Posted on 09/12/2001 6:15:00 AM PDT by ppaul
About 5:50 am Pacific, ABC's Ted Koppel was being interviewed. He was in London. It was mentioned that before Koppel became famous for Nightline, he served as a correspondent covering the U.S. State Department. Koppel said he had been watching the ABC coverage this morning for a "couple of hours" and that he was "stunned" when he saw the interview early this morning of former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, and Cohen mentioned the use of nuclear weapons among the list of possible responses to yesterday's terrorist attack. Koppel said it was the first time he ever recalls any high level person mentioning nuclear weapons as even a possibility.
Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.
Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)
Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country.
If you're free enough.
Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.
No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fissioning chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American Resolve?
So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates did. Better start sleeping with one eye open.
There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons, were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the first.
You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.
Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time. Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.
Doesn't that sound like it could be useful, right about now??
What sweet revenge this would be, destroy their civilization, but LEAVE THEIR BUILDINGS STANDING.
I LOVE IT!
The persons who are responsible are dead or unknown.
It is not enough to deal with the individuals who are directly responsible, it is the IDEA, the BELIEF, the willingness to kill indiscriminately that must be obliterated, not just the individuals who carried it out, and are already dead. Get a grip on the reality of what we are dealing with. It is not the individuals so much as it is the belief system that has so little regard for human life that must be exterminated!
NONE of them. If our response is complete and total, there would be no resources out there capable of hitting other cities, etc.
Our "young" president is a patriotic, fighter pilot.
Clinton was as draft-dodging, lying, masterbating, taker of communist Chinese money, purgeror. I think I'd take Bush as president ANY day.
Your letter is worth repeating.....
An open letter to a terrorist:
Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.
Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)
Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country.
If you're free enough.
Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.
No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used 'em both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fissioning chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American Resolve?
So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates did. Better start sleeping with one eye open.
There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons, were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the first.
You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.
Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time. Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.
If some group or nation uses a nuclear weapon, the response of the world should be this: the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France, and whoever else wants to join in should call a joint press conference and announce that nuclear missiles from each of their respective countries are already in the air and heading towards targets in the offending country. Every civilized country would have to stand up and participate in this measure as it is simply too dangerous to everyone for anyone to think the things can ever be used for any reason. While this sounds farfetched, I'm not quite sure that it really is out of the realm of the possible, as each of the countries mentioned above understand fully the destabilizing consequences of allowing use of nukes to go unpunished in a grossly disproportionate manner.
Its about time people just started IGNORING what the Tim Russets, Jim Jennings, and other left-wing, jello-brained media lackies think or say.
We should pursue whatever options are necessary to accomplish our goal, i.e. to set an example of frightfulness which will make any other terrorist nations think twice about engaging or tacticly supporting an adventure like the one we endured this Tuesday.
Personally, I don't think a nuclear response is possible or necessary under the circumstances. Afghanistan is surrrounded by other nations and so is Iraq. Conventional weapons, liberally applied over a long enough period of time are adequate. After all, we aren't interested in taking them over, or putting any troops on the ground - just making an example of them by killing as many of their people as possible and screwing up their economy and lives BIG TIME. We can do that with conventional weapons.
To start what? Looking for the terrorists? I agree. When we find them, I would advocate the ultimate penalty. If a government was involved, they should pay the ultimate also. (the government, not the people)
Thomas Jefferson knew who his enemy was and defeated them. What many here (who cannot think) are advocating is using nuclear weapons to kill millions of people in several countries with no regard to whether or not the people or even their counties were involved. Are you one of them? If so maybe you should concider changing your screen name to "moron".
I also agree about Israel. They ought to mount a massive invasion of the West Bank and drive the terrorist scum back into Jordon and let them deal with it. Then take total control of God's Holy city and the temple mount, once and for all! Maybe we will see the Jewish people rebuild the Temple after all.
You are associated with Bill Clinton, therefore you are guilty of everything he did and you deserve to have yourself and all your family killed in retribution for his attack on the asprin factory and other atrocities. That is the exact analogy
Thomas Jefferson when he was alive was ready to decimate the British with all means necessary, especially after the Boston Massacre.
He was ready to kill all the people in England? Why didn't he have all those who were loyalist killed after the war?
I think once you get that through your polyannic head, you'll understand what it means to be an American.
You obviously understand what is it to be an Islamic extremists since you advocate exactly what they are doing, killing civilians. You aren't what an American should be, you are a disgrace to this country and humanity.
