of mementos near the Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania.

[Ed Rotondaro]

From pictures I took last year -- the Ground Zero cross near the WTC site and a post-board of mementos near the Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania.

Ed:

Thanks, those are very powerful. Never forget and never forgive those who did it.

[Mart]

Ed:

Thanks, those are very powerful. Never forget and never forgive those who did it.

Hi Fellas

Never forgetting is one thing. Never forgiving is maybe not such a good idea, as we cannot read men's hearts. It's very easy to go from there to losing any sense of the objectivity, and justifying anything that you choose to do on the basis of that loss of objectivity.

As a non-American, looking at a violent and unjust world, where thousands die daily through violence or lack of basic needs, which could be met in a world overflowing with wealth and resources, almost unnoticed by anyone, in the name of any number of causes or political manoeuvrings, from countries and interests, both small and large, I'm beginning to find this thread a bit uncomfortable.

This is surely a board that should be as welcoming to read whether you are French, American, Russian, Afghanistani, Atheist, Christian, Jew or Muslim, and feel you're among friends.

Just my two-penneth, meant in a peaceful spirit.

Martin

[JMS]

As another non-American, I think you are missing the point entirely:


Hi Fellas

Never forgetting is one thing. Never forgiving is maybe not such a good idea, as we cannot read men's hearts. It's very easy to go from there to losing any sense of the objectivity, and justifying anything that you choose to do on the basis of that loss of objectivity.


Until those responsible have been brought to justice, forgiveness is not an option. Are you willing to forgive the killings of the Hollocaust? surely if Hitler had not killed himself you wouldn't have disagreed to his trial and execution. The same applies here.



As a non-American, looking at a violent and unjust world, where thousands die daily through violence or lack of basic needs, which could be met in a world overflowing with wealth and resources, almost unnoticed by anyone, in the name of any number of causes or political manoeuvrings, from countries and interests, both small and large, I'm beginning to find this thread a bit uncomfortable.


Problem with that argument is that wealth overflows from countries that have strived to implement a democratic regime, plus a few authoritarian ones who just happened to be blessed with natural resources. Even China represents a common effort by the whole country to improve their lot. The thousands that die daily through violence or lack of basic needs are mostly in countries who had brought it upon themselves, an uncomfortable truth.



This is surely a board that should be as welcoming to read whether you are French, American, Russian, Afghanistani, Atheist, Christian, Jew or Muslim, and feel you're among friends.
Martin

Anyone taking offense in Americans wanting to remember the thousands that were killed because of the fanaticism of a bunch of deluded radicals and that asks for "forgiveness" is just as deluded.

[Mart]

Thanks JMS

I spent my whole career in the Criminal Justice System. It is easy to confuse issues, or to take as simple, what is really very complex. In the interests of harmony, I hope you will not mind if I now choose to remain silent, apart from saying that I mourn for all those who died on 11th September, and for all victims of injustice, wherever they be.

Martin

[Warship NWS]

Hi guys, this is a sensitive topic and bad things have happened to many people and other creatures of the earth throughout the history of humanity. Let's keep on topic and within the spirit of mutual freindly respect for each other.

Thanks.

[Ed Rotondaro]

As another non-American, I think you are missing the point entirely:



Until those responsible have been brought to justice, forgiveness is not an option. Are you willing to forgive the killings of the Hollocaust? surely if Hitler had not killed himself you wouldn't have disagreed to his trial and execution. The same applies here.



Problem with that argument is that wealth overflows from countries that have strived to implement a democratic regime, plus a few authoritarian ones who just happened to be blessed with natural resources. Even China represents a common effort by the whole country to improve their lot. The thousands that die daily through violence or lack of basic needs are mostly in countries who had brought it upon themselves, an uncomfortable truth.



Anyone taking offense in Americans wanting to remember the thousands that were killed because of the fanaticism of a bunch of deluded radicals and that asks for "forgiveness" is just as deluded.

Well said JMS, well said! Thanks.

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Fellas

Never forgetting is one thing. Never forgiving is maybe not such a good idea, as we cannot read men's hearts. It's very easy to go from there to losing any sense of the objectivity, and justifying anything that you choose to do on the basis of that loss of objectivity.

As a non-American, looking at a violent and unjust world, where thousands die daily through violence or lack of basic needs, which could be met in a world overflowing with wealth and resources, almost unnoticed by anyone, in the name of any number of causes or political manoeuvrings, from countries and interests, both small and large, I'm beginning to find this thread a bit uncomfortable.

