I was working with a Swiss NGO in Kosovo on 9/11. I saw a ‘News Alert’ on my PC that a plane hit the World Trade Center in New York. Then I saw a second ‘News Alert’ that a second plane hit the second World Trade Center Tower. I decided to go home to watch the News on Television. Well, I could not immediately, because we just happened to have a power cut. Anyway, the News was of course retold and re-shown a thousand time and I did of course see and read all the details later.
Let me tell you of my first and second thought a little bit later in this article.
I made it my ‘hobby’ to ask friends and acquaintances ‘please tell me your first and second thought’ when you watched the attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
Interestingly the main ‘first thought’ of Muslims was: “It could not have been us, we are not that good”.
I was surprised by an American national who took me aside during a function in Kosovo and said to me: “You know, I would not be surprised if it was ‘us'” I responded that I would not be surprised either, but I am surprised that you, an American, tell me this. His answer was “I have spent several years in Central America and I have seen what our CIA does.”
To me still there are many open questions about 9/11. Personally I fail to understand how 3 Towers collapsed when only two planes hit. And why was this so often ignored by the media (that there was a third tower)?
There are so many open questions about the whole operation. I am somewhat an expert on Crime: I for instance just watched a crime series on German satellite TV. I can therefore say: You can recognize a serial criminal on his serial ‘hints’. Now look at 9/11: Did Al Qaeeda manage anything of that scale? before or after 9/11?
Practically all crimes that 9/11 is accused of are fairly stupid and rather basic, nothing in the sophistication of 9/11. But that is all another topic.
And on top of it all: Usama bin Laden could have been taken alive. But if he would have been put into a court he would have had to be questioned on 9/11. And possibly they guy in his Afghan cave did not have a clue about the whole thing.
My own first and second thought on 9/11 were the following:
1. What a fantastic logistical achievement !
2. And now the world history will change for the worse, because it is to be expected that the US Government
will react severely and into the wrong direction.
Unfortunately I was right. Air forces bombed whole countries to catch Usama bin Laden. Like shooting a fly with a machine gun. Right from the beginning it was clear to me that he will be caught by a team of special forces and not the air force. And then wars were fought in Afghanistan and Iraq with the excuse of 9/11 and Al Qaeeda. Al Qaeeda is now in Iraq, but they were not there when the Americans walked in.
Anyway, just some private reflections. I mourn the death of all innocent civilians, the 3000 or so on 9/11 in the USA – and afterwards the hundreds of thousands in all wars on terror …
Inna lilla he wa inna alaehe rajeoon – We are all from Allah and to Him we all return.
Categories: Americas, Crime, Criminal Justice, Hate Crime, United States
An Individual, a group and a State terrorism – is there any difference?
Today is the 11th September. Americans all over the country are paying homage to the memory of over 3000 innocent persons, who lost their lives in terrible and senseless terror attacks on USA soil.
I watched on International TVs and Internet, how President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and other important officials paid moving tributes to the victims as well as expressed their support to the families and the brave fire fighters and other servicemen who worked to save human life. They also reconfirmed their pledge that United States is standing strong in the face of adversaries.
Only callous people would not be moved by this visible show of solidarity, noble wishes and resolve. As a peace loving soul, I wish that such incidents would never take place. I also share the USA grief and condemn such terrorism.
With these thoughts in my head, my mind wondered to another part of the globe, we call the Islamic world. Since 11th September 2001, they have also suffered tremendously. First the USA invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, then illegal war on Iraq. These two American initiated wars have cost nearly a trillion dollars and over 1 million causalities. Add to this the USA supported killing spree in Libya and now in Syria. Between these visible slaughters, USA have conducted covert operations by Drone bombings, secret military runs in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan, causing thousands of deaths of innocent men, women and children. What is common here?
NOW I want to say it something loudly here.
The countries USA have occupied, destroyed its system and killed and maimed its populations have one thing in common. They all have Islam as the main religion.
Is there anyone today who is mourning those thousands upon thousands victims of USA State terrorism? Is Muslim blood cheaper than the rest of the humanity? Where are the protests, flag hoisting ceremonies and statements of solidarity with Muslim victims?
President Obama in a very recent TV address said; USA is not at war with Islam.
If decent people of the world have to take this statement at face value, then Obama should also stop butchering innocent Muslims, otherwise this empty rhetoric is plain BS, as they say in USA.
Dear Bashy Quraishy I can relate with some of the pain that you express, seeing the Muslims suffering in many if not all countries. So, I am not arguing against the essence of your comment, but, only want to bring out one isolated point. Perhaps, the first line in your comment is meant to be the title:
There is one little difference. Wars in human history and of one group of people thrusting themselves on others have had some constructive value as well, in addition to obvious murder and mayhem. For example, I can imagine that if the British had not forced themselves on sub-continent India there would have been no railway or any other technology in that part of the world and the Mughal kings could still be arranging royal mushairas, where Ghalibs and Zoaks of our time would be entertaining the masses with their poetry. Life would have been simple, but, also silly, when seen from our present vantage point. So, state aggression often yields something positive as a side effect. But, individual terrorism hurts everyone and destroys every thing, even the group in whose name it is perpetrated and has no creative value at all, at least in our times.
What gets on my nerve with the ‘state-sponsored-terrorism’ is its hypocrisy. They claim to bring democracy and freedom while murdering and destroying.
my initial thoughts were what an awful accident until I saw the second plane hit, it all looked tome like those awful movies on tv.it’s just like a movie where death and destruction is entertainment to people except this is real ,not a hollywood film being played. I can’t help but wonder where the terrorist got their inspiration from.The reality hit me real hard and took me back to my childhood back in Lebanon I was five years old.
On one beautiful afternoon ,my mother and I and my baby sister were sitting and relaxing on a small sand dune just enjoying the most peaceful moments,until an evil pearcing sound swept across the sky as I looked up towards this awful sound, I saw a couple of evil looking planes sweep across the sky so quickly and the sounds of explosions, and bullets buzzing all around us . my poor mother hunched over me and my baby sister. meanwhile; my hands were still in the sand and the last buzzing sound swept across my right ear and it all suddenly stopped that’s when I felt an excruciating burning in my finger that last evil buzzing sound almost ended my life , thank god it landed in my hand while still in the sand and burned my finger a little.This was my first memory of what evil is. War machines and what hatred does.The feeling of helplessness and what’s next, Oh my God this means war again.God help us, those were my mothers words uttered while under fire. This is the only word that gave me comfort and I heard the same word uttered out of the mouth’s of many on tv.who were there at the scene. It all looked like Lebanon all over again to me, and I realized that even this great big country is vulnerable. My last thoughts, I dread war and animosity &those that promote it and I pray for the peace of the world . we all need to pray for peace .
as for the brothers comments about war is necessary to promote advancements and technology you forgot that islam brought learning and advancements in many fields in it’s golden days to europe and other parts of the world with the love of god and humanity and not with the intention of greed and supremacy
On June 8, 1967, US Navy intelligence ship USS Liberty was suddenly and brutally attacked on the high seas in international waters by the air and naval forces of Israel. The Israeli forces attacked with full knowledge that this was an American ship and lied about it. Survivors have been forbidden for 40 years to tell their story under oath to the American public. The USS Liberty Memorial web site tells their story and is dedicated to the memory of the 34 brave men who died.
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