At 04:00 PM 9/11/2001 -0400, Gautam wrote:
> > J. van Baardwijk wrote:
> > > If the US would be crazy enough to use nuclear weapons, then you better
> > > pray that your god has mercy on all Americans -- because there is no
>doubt
> > > in my mind that many more of them will then die in terrorist attacks.
> >
>K Street wrote:
> > That's not an appropriate thing to say at this time, Jeroen.
> >
>
>Even though it would be very likely with that series of events?
>
>Just brining the prospect of nuclear weapons in response to today's
>events is inappropriate. I'm sure nobody is considering that the US
>would respond that way. Except Gautam, who basically ranted the threat:
>"Evildoers beware: we will stop at nothing - NOTHING for revenge!"
>
>You guys totally ignored the rest of Jeroen's post, talking about
>not killing innocent people in response to the terrorist attacks.
>
>-- Matt Grimaldi
>
>I have spoken to _four_ professors of International Relations at the
>Kennedy School of Government today who thought that a nuclear response
>would be appropriate, were this an act of state-sponsored terrorism. I
>_hope_ that no innocent people are killed in our response. But I refuse to
>stand around handcuffed by that fear. Some innocents almost certainly will
>be killed by any response we make. I'm sorry about that. But a lot of
>innocent people died today, and the worst thing we could do is to dither in
>moral paralysis for fear that anything we do might cause a response.
>Nothing we did caused today's attacks. Nothing possibly could. They
>happened because there are evil people in the world who hate the United
>States. The American government failed today. It must do something to
>begin to repair that. The first thing it can do is make sure that those
>who did this pay - _whatever it takes to make that necessary_. The gloves
>_should_ come off.
"What atrocity would you commit to put an end to atrocity?" It's a
necessary question, even more so today, this day of days. I want to see
those who planned and executed this act to pay. I want to see these
terrorist's supporters to pay. I don't want to see my country's ideals
trampled on in a thirst for vengeance.
Our country's leaders promised us justice today, not vengeance. Justice
requires that we identify the perpetrators and prove their guilt. Vengeance
does not.
If we decide to take vengeance, we will have to kill every participant in
the plot, their families, their friends and acquaintances, and their
families, friends and acquaintances. And even then, we'll never be sure we
got them all, or that someone, somewhere won't try or do this again.
That's not to say this won't happen again. It will, or at least someone
will try. That's a given, no matter what course we take. In days to come,
our country's leaders will be under great pressure to exact a terrible
price for what happened today. At this time, more than any other, it's
important for them and for us to remember just what this country stands
for. It stands for freedom and justice. It stands for protecting the weak
and innocent. It stands for punishing the guilty. It does not stand for
indiscriminate killing of hundreds or thousands to get the relatively few
guilty persons. We have to stand for the positive, especially at this time,
when standing up for it is so difficult, yet so important.
Those who perpetuated this murderous crime, and those who assisted them
must pay. If that involves some governments and states, so be it. If that
means we have to attack Afghanistan or some other country, then let us do
so, by all means. But we shouldn't take such a step for revenge's sake.
When it's all over, we still have to live with ourselves, and the actions
we will take.
If this was a conventional war, fought between countries and governments, I
would support a Sherman-esqe policy of making war so terrible, the enemy
would soon sue for peace. But terrorism is a different type of war. One of
terrorism's aims is to undermine a country's principles and beliefs. To
adopt the terrorist's tactics against the terrorist, is IMHO, conceding one
of the terrorist's goals. That's something we can't let happen.
This has rambled a bit, but I live less than 10 miles away from the World
Trade Center. When I worked as a consultant, I had quite a few clients
there. For a time, I worked at 7 World Trade Center with Federal
Law-Enforcement. No doubt I had a few acquaintances among the building's
workers and the police who came on the scene. I've made some calls, but
still have no news about some of them. I *really* want to see whoever did
this wiped off the face of the earth. But I also want to be able to live
with myself afterward. Dilemma, no?
If you're into prayer, please pray for the victims at the World Trade
Center, the passengers and crew of the 4 airliners, and the Pentagon
workers and soldiers. Also, please pray for our leaders and citizens to
have wisdom, as they work through the difficult days ahead. How we respond
to this crisis will define our nation for some time to come. If you're not
into prayer, a good wish couldn't hurt.
Gautam (at least I think it was him) used to have a sig that said, "Freedom
is not free." If Americans ever truly thought that, they don't any more.
Freedom is not only costly, it's hard, too.
john