This is surely a board that should be as welcoming to read whether you are French, American, Russian, Afghanistani, Atheist, Christian, Jew or Muslim, and feel you're among friends.

Just my two-penneth, meant in a peaceful spirit.

Martin


Martin:

Chris and JMS have already addressed this topic, but I'll just add that I'm not advocating killing everyone in the Middle East. I just want the terrorists found and dealt with. How would you feel if they did same thing to Big Ben eh? You don't forgive murderers. That's God's job.

Respectfully,

[john964]

Problem with that argument is that wealth overflows from countries that have strived to implement a democratic regime, plus a few authoritarian ones who just happened to be blessed with natural resources. Even China represents a common effort by the whole country to improve their lot. The thousands that die daily through violence or lack of basic needs are mostly in countries who had brought it upon themselves, an uncomfortable truth.
If you want an authoritarian country that has run itself into the ground and made a very large crater try Zimbabwea. In less than 10 years the country has gone from a net exporter of food to almost entirely dependinent on foregn aid. Life expectancy has droped from an average of 62-67 to 45-47. Unemploment went from an average of 20% to 80% and inflation is said to be worse than Germany after WWI IIRC it is something like 3-4 million percent. Literacy went from 85-90% to 40-50%. This and more has happen in less then ten years.

[Ed Rotondaro]

If you want an authoritarian country that has run itself into the ground and made a very large crater try Zimbabwea. In less than 10 years the country has gone from a net exporter of food to almost entirely dependinent on foregn aid. Life expectancy has droped from an average of 62-67 to 45-47. Unemploment went from an average of 20% to 80% and inflation is said to be worse than Germany after WWI IIRC it is something like 3-4 million percent. Literacy went from 85-90% to 40-50%. This and more has happen in less then ten years.

John:

Lots of political corruption and croonyism there.

[Warship NWS]

Notice: This thread a) needs to stay on topic, and b) needs to stay away from political debates. This thread was intended to be a remembance of those lost on 9/11 by the original thread poster.

Thanks.

[Spook046]

Notice: This thread a) needs to stay on topic, and b) needs to stay away from political debates. This thread was intended to be a remembance of those lost on 9/11 by the original thread poster.

Thanks.

Let me try then, to recall how it was for me that particular day.

I work at Wright-Patterson AFB (Air Force Research Laboratory) as I have for the past 21 years. That particular day of Sept 11, 2001 started out as any other for me, just show up at the office and plunk away at the usual tasks. The only thing that would've seemed unique would have been to try to remember later to give a phone call to a younger brother, whose birthday just happens to be the same day.

A co-worker poked his head in, saying, "The WTC has been hit by an airplane." Geez, we thought, but no one yet was connecting the dots on the how and why, of course. Not having any TV nearby, I went back to my usual paper-shuffling, figuring that more news on that one incident would come soon enough.

Soon enough was right, but the news differed: "The other tower's been hit!" And caught on TV. I didn't see live, but the replays were quick in coming.

Then eventually we watched one, then the other, tower collapse down to the ground.

Within all that, the news-feed seemed rampant that made the real events hard to pick out from the rumours. A hit on the Pentagon. Car-bombs going off in the Wash DC Mall area. And so forth.

In the meantime, our base started to button down to Threat Condition (ThreatCon) "Delta" --- the security rating for an imminent attack on our own base. That wasn't actually the case, but with the attacks now on the Pentagon and the DC area, it made perfect sense for our base command (and probably all others nationally) to take every precaution.

Eventually we were told in the early afternoon to go home, but were released from duty in shifts. It didn't much matter, because all ID cards were being checked at the gates while LEAVING, creating a near-hour traffic jam in my case. All efforts were made to just not take chances that some saboteur got into the base earlier before the ThreatCon alert.

Getting home -- I had to step outside to look around. The day was perfectly clear in southern Ohio, and in the low 70's. By that time, all the nationwide airline flights had been grounded too. It was, in climate terms, just one of the most pleasant days I could remember for that year. And so quiet, so few people driving around.

Eventually a sonic boom (probably from a supersonic interceptor overflight) punctuated this unreal calm, and some neighbors started to wonder if another airplane had crashed.

(Ironically, I was scheduled to catch a flight to Seattle the following day (Sept 12) to attend a technology conference. Needless to say, that was aborted.)

Eventually, in following the news coverage, I caught a scene of Palestinians in the Gaza strip celebrating the news of the attacks. They were jumping up and down, shooting off guns, and cheering out in joy (such that eventually Palestinian police moved in to disperse the celebrations).

