Does America REALLY have the RESOLVE?

Personal Observation | 09/15/2001 | self

[Conservative_Rob]

I have not seen any threads on this topic, but, if we really do fight an "all out" WAR on Islamic terrorism, Americans have to face it that in the short run we will LOSE Mid-East oil imports and that our economy WILL be affected. This is what I see as the problem with the RESOLVE of the American people. Do we have the ability to perservere as our parents and grandparents did during WWII?? Personally, I am willing to pay any price so that my children will not have to worry about terrorism. I'm too old to enlist (or I would), but I can live with rationing, blackouts, gas lines, scrap drives, or whatever else it takes to finially eliminate the threat of terrorism. Look at the history of this country - our forefathers paid huge prices to create, maintain, and insure our liberty. Does this generation have what it takes??

[patriciaruth]

They will grow up. They will come through. They will make us proud.
They will be called "The Millennials" and their generation will be called the Milliennium Generation.

[neutrino]

You ask the same question I've wondered...so far, a lot of people are unaffected. Not on a material level, of course, but not on an emotional level either. Will our resolve continue if gas goes to $5 per gallon - when you can get it? And we have rotating blackouts? And we lose some liberties and some privacy? And we'll pay a price in blood too. Our young men, certainly. But even those of us in civilian life are likely to experience the losses that result from an ongoing campaign of terror against us. In this war, there will be NO noncombatants, and we'll all be on the front lines and in harms way.

I cannot answer for others. For me, the answer - one which is not arrived at lightly - is yes. The alternative is nothing less than the slow death of the US; and that means nothing less than the decline into darkness of all the world.

[patriciaruth]

They will grow up. They will come through. They will make us proud.
They will be called "The Millennials" and theirs will be the Millennium Generation.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

The answer is "yes". It will not hit until gas is over $3 a gallon and milk is $5 a gallon. When people are laid off, fired, because companies that are non-essential to the war effort shut down. But yes, most of my friends, neighbors, etc., are ready to go to the mat. And this bodes poorly for those who started this. We must kill them. All of them. No justice, no "trials", just obliterate them, their nations, their people, until we can proclaim vicotry.

[Howie66]

And it has been reported that in Baghdad, Sodamn Insane has decreed to change that capitol citys' name to "Baby Milk Factory" and has recommended that Taliban Leaders change Kabul to "Aspirin Factory". The boy really is hitting his stride.

[buckalfa]

I share your doubts. Once the shock and sorrow wears off,what then? Even in the second admendment stronghold of West Virginia, I sense no groundswell of support for the task that lies ahead, or even a conceptulization of what lies ahead if the United States is to prevail. American society today is not the same as the one that responded to the challenge of Pearl Harbor. We are soft, we are greedy, and no longer have the WASPish morality that dominated the US during the first five decades of the past century. It will be interesting to see how long unity and resolve lasts as America sets forth to protect itself from the evil that has befallen us.

[Terry Mross]

Do we have the resolve? If we use nukes I'll say "yes". If we don't, I'll say, sadly, "no". And I'm afraid once CNN starts showing a picture of one dead baby over and over the "resolve" will go by the way side.

[Terry Mross]

If we use Nukes, it'll be too late for the squeamish to start crying. The deed will have been done.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

I don't know where in Florida you are, but where we are, now known as "alternate Ground Zero #3", we are pissed. This community took a whacking from the tropical storm, and still want to wipe the bastards off of the face of the earth. I do hope you're not trapped in liberal paradises like "South Beach" or "Key West" by chance.....

WWJWD?

[Nuke'm Glowing]

That's the kind of resolve I love to hear.

WWJWD?

[Howie66]

In all seriousness, I honestly believe that not only does America have the resolve, but the level of determination is beyond anything that I would have imagined on Monday evening (10 September 2001). This act of war not only affected those in NYC, Washington D.C., and in southern Pennsylvania. It has affected all of us, regardless of race, color, gender, and political persuasion (with the possible exception of a few surly malcontents like Meehan, Peter Jennings, Dan Blather et al). Everywhere I have looked people are no longer shocked and dismayed, they are frankly pi$$ed off and not willing to play "Mr. Niceguy" any longer. To paraphrase Admiral Yamamoto: "They (Bin Laden and his ilk) have awakened a sleeping giant." I doubt seriously that many in the world this day doubt what is coming down the pike. I just Thank God that we have "W" standing at the helm. We would really be in a world of hurt had algore been allowed to steal the election.