For the record, I advocate no mercy for those people or governments who perpetrated this atrocity. All the leaps you made about what I think and who I am are just that, the leaps of someone who is thoughtless and perhaps even stupid.
Wait no longer, she was on this morning.
This is a bunch of liberal BS! All Cohen and Ted Koppel are up to is scaring their masses! They want their stupid followers (anyone that votes for socialism) to be fearful that BUSH is going to use nuclear bombs. The LIBERAL machine has been on ATTACK mode since day one. The liberal media's reaction to this event is evidence of what the dem's are doing behind the camera.
I personally can't stand it when they get up in front of the camera and LIE, saying that they are going to be bipartisan and help the President in any way they can. When in fact you know (if you have half a brain) as soon as the camera is gone they are fighting this all the way.
I served my country, and I'm nothing like those people at all. That is NOT the analogy to be drawn here at all.
First off calling me names, only screams out how much of a liberal baiter you are. Second, you tell people they're wrong for wanting something that biblically is right. Third you come off like you're some how morally superior to the people in this thread, and have gone out of your way to use language that makes anyone who wants retibution to look like a primitive caveman.
Some of us are pretty sick and tired of liberalism. Some of us are pretty tired of political correctness. Some of would prefer the truth, and not a clinical version of what is a very dirty deed. Thinking clearly is important. Being rational is important. Both of these states of mind are severely important. Being compassionate is not. War is not about compassion. War is about winning pure and simple. The Russians spent a lot of time, and lost a lot of troops in Afghanistan. Why do you think they are fully behind America? Because they know what it's like to fight those people.
I would suggest a unified front here in America. Not one where people are calling names, or being indecisive about what should be done. Ideally what we want is simple. We want the people who did this to pay. The problem is that liberals only want them to pay a little, and the majority of America wants them to pay a lot. I'm willing to make things even, and not be overzealous in our retribution. However, that's not going to make a difference. The only way in the world to make it so this never happens again, is to make sure that there's nobody left to harbor any ill will.
That means all enemies, foreign and Domestic to pay.
I don't think I'm a disgrace to my country in the least. Nor do I think you are, however get something straight. I don't appreciate name calling, nor do I think it's nice to be uppity, especially when we're all supposed to be on the same side here.
I think your idea of an exact analogy is a little off. What I advocate is making the two sides equal. A better way to explain it, is to find a village full of innocent people in Afghanistan, approximately 5000 people, and drop one big bomb on them. That should make things equal. We lost close to that many people, and if it's terrorism they want, then it's terrorism they get.
Terrorists, only understand one thing, Terror. It's no different than liberals only understanding liberalism. They can't see anyone else's point of view, and they aren't willing to try. Much like a fundementalist islamic zealot who wants to give his life to allah to destroy America. There's no way of making them understand reason, so why bother?
If they are willing to die to the last man, then unfortunately, that is what America must do to make sure it doesn't happen here again. Of course with the way things are escalating, and the more pieces of the puzzle we see, it becomes more complex, and therefore we have to shift gameplans. We don't know who to put blame on at this point, so all of this is nothing more than heresay and conjecture until we have hard answers and proof.
I'm not willing to argue with you about the rights and wrongs, or stoop to name calling, or maligning you, like you've done to me. I'm more concerned with the truth of what is at stake, and how to proceed. I'm not in charge, and never would want to be in a time like this. I do feel the same way as a lot of people do here in middle America, that our country has been attacked, and retribution is called for.
If we're on the same page, that's fine. If not, we can agree to disagree. If you're an American, you're entitled to the freedoms and rights the same as the rest of us. I'd suggest maybe using your ability to write well written text for good. Maybe type a paragraph or two on the virtues of what you believe, instead of chastising the rest of us who have opinions that differ from yours.
One of the military reserve guys in my office, and a professional Bush hater, predicted that Bush would go to war over the spy plane. That turned out to be a preview of what we can expect in this case -- quiet planning and unexpected results.
We all want vengence, but what we need is the elimination of the threat. I don't know what the response is going to be, but I will bet my posting priveleges that it will be well thought, surprising, and effective, not just in the short run, but over the long haul.
I expect that the Arab governments are being given the opportunity to clean their own houses. After all, they consider the violent rabble a threat to their own power. What comes next I haven't a clue.
Okay. How about now? BOMBS AWAY!
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