What is the most important part of what happened yesterday, Tuesday September 11? There are so many to pick from. One that jumps out automatically, are the thousands of people who died. A tragedy, of course. Another is the realization of how vulnerable countries are to terrorism. More specifically, airplane hijackings and the like. Another is the financial chaos. Those World Trade Center things were involved in a huge proportion of America's economy. 15 to 20 billion in insurance costs alone. The two towers were, in fact, a monument to American capitalism and Americana herself. The symbolic tumbling is significant. Another is the likely long lasting ramifications for international relations. The list goes on and on. So many aspects of life were affected that it's hard to imagine.
If I had to make a choice on which aspect was the most significant, I would have to say that the ramifications for international relations outweigh all others. It's impossible to say, of course, what those ramifications will be. It's impossible to say even, whether the terrorist attack is over or not. I can easily envision suicidal Arabs (not to be racist or anything) strolling up to elementary school playgrounds and hosing down second graders with machine guns. I can easily envision gas attacks in a crowded movie theatre. I can easily envision many things. I'm getting off topic I think.
So, assuming that the terrorism is over for now, in the US, what happens now? Well, the most extreme of scenarios involves world wide war. George W indicated that he will treat the harbourers of the terrorists as if they were the terrorists themselves. This, as I see it, throws open the door for an American attack on actual autonomous countries rather than individuals. Effectively, going to war. Indeed, the term 'acts of war' has been bandied about since early yesterday. If US attacks Afghanistan, or Libya, or Palestine or whatever, what will happen? Will others step in? Hmmm. Could have long lasting effects.
If the US does not opt for total war, and in fact does nothing more than hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden, if it is indeed him who is responsible, what effect will that have? I don't pretend to be an expert on international relations. But you can't tell me that this stuff won't change the dynamics of Middle East politics and relations between America and the Middle East, irrevocably. I need more time to think about this.
Meanwhile....watch out for terrorists.
i think that maybe i disagree with your opinion.
you state that the most significant thing about tuesdays' attack is the international relations... but what about the total blow to humanity? it's a shame to think that the two previous world wars, as well as the other wars that have been going on all these years has taught us nothing.
the entire nation is crying for blood... and maybe they are justified in a way... their own leader (who, in my opinion is a moron) vows "revenge" but where will that get anybody? more bodies in the landfill. more children to grow up without parents, if they survive that long.
my own mother claims that, if it were up to her, there would be "no more third world countries (not to be racist or anything, as you put it) she'd wipe them off the planet.
people forget that there are just as many inncent people on the other side.
if the terrorists were from canada would we be so quick to blame the country for one person's (or groups)actions?
i think that now i'm off topic... but yesterday was an extremely black day not only for the US, but for all of humanity.
those were not just buildings or symbols that were attacked, those were people.
jones
Well, yes it was a tragedy, and the loss of human life was horrible. But this happens every day. Places like the Balkans, most of Africa, Afghanistan, Israel, Ireland, southeast Asia....every day, innocent people are dying in droves, for no good reason at all. Attacks on US embassies even. Americans die. All these deaths don't lessen the tragedy that happened. But in the greater scheme of things....okay, let me rephrase that. On a global setting, I don't know how many people die from unprovoked acts of criminal violence or warfare every year. But the number must be at least on the order of tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands. The deaths yesterday represent only a fraction of that number.
The target of the attack and the success of it however, are unique. And, depending on how America responds, this could be just a taste of the human devastation yet to come.
Calvin
that's right. it happens every where. every day. which brings me back to my other point. WHY HASN"T ANYBODY LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE PAST GOD KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS?!?
my apologies calvin. i'm quite sure i'm over-reacting, but it sort of bothers me that people jump on the whole thing and start nit picking right away... to say something just to say something.
yesterday, only a few short hours after the attacks i'm already getting spam through icq about flight numbers or other such crap and some body with too much time, trying to make something out of nothing. next thing i know, the arabs are going to start charging for my icq use (providing i don't send a copy to everybody i know)
again, i'm sorry. i don't blame or condem you. i just wish people could be a little more compasionate and respectful to both the people who died, and their loved ones.
J
I know this is weird and a lil off topic but here is something for you to ponder upon (that one of my friends wrote in his blog):
"I guess in a crisis like this, there bound to be some hysteria. People reading too much into things, maybe the stuff they were looking at was valid, or maybe coincidental. Either way, the people behind this definitely did their homework very well and executed their plans with military precision. Here are a couple of things I heard, the date of the incident, Sept. 11th, 9-11, as in 911, emergency. the flights that were hijacked were numbered as follows:
11, 93, 175, and 77
11 = day of attack
9+3 = 12 = Today
1+7+5 = 13 = Thursday
7+7 = 14 = Friday"
197.97.160.34
I'm having to side with Joni. Bravo Joni. Well said. Let me just add my two cents. How can you possibly be concerned with a few flight numbers, when there are so many other important things going on? How can it matter that 1+7+5 adds up to 13? How is this relevant? Nothing happened on September the 13. Well, I'll take back my words, if something does happen. But it won't. And even if it did, it will not be because 1+5+7=13. The terrorists picked these flights because they suited their purposes. They were cross country flights, originating on the east coast, so they would have plenty of fuel with which to make a big explosion. They didn't pick the damn flights because of the flight numbers. Terrorists who are about to die, and take several thousand people with them have better things to worry about than flight numbers. And so should you. Does the fact that 1+7+5 matter more, or the fact that thousands of people just died. That world politics will never be the same. That we may soon be looking at a third world war. In the face of these hard realities...don't you think you could spend your time thinking about more important things? I mean, please. For all we know, if you convert 175 into hexadecimal, maybe it'll spell FUCK or something. Who knows. Who cares.
Calvin
thanx cal.
jones