Free Republic

"Relying, apparently, on concrete findings, former top U.S. weapons inspector Dr. David Kay said that "the Iraqis had developed new techniques for drying anthrax - techniques that were superior to anything the United States or the old Soviet Union had. That would make the former regime of Saddam Hussein the most sophisticated manufacturer of anthrax in the world." (Washington Post, 16 septembre 2005)

<p>While the morning of September 11, 2001 affected people everywhere, the place where I work was one those most greatly, directly struck – literally -- by the attacks. Although I was not there at the time, many of the people I work with had spent their entire careers in the Twin Towers, at one of the several commodities exchanges or affiliated firms located there. Just about every professional associate I have who is over the age of 25 has a 9/11 story to tell. You have seen some of their pictures. One former associate sat at his desk on the 85th floor of the north Tower that morning, dumbstruck as a strange “dot” appeared in the distance and proceeded to grow at incalculable speed as it approached. He dove under his desk when the image of a jetliner speeding toward him registered. The last thing he saw was its underbelly and wing as it veered up to plow into the building a few floors above him. It is to be expected, then, that when the people on the commodities exchanges pause to remember the morning of 9/11, they remember as well as anyone, because they lived each trying moment of that day.</p>

CNN special reports on 9/11.

Up against fanaticism If straight talk of savagery offends you, if you believe in ethnic and gender diversity but not diversity of thought or if you think there is an acceptable gray area between good and evil, then turn to the funny pages, and take the children, too. This piece is not for you. We published pictures Thursday of burnt American corpses hanging from an Iraqi bridge behind a mob of grinning Muslims. Some readers didn’t like it. Mothers said it frightened their children. A woman who works with Muslim physicians thought it might offend or endanger them. Well, we...