First reports here from people I've spoken to whom I trust - however,
remember that these are first reports and therefore highly suspect.
2 airplanes crashed into the WTC towers, destroying both. Possibly there
were additional explosives in both buildings. 50,000 people work in the
two towers. A significant fraction of those were almost certainly
evacuated.
1 airplane crashed into the Pentagon. The outer wall collapsed recently.
No figures on casualties - about 20,000 work in the building, and most seem
to have escaped unharmed. A small mercy, perhaps, on this day of horrors.
1 airplane (a 747, possibly) has crashed outside of Pittsburgh.
Slightly less reliable:
2 airplanes seem to be in the air headed toward Houston and LA out of
contact with the FAA. They are presumed hijacked.
There are reports of a fire on the National Mall.
Both my parents are unharmed, on a personal note, for those of you who know
that they work in Washington.
I strongly urge everyone to donate blood immediately. There is a demand
for massive amounts of blood in both NYC and Washington - wherever in the
country you are, please donate blood.
I have spent much of this morning in prayer. I'm sure that many of you
have done likewise. May God shelter and strengthen you all in this moment
of tragedy. This conspiracy was far too large to keep secret for very
long. We will find out who did this. We will have vengeance - of that I
have no doubt. If it was a country, then it does not even seem impossible
that nuclear weapons will be used - I have heard many people here at the
Kennedy School say that today. If it was some individual or group of
individuals, then nothing on earth can shelter them, I have no doubt. The
Israelis hunted down and killed like the animals they were every person
responsible for the Munich Olympics massacre. We will do no less. But we
are Americans. We are stronger, and better, than whoever has done this to
us. We will go on, and we will heal. I believe that if I believe nothing
else on this earth. May God protect you all.
Gautam Mukunda
Administrator
Fifth Annual "Jubilee" Russian Investment Symposium
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Direct: +1.617.495.3043
Fax: +1.617.495.8963
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Freedom is not free."
