Quote:
Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
I'll try to fill in 'the other side of the medal'.
Until 7:54 am Hawaii time on December 7, 1941, we were of the thought that Fortress America was impenetrable, protected by two oceans. Many operational and security mistakes plunged Pearl Harbor into a false sense of security. The Imperial Japanese Navy proved otherwise one minute later.
Until January 1993, we never thought the World Trade Center, twin pillars of America's financial might, would fall victim to an act of terrorism. A well-placed truck bomb proved otherwise.
Until 9:03 am CDT on April 19, 1995, we were of the thought that terrorism would not strike the United States again. Especially not in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. How wrong we were to assume 'the usual suspects' of Arab or Middle Eastern descent were responsible. And how horrified we were when it turned out that two home-grown American terrorists perpetrated this vile act of terror.
Until 8:48 am EDT on September 11, 2001 we also were of the attitude that such a violent act of terror would ever visit our country. Yes, we were complacent in thinking that way; by the time 'Black Tuesday' ended over 5000 people paid dearly with their lives for our previously complacent attitude.
I remember reading some years ago that Israel presented to the USA (I think it was after the raid on Entebbe in 1976) a copy of the Eleven Commandments - the Ten Commandments of the Bible with an additional commandment inserted by Israel: "Thou shalt not bow down to terrorism."
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto summed it up best; shortly after his return to Japan from the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was quoted as saying: "I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant, and filled him with a terrible resolve." Two years later, the 'sleeping giant' paid him back by shooting his aircraft down.
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Chuck,
I respected most of your thoughts on this board so far. However, I really hope you do not intend to connect Pearl Harbour with terrorism.
Sentinel,
A few examples to support my "viewpoint". The U.S. involvement in several government overthrows in Latin America (because the acting Presidents did not hamonize with that times' U.S. Government, secret wars in Panama, Laos, 30 years of secret war in Vietnam in order to install a government that appeared to be okay for the U.S. Government and its political conviction. The attempts to overthrow or just skill Fidel Castro on Cuba. Just a few examples for the "other side of the medal". Nevertheless, I should stress: these have been the questionable interventions and, partially, acts of terrorism of recent U.S. Governments and intelligence services, especially Hoover's FBI and the CIA of course. Sometimes, their carefully directed (wrong) information forced a certain U.S. Government's decision. Sometimes, the political players and, in particular, the U.S. citizens did not even know about certain operations. Of course, it is a nature of secret (or 'black') operations to be confidential. But this does not allow any kind of governmental terrorism. This topic definitely is too complex to be discussed in detail on a board like this.
However: identify the responsible terrorists who planned, supported and/or executed the attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon. These need to be punished.
Daniel