posted on September 11, 2001 11:48:18 AM new
Embarrassed to ask, because I should know this stuff, but I don't.
Can someone tell me, who this 'bin Ladan' who is suspected of these terrorist attacks, is, what his beef with the US is, what religion / terrorist group he is associated with, which country is he from - and which countries are 'protecting' or harbouring him?
posted on September 11, 2001 11:54:30 AM new
He's an Egyptian national, muslim extremist, inherited a huge amount of family wealth, currently being hidden and protected by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
posted on September 11, 2001 11:57:52 AM new
He is already wanted in the US for bombing our foreign missions. We haven't been able to capture him. He is obviously getting support from more than one country.
They said the Palestinians are celebrating in the streets shouting "God is Great" and passing out candy.
posted on September 11, 2001 12:00:25 PM new
Takes lots of money and planning to do what was done. Money from there, money from here, money from many other countries. And zealots.
posted on September 11, 2001 12:13:02 PM new
Another question - perhaps being more specific will help.
These terrorists are not associated with any country in particular, correct? That is, no country's leader is agreeing with this... everyone has condemned it.
So how will the US ever be able to punish those responsible, when the terrorists are spread here and there, in different countries? (If that is correct - I'm not very knowledgeble about world current events).
This is just such a shock. If it can be done to the United States, what place in the world is safe?
posted on September 11, 2001 12:19:35 PM new
Bin Laden has had past ties with Libya at one time. I believe he was "politely" asked to leave. Currently he is the "guest" of the Taliban in Afghanistan. He is there by their permission. So right now, Afghanistan would not be a great place to be safety-wise. I think we're going to see some heads roll in the next few weeks.
posted on September 11, 2001 12:34:49 PM new
Bin Laden is, I think, a Saudi. It's time to end it NOW. These people can't opperate without bases and money. It should be made clear that any government giving aid and comfort to any terrorist movement will be considered at war with the United States. The taliban can give us Bin Laden, or they can give us Kabul. The same for any, and all, terrorist groups. Not asprin factory war, but glow in the dark war. The host governments can destroy these groups, if they wish. They just need to understand what the alternitives are.
posted on September 11, 2001 01:53:45 PM new
I'm wondering if 6 months from now we will have any true answers or justice. We have had little success getting at any terrorists in foreign countries or getting at the truth of who actually did what.
The economic reprecussions have yet to be fully felt from this terrorist act. How can we get our commercial aircraft back into service ? At any given time there are 4000 planes over the US - which one will be a guided missle?
IMHO this attack will have a far greater effect than the initial loss of life and property. Our lives will be drastically changed from this day on, both for security and economic reasons.
A Terrorist attack will put our country on a war footing indefinitely.
posted on September 11, 2001 01:55:57 PM new
Good question. I heard a politician say today that it was time to end the unrest in the Middle East for once and all.
All the tribal infighting that has been going on forever in the Middle East needs to stop. No more peace accords that are continuely broken, no more diplomacy. Just stop!
posted on September 11, 2001 02:02:09 PM new
Personally, I think the endless, and ultimately pointless, chasing of small groups of terrorists throughout the globe should stop.
If we know the country that has been harboring the terrorists that committed this heinous act of war on the US...we should obliterate it. Immediately.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:03:07 PM new
I watched on the news earlier today, a news analyst, who specialises in terrorism.
He said that the United States (and, I am sure, other countries), has been too lax in dealing with known terrorist groups.
He mentioned the Gahad (sp). He said they teach that Heaven is better than earth - and to get there, you must perform acts against Americans, Jews, (and one other group - can't remember which).
The analyst said that this is being taught to children as young as eleven... they are literally raised up believing this.
Anyhow, his final suggestion was that instead of waiting for these groups to finish their training and begin their attacks, they be taken care of immediately.
The question he didn't answer, was this - do you attack the whole country that these terrorist may be located in - and if not, how do you just attack them, and not innocents in those countries?
posted on September 11, 2001 02:12:03 PM new
The "nuke 'em till they glow" mentality really doesn't fly with most Americans, I think. The thought of hurting civilians is very distasteful and offends our sensibility of fair play.
Hopefully someone will finally come up with a creative solution......but I don't have much hope for that.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:16:25 PM new
"The question he didn't answer, was this - do you attack the whole country that these terrorist may be located in - and if not, how do you just attack them, and not innocents in those countries?"
