Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Afterburner: What We Did Right After 9/11
Townhall.com ^ | September 18, 2011 | Erica Johnsen

Posted on 09/18/2011 11:15:45 AM PDT by Kaslin

In the decade since the September 11th attacks, our running analyses of what we should have done in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would make Captain Hindsight proud. But in a great new Afterburner from PJTV, Bill Whittle makes the simple yet brilliant case that with the information we had, Americans behaved not only intelligently but honorably, and that freedom isn't free.

Afterburner with Bill Whittle: What We Did Right

Ed Morrissey has a more thorough rundown at HotAir, but I'd like to highlight several crucial points raised by Mr. Whittle that I think are overlooked all too often:

-The problem with waiting for a smoking gun is that people have already died

-Every major intelligence agency thought Saddam Hussein had WMD - yes, people died, but Bush did not lie

-Enhanced interrogation techniques' were never used to determine guilt or innocence; they were used to gain information from people who proudly and willfully admitted to having hurt Americans

-Because of our hardworking military and intelligence units, we have foiled at least eleven major terror attacks since 9/11

As Mr. Whittle says, Osama bin Laden was killed, not as the magnificent caliph living in the glorious palace he envisioned, but as a hunted coward, and he probably had time to realize that Americans are made of a far different stuff than what he had thought.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 911; billwhittle; binladen; intelligence; tenthanniversary911; wot

1 posted on 09/18/2011 11:15:48 AM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

*bump*


2 posted on 09/18/2011 11:48:06 AM PDT by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
What did we do right?

What we did and are doing is spending multiple trillions of American treasure, costing thousands of lives, occupied foreign lands fighting politically correct wars which have lasted years, at the expense of our brothers and sisters. A decade later our country is broke, economy circling the drain, gas prices sky high, millions unemployed, homeless, all while being forced to bailout the banksters, fatcorps and Wall Street. To fund this lunacy we're borrowing from Communist countries...In turn, we left our homeland borders wide open during war time, as millions from God knows where walked in on a red carpet laid out by the same corrupt government, as they've choked off our healthcare, jobs, social services, welfare, hospitals, and have literally compromised and undermined our entire broke system, and subverted our sacred electoral process.

Instead of fighting the enemy with justified brutal vengeance, sending a clear message, we fight wars with compassion at the cost of our sons, all while importing tens of thousands of Muslims into our country.

We did little right and now we're a flat broke, a weakened sitting duck, leaving the once united, vulnerable and divided.

3 posted on 09/18/2011 12:06:07 PM PDT by dragnet2 ((Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

When Obama was elected, as when the Spaniards threw out Aznar for a socialist, Osama probably believed, with good reason, that he had succeeded. He proved the Americans cannot sustain a long term fight, and won’t fight with all their mighty weapons. He could go happily to hell knowing he had furthered his cause.


4 posted on 09/18/2011 12:10:17 PM PDT by Defiant (Calling all citizens from all over the world, this is Captain America calling.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

Oh please friend have a little faith in your fellow Americans. If nothing more, at least have faith in yourself and look beyond the doom and gloom that is in vogue today in some parts of this country. The United States has faced giant problems before and persevered. We will do it again. Man up. The sky is NOT falling


5 posted on 09/18/2011 12:37:21 PM PDT by Rooivalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

I agree w/ your post.

What we have to learn to do is fight them cheaply. As Rudyard wrote, odds favor the cheaper man. We need to learn to play whackamole and abandon the role of invader.


6 posted on 09/18/2011 12:39:44 PM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Rooivalk
Oh please friend have a little faith in your fellow Americans.

An "Oh please" Pollyanna response.

Perhaps you should review #3 more closely. I never suggested or implied I have no faith in my fellow Americans. I was referring to your controlling government, it's betrayal of Americans and it's destructive country killing policies.

Man up. The sky is NOT falling

Wise up. It's not the sky that's falling, it's the American treasure, our economy, respect, stability and our sovereignty.

