Guys,
You can quote all of the news sources you like, or even the government saying so and so acted alone, but it says NOTHING! Long before 911 this country, along with others, was hated by the muslims (no doubt the minority) and these people are spread out all over the world. How about they quietly infiltrated this country a long time ago and their venom has been spreading right among us. Does anyone think going after Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan is going to eradicate the ideology? All we will do is quiet things and provide some stability short term but we cannot suppress the beliefs that these people have had forever. We live in a far different world now and it did not start with 911. It started long before then but the 911 attacks were the wake up call for all of us and all the world.
Things will ebb and flow for the remainder of our lives and no doubt forever. There are too many have nots in this world that hate us and we have to live with that whether we like it or not. Unless we would have chosen isolationism a long time ago there was no way to avoid the plight we find ourselves in. The Israelis only remain as safe as they are because they take no prisoners and in retaliation can be as brutal as they need to be to stay safe. We don't fight that way thus the problem will follow us through our lives and into the next generation.
For the terrorists women, children, civilian targets, whatever, they are all fair game in their ideological crusade. You cannot beat that mentality unless you are willing to match fire with fire. This country has the ability to obliterate everything standing in any country in the world but would NEVER do it. Imagine the message we would send if we were to level a major Muslim city and send the message that with all our power we are showing you that we can be as ruthless as you have been. What an eye opener but it will never happen - too much world condemnation and the tarnishing of our nation as an aggressor - something we have never really been.
Get used to continual attacks, bombings, killing, and the like as it is now life as we know it. It's sad but I believe it to be true. Unless the "ugly americans" choose to really get ugly things will never change in the course of our lives - not when they are training their children to take over the terror when the people in their early years (20's and 30's) are no longer here. We raise our kids on Sesame Street and Nickelodean while they raise theirs on guns and terror tactics. How do we match that?
Sammy,
I don't think it is fair to ignore Fred. Whether you agree/disagree with what he feels he represents a different perspective and we all have to be open to the feelings of others. At times I believe Fred has the right idea about certain things but it just doesn't come out that way when he puts it in words. We all know you are a detailed peson and do not usually post opinion without sources but sometimes with opinion YOU are the only source - just like with what I just wrote. There were no news quotes - just my feelings. I wouldn't expect anyone to say they are going to ignore me for my feelings, or opinions, as I, like Fred, have not attacked or offended anyone with what I have said.
This is a great place to air our thoughts and there will always be people with feedback - both positve and negative - no matter what you say. We all have to learn to accept that not everyone thinks exactly like we do.
I hope to see some of you at the meeting tonight. Harry