There are no innocents in war. Joe Biden was talking about a measured response to these attacks. Stuff it Joe! The response should be in megatons. Give us your terrorists, or give us your capitol cities.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:17:16 PM new
I am Canadian, and 'nuke em till they glow' doesn't fly with me either.
I do strongly want everyone responsible for this to be punished (killed) - but the thought of more civilian lives being lost to do so horrifies me.
I just cannot imagine how they can do it though, without involving more innocents.
I must say the reports of people in Palestine cheering about this has my blood boiling.
What sort of brainwashing hatred must they be fed to cheer this loss of life? And how can they expect anyone's sympathy in their own crisis' after this display?
posted on September 11, 2001 02:20:54 PM new
Tex1, you said,
"There are no innocents in war. Joe Biden was talking about a measured response to these attacks. Stuff it Joe! The response should be in megatons. Give us your terrorists, or give us your capitol cities. "
Would we be any better than the terrorists then? How?
Isn't that what they did today - they have a problem with the US, and, as you say 'there are no innocents'?
I do know these terrorists have to be brought to justice - fast, but, if there is a way to do it without hurting innocents, I'd like to see it done that way, even if it takes a bit longer.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:21:55 PM new
I just can't imagine how anyone will ever find political correctness in war. Or any kind of war without civilian casualties. Hello? Point me to a war that only killed soldiers please....
posted on September 11, 2001 02:23:14 PM new
A few dozen nukes would remove every city in Afganistan of more than 5000 population and if you deliberatly ground burst them instead of air burst the fall out levels would be high enough to depopulate the rest of the country completely. You might have a few hundred left alive in very remote mountain areas.
That might upset Pakistan and Bengledesh a bit down wind.
They are alsways talking about reducing the inventory of nukes anyway...
posted on September 11, 2001 02:25:36 PM new
The news I saw of palestinians cheering was a group of kids and one toothy old hag along with a few grown men. They dont represent all of the middle east. I also saw that PEPSI soda machine in the background too. Betcha it made Pepsi cringe. Or SHOULD be making them cringe.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:27:52 PM new
Pearl Harbor was an attack from one military force to another. THIS attack was in an office building, aimed at civilian women, children, men, during a busy workday, planned at the time they would be sitting at the DESKS, not at their battle stations.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:34:09 PM new
Hepburn,
If that is the case, then I guess I would support a war on Afganistan, as much as I hate the thought of war.
But - is Afganistan willing to go to war over this?
If at this point they found and turned in Bin Laden's group - it is possible they didn't know he was up to anything like this?
Can Afganistan save itself from war with the United States at this point?
I think that from now on, any group that threatens a country, should be dealt with.
I agree with the CNN analysist - if you are training them to hate and kill, eventually they will. Deal with it before then, before it becomes a full out war.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:35:19 PM new
Jales4,
The countries that host the people are no better than the terrorists. It's time to end it. NOW! We have been too nice for too long. Terrorism exists because they think they can do things like this and we won't respond. The sad thing is, maybe, we won't. You can't prune a weed. It must be killed at the root, or it just grows back.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:37:33 PM new
Afganistan will NOT turn them in. They hve refused before. And is Afganistan ready to go to war over them? Probably. They want to be martyrs. Cant kill all the terrorists. They are everywhere. YOu can get rid of some, but not all. I see no solution. But people will do to you what you LET them do to you. So far, we, the USA, have done nothing. Something is better than nothing. What is that soemthing we should do? Got me.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:41:55 PM new
Tex1,
My gut is in agreement with you. Afganistan bears responsibility for allowing this group sanctuary in their country.
Every other part of me fears a war, more deaths, possibly more attacks on North American soil.
A question though, what about all the terrorists that are residing in the US (and Canada), already?
I do NOT want to see internments, or racism against innocent immigrants, but I have read that a lot of these terrorist groups get their funding from their supporters INSIDE the US.
posted on September 11, 2001 02:49:15 PM new
Funding came come from many ways. Ebay, for example. How many Afganistan rugs are being sold and the base is in NY, but the supply is from Afganistan? The goods being shipped here by an Afganistani, the funds being sent to that same Afganistani? Thats just a sample.