Right there --- right then --- I was livid with a vengeful, hateful rage. So those people thought that the attacks were a cause for celebration? I fantasized about driving by and tossing hand grenades in their laps.

Of course, inevitably, harboring and feeding that anger wasn't going to solve anything. Those people, in their ongoing conflict with the Israelis, were caught up with of the outlook of "an eye for an eye". The problem being is that stoking and perpetuating that view leads to this other passage I've read: "An eye for an eye, taken to its end, leaves everyone blind."

Much has happened over the years since 11th Sept of 2001 that traces to the events of that day, that probably has to be grappled with in other topic threads. However, there is thing IMO should not be forgotten.

That being, in our remembrance of 9/11, the greater perspective isn't lost that life shouldn't be regarded with less value elsewhere in the world. In Dec 2004, a tidal wave from an submerged quake killed up to 200,000 people along the coasts of the Indian Ocean. Heavy monsoon rains killed up to 80,000 in Mynamar earlier this year, and a quake in China killed perhaps another 100,000 -- also this year. To say nothing of what all was lost in life over the years (or decades) in the fighting within the Congo.

Which brings me to reflect some times --- how would our country cope with an event (terrrorist or natural disaster) that would, within a day, kill 100,000 or more?

I am not altogether sure.

In the end, remember 11 September 2001 for what all was lost in a series of hateful and inhumane attacks. But we should always also keep vigilance for when and where throughout the world where life is squandered in needless ways -- from war, corruption, negligence, and so forth.

We're all in this together.

(Not intending offense to anyone here; I am letting my emotive blend with my rational in this post and am not trying to delineate this time.)

[Scott Chisholm]

I actually posted this earlier today, then deleted it for fear it violated Chris' direction. However, after much thought, I decided to post it....

I hate 9/11 rememberances because it makes me think that people only think of the meaning of that day once a year.

I would like to restate and elaborate on a point I made in a different thread. It is my attempt to provide a bit of perspective concerning 9/11 from someone on active duty that day.

The United States is truly a blessed country. With only two borders (with non-aggressive neighbors) to defend, and two large oceans to keep the wolves at bay, we have never had to "routinely" suffer the predations of outside aggressors.

Contrary to what many in the world say, the United States is a country of 300 million people who generally want to be left alone to pursue our individual dreams. We can be shallow, fat, stupid, and lazy, but we are mostly harmless. As a Capitalist society, our interests extend throughout the world. That, in turn, results in our presence throughout the world.

The values the presence of our national ensign represents are a threat to those who would curtail individual freedom so as to preserve their power base. That is what I believe causes much of the animosity that exists between the US and most totalitarian regimes: their people see the life we in the US (and our Western friends) live, and want it for themselves - which is viewed as a direct assault on the governing regime.

I have sailed every time zone in the world, and have visited more countries than I can remember. Surprisingly, the only country in which I've ever really felt unsafe to walk the streets was Greece....which could have been due to the graffiti on the walls that loosely translated to "Americans eat sh!t and die!" Mostly, however, we are welcome and looked upon with a measure of envy.

We are a generous country; our military is frequently the first responder to disasters around the world. If we were to cut off our foreign aid, many, many people throughout the would would die before year's end. Is it wrong for us to ask for some concessions in return for our aid? Some think so.

We are also a country who is fiercely loyal to our friends and allies, and we tend to help the little guy when he is getting bullied.

So, why did the United States react the way we did on 9/11, and why are we still so angry?

The answer is simple: things like September 11th do not happen in the US. For the first time since the War of 1812, a foreign aggressor killed Americans within our own borders. We were attacked without warning (admittedly debatable) and without provocation.

Quite frankly, it pissed us off, which is always a bad thing to do.

I was on the Naval Base Norfolk waterfront on 9/11 and watched the Atlantic Fleet sortie to war that day. At five hundred yard intervals and at 25 knots, the destroyers, frigates and cruisers of our fleet sailed down Thimble Shoals Channel and into the Atlantic. The CVNs were not far behind, and F-14s, F-16s, F-15s and F-18s were flying CAP over our cities.

I was part of it, and it was terrifying, because I knew how the sailors on the ships felt, and what we were capable of that day.

We were at war, but we did not know who we were supposed to shoot.

Which, in hindsight, was probably a good thing, because if we'd been ordered to launch nuclear missions that day, I do not think there was a person on active duty who would have hesitated.

And, that is something I do not think the world understood: in our anger and pain and wrath, we were fully prepared to bring hell down on Earth.

Another thing about the American psyche I don't think the world appreciated: we took prisoners.

They came to our country and killed our people for no good reason. They kill our citizens overseas and post the videos on the web.

And, we still took prisoners.

Is that not a sign of forgiveness? Even in the pain of our failure, we retained enough of our humanity to not kill every Bad Guy on sight.

We understand that not all Muslims are terrorists. But, it appears that nearly all terrorists are Muslims. We don't want to fight; as I stated, we just want to live our lives in peace. But, so long as there are people who want to kill us for just being who we are, we will fight to defend ourselves, and our friends.

And, we'll do it on their soil so our people are not caught in the crossfire.

I hate September 11th. I never attend any of the commerative ceremonies, nor do I watch them on television. I've never watched any of the movies. I don't need them to remind me of the lives lost that day.

I have 3,000 souls to remind me of how we on active duty failed that day.

[Spook046]

I actually posted this earlier today, then deleted it for fear it violated Chris' direction. However, after much thought, I decided to post it....



And I'm glad you did, Scott, because you've conveyed your feelings in a forthright and honest way. Thanks for sharing.

[old_pop2000]

...I hate September 11th. I never attend any of the commerative ceremonies, nor do I watch them on television. I've never watched any of the movies. I don't need them to remind me of the lives lost that day.

I have 3,000 souls to remind me of how we on active duty failed that day.

Commander, you and the military did not fail on that day. We, the American people failed. We ask too much of our military, we ask you to save our asses, when we fail to heed warnings from our opponents because we are too busy with our daily lives to care. We casually dismantled the only effective air defense system that we had had since the early fifties that could have protected us, the Aerospace Defense Command with its chain of long range radar stations and fighter interceptor bases. Trust me, sir, that system would have gotten those airliners. But, with the demise of the Cold War, we felt safe. Who needs to worry about such matters, we've won the Cold War.

Commander, every once in a while, democracy's need a wake up call to remind them to remain vigilant. Well, September 11th was just another after PH.

So, from an old man, well done, Commander, well done. ;)

[Warship NWS]

I am only posting this as a point of view, it is not up for a debate, call this a NWS director prerogative.

IMHO, PH1941 was not even on the same wavelength as 9/11. One act was by a nation committed to international war on a military base (although civilians were killed) by military forces, the other was a suicidal attack using civilian transportation to destroy civilian targets.. an act that could not have been more cowardly or evil in any measure of human reality. It was an attack on the very soul and beliefs of our nation for no other reason then the fact we exist on the planet. Other nations have suffered dearly under the assaults of evil, this act struck the USA in a way that was almost beyond human comprehension.

I agree with Dennis completely.. our military personnel did not fail us and I have no doubt in my mind that any one of our brave men and women in service would have, without any hesitation whatsoever, have given their lives for a few short seconds in time just to have even a fleeting chance at stopping one of the terrorists that attacked this country. There were civilians that were just as brave with little more then their own courage at hand that did what they could before, during, and after the events that further prove our resolve to defeat evil with perseverance and determination. Many of our military personnel, and personnel from other nations, have given their lives to help preserve the freedoms many have fought and died for during the history of our nation and the most they ever ask for is a simple act of remembering and appreciating their sacrifices and memories.

These are my personal thoughts.

Take care everyone.

[JMS]

I have 3,000 souls to remind me of how we on active duty failed that day.

I think you are wrong there.

Let me tell you my 9/11, living in Spain and being on vacation I had gone with my wife in the morning to do the various things that women reserve for the precious little free time their husbands have. While at was at it, the terrorists were preparing to board the planes. Having lunch at 14:00 we switched on TV to watch the 15:00 news. At that time there was plenty of confusion and the second plane was about to hit. With the first one there was speculation of an accident (in fact they were speaking about a business jet, but seeing the blaze I knew that couldn't be true).

Then the second plane hit. My first thought was that Bin Laden had finally managed to hit the towers, and then came the Pentagon. At this point the death toll was spected to rise over 10,000. Although the WTC was heavily damaged I didn't expect the towers to fall. By 16:00 I had been corrected.

I also thought then and there that this was a one time only attack, because pre-911 pilots were taught to cooperate with kidnappers. After 911 that wasn't going to happen and any rogue plane was going to be shot down and that was that. I expected that was going to be the case after 912, but Flight 93 had already taken that decision on their own.

What could the armed forces do in 911? nothing. This was not Pearl Harbor, and unexpected attack that had been rehearsed by the victims using means available to the victim. This was an out of the blue attack using a method never before used by citizens of a friendly country. That it was not repeated means everyone took note. If it ever is repeated, it means somebody has failed.

[keschofield]

I actually posted this earlier today, then deleted it for fear it violated Chris' direction. However, after much thought, I decided to post it....



