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From: Jasper
Date: 9/12/01
Time: 12:44:36 PM
The big picture I've been harping on for over twenty years has to do with attacks on civilians by anyone and the practical implications of the "strongest" country on earth allowing genocide in "far away places" in order to protect our fighting men from having to fight. More police officers and firefighters died (Allita must be psychic) in New York City in one hour on the job than all of the American servicemen who died in battle in the Gulf, Somalia, Rwanda and the Baltics combined since 1991.
In a world where people like the ones who committed the atrocities yesterday in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington all too often have their way, the bravest people on earth should be American soldiers, sailors, airman and marines and their NATO allies. They are the ones who should be engaging these monsters in batten whenever and wherever they appear. When they put on the uniform of the most powerful military force on earth in time of war - and we've been at war for decades -- they should know that a lot of them are going to die doing their jobs the way the courageous firefighters and police officers did in New York City.
I was never so concerned about a particular head villain in a particular place at any given time as I was with the pattern of allowing him and his government or group to get away with it. Does the word "appeasement" strike a familiar note? Allowing people like Bin Laden to get what they want or to think that they might if the kill enough people only gives encouragement and guidance to the NEXT guy - whoever he might be and wherever he might strike.
As bad as things were in New York, the "next guy" could use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons that could take out millions. That's what I was talking about in the book when I wrote that we were at war and didn't know it. That's what I was talking about when I wrote that the enemy was ANYONE who targets civilians for mass murder to achieve a political objective. That's what I was talking about when I wrote that Saddam had to be taken out as well as any government or any organization that targets civilians for mass murder.
An attack on civilians is an attack on civilization. The "civilized world" can't allow it and expect to remain safe and secure. No one needs to be told that war is a horrible thing. But sometimes we have to be reminded that the consequences of not fighting can be worse. It takes at least two sides to have a fight. It takes only one side to commit mass murder. Whoever was behind the hijacking attacks yesterday, the war atrocities themselves should tell everyone what to expect if the enemies of civilization "give a war" and nobody comes to stop them. -- Jasper