[Miss Marple]

The people are angry, but they don't quite understand yet (thanks to our SO helpful media). I have told all my family that this is going to be as big as WWII. I expect my husband to be called back to the mines so that younger engineers are able to work elswhere. I also expect to see the draft reinstated.

President Bush is using every opportunity to prepare the nation for this task. He is warning that it won't be easy, and it won't be quick. It is our responsibility to help our friends and neighbors to acquire the resolve we will need

The commitment of our fathers is the calling of our time.

[SamAdams76]

Does America have the resolve? Yes they do. The images of the burning towers in NYC will be forever etched in our collective conscience. We shall never forget.

Also, and this is important, this will surely not be the LAST terrorist act that will occur on American soil. As the military action commences, you will begin to see desparate acts of terrorism intended to dispirt the American people. This will not work.

[DCBryan1]

This is an American! Some mother's son! Avenge his death!

NEVER FORGET!

NEVER FORGIVE!</font size> Does this answer your question?

These are dead Parents, Sons, Daughters, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Family, Americans!

NEVER FORGET!

NEVER FORGIVE!</font size>

[tallhappy]

Good points. But all addressable.

It is now total re-organization time. Everyone changes.

People are still talking about this within the confines of pre-911 worldview and paradigm.

Nothing, not one formerly held precept on policy and strategy is expendable today and most need to be thrown out.

People still will argue against using our oil in Alaska, building missile defense, against closer ties to Mexico.

But they are operating in what might as well be a history book.

[ikanakattara]

I hope these pictures are archived forever somewhere. As our nation moves into the response phase, I hope that whenever some media motormouth starts whining about "appeasement," we simply e-mail them one of these pictures. Pay $5 a gallon for gas? I'd pay $15. I'd pay whatever it takes, because *these people paid with their lives.* The firefighters who went into those buildings *paid with their lives.* What sacrifice could we make comparable to that?

[AeWingnut]

I will get in trouble for this but...
"We" didn't have the resolve to investigate Clinton's treason. "We" wanted to
move on. I know it isn't the same but in a way it is.

President Bush said we will make no distinction between those that committ terrorist acts and those that harbor terrorsists.
Should we make no distinction between those that sympathize and apologize for terrorists ?

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I take offense to those statements that my generation does not have what it takes. While many in my generation are lefty greens who want to sit in a circle holding hands singing kumba-ya, there are many like me who are willing to serve my country if I am ever called to do so. I am preparing for that in ROTC, We can win this and many in my generation have resolve. I know a friend who joined Army ROTC because of this incident. We have some patriots among us.

[Mike Darancette]

Does America REALLY have the RESOLVE?

Today we do, but less than yesterday and more than tomorrow.

When 9-11's butcher's bill is finally tallied and is 25% of what was originally estimated some will say "It could have been worse".

When it is deemed that North Slope Oil and Oregon Wheat are more essential to the war effort than Caribou and Suckerfish some will say "What about the Environment?".

When the S/S and Medicare surpluses are deprived of billions for munitions and hardware some will say "We are robbing the old and sick".

When Bush's approval rating drops below 60% because immediate retribution in blood is not forthcoming some will say "He wasn't elected legally anyway (Gore won the popular vote) so why should I sacrifice for Bush's war?".

When the UN elites start the mantra of moral equivalence pointing out our actions in Iraq and Kosovo and the poverty of most of the Moslem world some will say "Maybe it's our fault for being rich and free".

This event has been presented on broadcast and cable in real-time complete with stop action - live windows - pundit interviews - victim interviews - and mountains of speculation, misinformation, rumors and call in viewers. This all in the 96 hours following the event. During the first 96 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor - America was in a state of declared war against Japan and Germany - the Philippines, Hong Kong and Malaysia had been attacked and Australia severely threatened.

In 1941 America was reconciled to the fact that we would become involved in a big way with the hostilities. We had watched the advance of Hitlerism with shock as Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, France, the Low Countries, Korea, large portions of China and Northern Africa were overrun with ease. We supported plucky Britain and listened with awe and foreboding to Edward R. Morrow's descriptions of the Blitz live from London. We wondered about Hitler's duplicity in attacking the Soviet Union. In 1941 America had already instituted a draft, we were rebuilding our forces and supplying Britain's war effort with munitions, warships and protecting her shipping.

America was not ready for this and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain any pro-war spirit for any length of time over 6 months. This is the MTV, Microwave and instant gratification 21st Century.

As for me I am a "My country right or wrong", "love it or leave it" Conservative and I thank God that Bush is our president and not Gore.