Thank God for men like Cdr. Chisholm and his mates.

Scott,

There were failures on that sad day but they were not by the military. Your post is the best explanation of how most of us felt on that terrible day. Thank you for taking the time to write it. If you don't mind, I'm saving and printing it out for my office wall.

Please take care during Ike and let us know you are safe afterwards.

Kurt

[keschofield]

Commander, you and the military did not fail on that day. We, the American people failed. We ask too much of our military, we ask you to save our asses, when we fail to heed warnings from our opponents because we are too busy with our daily lives to care. We casually dismantled the only effective air defense system that we had had since the early fifties that could have protected us, the Aerospace Defense Command with its chain of long range radar stations and fighter interceptor bases. Trust me, sir, that system would have gotten those airliners. But, with the demise of the Cold War, we felt safe. Who needs to worry about such matters, we've won the Cold War.

Commander, every once in a while, democracy's need a wake up call to remind them to remain vigilant. Well, September 11th was just another after PH.

So, from an old man, well done, Commander, well done. ;)

Good post Dennis. I completely agree for what that's worth. Thank you

[paladin5]

Let me try then, to recall how it was for me that particular day.



I remeber some of that day well. I was a freshmen (i think even though i am only 22 events from that long ago are getting pretty fuzzy)) in highschool then. I was just waking up when my mom told me that a plane had hit a building in New York City, so I got dressed and ran down stairs to see what was happening. I then watched the news coverage on CNN until a had to leave for school (thankfully the school is less then 500 feet from my house). Then during my second period social studies class I saw the secod building come down live on TV. I don't remember much of the day after that.

[paladin5]

I actually posted this earlier today, then deleted it for fear it violated Chris' direction. However, after much thought, I decided to post it....

I hate 9/11 rememberances because it makes me think that people only think of the meaning of that day once a year.

I would like to restate and elaborate on a point I made in a different thread. It is my attempt to provide a bit of perspective concerning 9/11 from someone on active duty that day....


Scott this is by far the best 9/11 related post I have ever seen. Thanks.

[Ed Rotondaro]

I actually posted this earlier today, then deleted it for fear it violated Chris' direction. However, after much thought, I decided to post it....

I have 3,000 souls to remind me of how we on active duty failed that day.

Scott:

Nobody on active duty failed their country on 9/11. Don't you ever think that sir. Our civilian leaders failed this country by not connecting the dots and doing something earlier. Imagine if you were a pilot in a fighter jet tasked with shooting down one of those jets. Imagine trying to live with that?

No matter who is elected in November (not being political Chris) they will have to deal with what President Bush has aptly called the "War on Terror". The war began as long ago as the bombing of the US Marine barracks in Lebanon (maybe even as far back as the Munich massacre?). It will continue in various levels of intensity until the terrorists win or the rest of world finds a way to suppress them.

We can't allow ourselves to forget what we as a nation lost on 9/11. We didn't just lose fellow Americans, we lost our belief that we could never be attacked. But we never lost our determination to stand up and fight. We will pay the price and it will be in blood. And so will our enemies.

FREEDOM!

[Ed Rotondaro]

I am only posting this as a point of view, it is not up for a debate, call this a NWS director prerogative.

IMHO, PH1941 was not even on the same wavelength as 9/11. One act was by a nation committed to international war on a military base (although civilians were killed) by military forces, the other was a suicidal attack using civilian transportation to destroy civilian targets.. an act that could not have been more cowardly or evil in any measure of human reality. It was an attack on the very soul and beliefs of our nation for no other reason then the fact we exist on the planet. Other nations have suffered dearly under the assaults of evil, this act struck the USA in a way that was almost beyond human comprehension.

I agree with Dennis completely.. our military personnel did not fail us and I have no doubt in my mind that any one of our brave men and women in service would have, without any hesitation whatsoever, have given their lives for a few short seconds in time just to have even a fleeting chance at stopping one of the terrorists that attacked this country. There were civilians that were just as brave with little more then their own courage at hand that did what they could before, during, and after the events that further prove our resolve to defeat evil with perseverance and determination. Many of our military personnel, and personnel from other nations, have given their lives to help preserve the freedoms many have fought and died for during the history of our nation and the most they ever ask for is a simple act of remembering and appreciating their sacrifices and memories.

These are my personal thoughts.

Take care everyone.

Well said boss!

[Ed Rotondaro]

Scott this is by far the best 9/11 related post I have ever seen. Thanks.

Michael:

I agree completely. When Scott talks we all listen.