7 posted on 09/18/2011 2:59:35 PM PDT by dragnet2 ((Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
Perhaps you should review #3 more closely. I never suggested or implied I have no faith in my fellow Americans. I was referring to your controlling government, it's betrayal of Americans and it's destructive country killing policies.

I was taught in American history that the government is the people. That is the way the founding fathers set things up. Again I advise you to man up and get in the game. This government, ANY government is not going to do any more than the people let them. America will survive and thrive
8 posted on 09/18/2011 3:19:31 PM PDT by Rooivalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
As Mr. Whittle says, Osama bin Laden was killed, not as the magnificent caliph living in the glorious palace he envisioned, but as a hunted coward, and he probably had time to realize that Americans are made of a far different stuff than what he had thought.

I always thought it was instructive that in all the 7-1/2 years that George W. Bush served as President after 9/11, and for all the blustering that was done by Osama and al Queda, it was Osama who had to stay in hiding, while Pres. Bush was out in the public every single day.

9 posted on 09/18/2011 4:47:32 PM PDT by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rooivalk
Perhaps you should review #3 more closely. I never suggested or implied I have no faith in my fellow Americans. I was referring to your controlling government, it's betrayal of Americans and it's destructive country killing policies.

I was taught in American history that the government is the people.

They've subverted your American history. Hello?

Stop with your school boy naive responses. This controlling government no longer represents the people, most running this government are extremely controlling individuals, socialist and communist.

Stop with the Pollyanna comments.

10 posted on 09/18/2011 6:25:44 PM PDT by dragnet2 ((Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: The_Media_never_lie
I agree w/ your post.

It's the ugly truth. Some are too naive or just can't handle the truth.

Take care.

11 posted on 09/18/2011 6:27:32 PM PDT by dragnet2 ((Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
They've subverted your American history. Hello?

There is that all powerful "they" again. Point of fact: "They" put their pants on one leg at a time. Just like you. Just like me. Think about that and confront your fears

Stop with your school boy naive responses. This controlling government no longer represents the people, most running this government are extremely controlling individuals, socialist and communist.

I really could care less about your boogieman fears. In your response you said it all. They are individuals, as in they are no better than you or I. They are not ten feet tall. Swallow your fears and get off the sidelines. Don't let the Wizard frighten you into inaction

Stop with the Pollyanna comments.

Define what you mean by "Pollyanna". I just am not as in awe of these people as you seem to be.
12 posted on 09/19/2011 9:57:06 AM PDT by Rooivalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
Wise up. It's not the sky that's falling, it's the American treasure, our economy, respect, stability and our sovereignty.

Nothing you have complained about cannot not be rebuilt better and stronger than before. It just takes strong men and women. Just a few. I'm all in. Are you?
13 posted on 09/19/2011 10:05:59 AM PDT by Rooivalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
For more detail on what we did right in this war against al-Queda(AQ) and world wide terror read this book. America conducted a full court press against al-Queda and fought behind the scenes on all fronts. There are some unsung heroes who slapped the living you-know-what out of these Islamic nutcases. This included a savage battle in the digital world, aka Cyberspace, where we prevented AQ from attacking our vital Internet infrastructure. Granted there were missteps but at the end of the day we are winning and AQ is on the run.

COUNTERSTRIKE by Eric Schmitt | Untold Story of America's Secret Campaign Against al Qaeda. Spectacular events such as ...
14 posted on 09/19/2011 10:23:49 AM PDT by Rooivalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rooivalk
Some understand what is happening, others like you, haven't the slightest clue.

Do me a favor, save your naive Pollyanna responses for someone that will buy these classroom sophomoric comments.

Thanks.

15 posted on 09/19/2011 1:14:56 PM PDT by dragnet2 ((Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

I give you facts about America, while all you can do is post your bitter opinions. That says it all. Have a nice day


16 posted on 09/20/2011 11:09:40 AM PDT by Rooivalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

Sheesh! A couple 250,000mg chill pills should calm you down.
I was going to post on the topic, but not if I’m going to get lynched....WOW!


17 posted on 09/20/2011 11:36:32 AM PDT by READINABLUESTATE ((Most leftism can be traced to childhood birthday trauma))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson