Why the suicide killers chose September 11

The Guardian ^ | 10/3.2001 | Christopher Hitchens

[BlackjackPershing]

The search continues for the numinous or hieroglyphic significance of the date September 11. Believers in propaganda by deed, like Gavrilo Princip and Timothy McVeigh, usually choose to invest themselves with portentousness by selecting an anniversary that will freight their murder with meaning. Often, it is a date that only meant something to a very limited or arcane circle until its true value was unveiled to a stunned world. Thus Princip chose the date of Serbia's 14th century defeat in Kosovo and McVeigh chose the anniversary of Janet Reno's bloodbath at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. I've also frequently heard it suggested that the timing of the recent attacks was linked somehow to the signing of the Camp David agreement in September 1978.

[BlackjackPershing]

We shouldn't forget how long a memory Moslems have. 9-11 helped me develop a longer one.

[Lurker]

Remember this: A moderate muslim is one who carries a grudge for only 8 generations.

L

[P-40]

I think they just chose 9/11 because the date worked for them.
I've yet to hear proof to the contrary. The original date was for sometime in June, if memory serves me correctly.

[lightman]

For Coptic Christians (found mostly in Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia) September 11 is the beginning of the New Year. There is no love between muzzies and Christians in that region.

From missionstclare.com

Feast of El-Nayrouz (Beginning of the Blessed Coptic Year)

Today is the beginning of the blessed Coptic year. Let us keep it a holy day with all chastity and purity. Let us refrain from evil deeds and start a new acceptable life. The Apostle Paul said: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:17, 18). The Prophet Isaiah also said: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord" (Isaiah 61:1, 2) and the Prophet David said: "You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance" (Psalm 65:11).

[Salamander]

Because of our emergency phone call system, 9-1-1 is something that even little kids will forever connect to it.

I know I do.

[C210N]

If 9/11 had been rainy in NYC and in DC, we'd all be talking about 9/12 (or 9/13) right now. And the folks-who-find-meaning-in-dates would have found many reasons why 9/12 (or 9/13) was purposefully used.

[P-40]

Because of our emergency phone call system, 9-1-1

I don't know. I've never heard anything to connect it to that date that I would call unimpeachable evidence. I do remember waiting for the talking heads on the news to make the connection...and that took awhile.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

They probably did just attack as soon as they were ready to do so. It probably isn't symbolic.

[Cicero]

Speaking of the defeat of the Ottoman Turks at Vienna in 1683, one of the major turning points in history, one of my favorite fantasy novels is Tim Powers first book, "The Drawing of the Dark." I just got through re-reading it last week.

It's a great read, especially for SF fans, King Arthur lovers, and those who take the brewing of classic beer seriously.

There's a wonderful blend of comedy and seriousness, because the future of western civilization is at stake.

[Strategerist]

I think it was simply because the weather was good. If there was a low cloud deck on the entire East Coast or there was forecast to be one, it would have been delayed.

People have this powerful psychological need to find some meaning in the date, though.

[yldstrk]

They can now count September 11 as the beginning of the end for their stupid plan of taking over the world.

[beef]

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. If your birthday is in the winter this year, it will be in the summer a few years from now. Because of this, the anniversary of an event will fall on different days depending on which calendar you use. I would believe an anniversary theory only if it jived with the Islamic calendar.

[Kitten Festival]

I'm sure the main reason is the one Hitchens cites - these dirtbags have long memories of perceived hurts and an overwhelming desire to destroy western civilization and introduce Islamic barbarism instead.

But I always felt they liked 9-11 for its emergency connotations, too.

Then, there was that weird zapf dingbats thing with the name, too, does anyone remember it, or how to do it? Something about 'death to israel' with the transformation of the 9-11 into zapf dingbats. These terrorists were real satanic f***s.

[Abigail Adams]

I have thought it interesting that the twin towers looked like the number 11.

[ChadGore]

All this numerology is BS.

[Howie66]

"Suicide killers"???

In the interest of accuracy and fairness: TERRORISTS

My memory makes that of an elephant look like that of a Piker.

Semper Fi!

[COEXERJ145]

If 9/11 had been rainy in NYC and in DC, we'd all be talking about 9/12 (or 9/13) right now.

Exactly. That day was chosen because the weather was clear and allowed the terrorists to fly the aircraft visually.

[freedomlover]

I find the timing of 9/11 to be very suspicious - too convenient relative to the elections. Why couldn't they have waited until just after the elections?

/moron rat

[srmorton]

I read somewhere online tonight that it was originally supposed to be on 5/11/2001. For some reason, I always thought that they chose 9-11 because it is the number used in the US for emergencies.

BTW, great article by Hitch.

[Jeff Gordon]

666/911 is an irrational number that is contrary to the definition of an irrational number.