In a few days it will be the sixth anniversary of 9/11, and it's worth asking the question: why hasn't there been another major terrorist strike? Why haven't the Islamic radicals at least made a second serious attempt to cause the kind of damage, or worse, than the attacks of September 11, 2001 inflicted on America?
One answer--which we can expect from Bush diehards--is that the Bush administration has installed a foolproof system of terrorist detection. This theory does not convince.
This leads to a second explanation: the radical Muslims are so weak and disorganized that they can no longer pull off an effective action. This theory has adherents both on the right and the left. On the right, we hear the theory that "we've obviously taken the battle over there, and so they are unable to do harm over here." Even if there is some truth to this, it doesn't explain why every Muslim radical must head for Iraq: surely Al Qaeda could spare a few to bring the war to the headquarters of the Great Satan. Some on the left are drawn to the theory of an impotent Al Qaeda because they are looking for any excuse to get out of Iraq and, truth be told, they would like to forget about the whole War on Terror and go back to the way things were on September 10, 2001.
I'd like to suggest a different theory for why we haven't had more attempted 9/11s. Imagine if there had been more attacks. In that case Americans would have little doubt why we were fighting in Iraq. There would be no question over why this country had dispatched more than 100,000 troops to the Middle East. As in World War II, the only sentiment for ending the war would be on the part of those calling on Bush to level the countries sponsoring Islamic radicalism so that the place could be rebuilt from the ground up, as with Germany and Japan. In sum, more 9/11s would have the effect of rousing the present-oriented, slow-to-anger American dragon.
Instead, we are six years away from that catastrophic event, and already Americans are growing forgetful and impatient. Somehow, for many people 9/11 has become a freakish, surreal, one-time disaster that was surely tragic but whose recurrence doesn't seem to be a clear and present danger. So are the Islamic radicals holding back and waiting for American restlessness to produce a withdrawal from Iraq? Are the bad guys biding their time in the hopes that American lassitude will create new opportunities for them to strike even more savagely and with greater impunity in the future? How else to account for the uneasy calm that has hovered over this country for the past six years?
Reader Comments ( Page 16 of 17)
226. There will be a 9/11 2.0. and believe it that Bush is planning to implement NSPD-51 in its aftermath. 11/7
hyperqube714 at 3:13PM on Sep 11th 2007
227.
In response to hyperqube714 (225):
"There will be a 9/11 2.0. and believe it that Bush is planning to implement NSPD-51 in its aftermath. 11/7"
10/4. Leave the cat outside of the gate and the hummingbirds will fly until the black sky ignites in oatmeal and unleaded Barbie Dolls.
Rosebud lives. Don't fear the tuns fish.
The muffin is made of stone.
Hope that brings clarity to your post.
Liz at 5:00PM on Sep 11th 2007
228.
In response to hyperqube714 (225):
"There will be a 9/11 2.0. and believe it that Bush is planning to implement NSPD-51 in its aftermath. 11/7"
10/4. Leave the cat outside of the gate and the hummingbirds will fly until the black sky ignites in oatmeal and unleaded Barbie Dolls.
Rosebud lives. Don't fear the tuns fish.
The muffin is made of stone.
Hope that brings clarity to your post.
Liz at 5:00PM on Sep 11th 2007
229. The events subsequent to 911 have unfolded more or less as they were planned to.
The idea behind 911 was very simply to bait the United States into an unwinnable and protracted war against the Muslims of the world.
The expectation was that the United States would be steadily worn down in this war, expending both lives and treasure over years, and over a longer period of time would become diminished as a world power. Just as Russia was diminished after its 10-year invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
Since the idiotic neoconservatives and the Bush Administration have given Bin Ladin even more than he hoped for by invading Iraq, it is not necessary for Bin Ladin and his followers to do anything further. The events have already been set in motion and they can die happy men.
It is quite telling that after 6 years, trillions of dollars spent, thousands of American lives and hundreds of thousands of non-American lives, the "world's great superpower" has been totally unable to capture the person it holds responsible for 911. And yet in the face of failure in almost any conceivable measure, the only "strategy" the idiots can come up with is to "stay the course."
Anthony at 1:19AM on Sep 12th 2007
230. There does not need to be another 911 because the idea of 911 was to bait the United States into an unwinnable an protracted conflict against the Muslims of the world. And that has already been accomplished in spades.
Just as with the Soviet Union in Afghanistan over its 10 years there, the United States will be drained politically, economically, and lose thousands of lives in addition to those lives lost 6 years ago.
These are the events that are already in motion. Unlike Bush's phony photo op a few years ago, 911 is a true "Mission Accomplished."
Anthony at 1:27AM on Sep 12th 2007
231.
Kedtz just because you throw out some engineering principles and elements of physics doesn't mean you have facts in order so as to support your greater point about some conspiracy, by, what, the US government?
If you want explanations for your suppositions, check out the Popular Mechanics special report on debunking conspiracy theories. (there are many, but this one takes on the ideas of that wacky Rosie O'Donnell, too.)
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/1227842.html
Otherwise, it is hardly a responsible thing to do to fan the flames of disbelief of those who are so incredulous, disbelieving and fearful about the events of 9/11 by using "calculations of science" without providing synthesis of those facts.
Liz at 12:31PM on Sep 12th 2007
232. Muslims do not need another 9/11 attack to defeat America.
Muslims attack us everyday right under our noses.
Muslims kill and maim our young people in Iraq.
Muslims open a Muslim Public School in NYC that is funded by US taxpayers (how stupid are we?)and it opened near the 9/11 anniversary.
Muslims have many babies and we use birth control and abort our babies.
Muslims will legally take over the USA
Prudence at 1:03PM on Sep 12th 2007
233. Prudence, as long as there are people who think as you do there will always be a Republican party.
As Gandhi said, "Oh I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you are so unlike your Christ."
Liz at 1:52PM on Sep 12th 2007
234. 244. Liz,
In response to the Hillary issue, you just gave more of the same. So she WAS a "Goldwater Conservative." Big deal.
You say IF Hillary was given a "fair hearing," just as though she isn't getting as fair a "hearing" or even a more fair "hearing" than any other candidate.
WHAT DOES HILLARY CLINTON STAND FOR? (other than being Bill's wife)
I'm betting that if you try to tell me what she stands for, you'll just spout more meaningless pablum.
Surely, Bill Clinton, doesn't have to be married to someone before he gives his best advice and counsel.
Hillary is a political ho. She has no message other than, "I'm not a republican (since it no longer suits me) but I am married to Bill."
Captain Negative at 2:56PM on Sep 12th 2007
235. Liz,
Please change your party affiliation. I can't believe that you first try to tell me that Hillary is the best choice because she is married to Bill. Now you rely on "Popular Mechanics" to tell you that Bush and Cheney are not behind 9/11.
You, Liz, are part of the reason there isn't a nickel's worth of differnce between the repugs and the democrats.
Captain Negative at 3:45PM on Sep 12th 2007
236. Kedtz,
Well done. I am a recent convert to the evidence that 9/11 was an, "inside job."
Just the idea that four commercial aircraft could be hijacked simultaneously by a bunch of flight-school retards WITH BOX CUTTERS defies belief.
When you consider that Dick Cheney was over-seeing a "DRILL" which involved hijacked planes attacking the World Trade Center (while the real attack was taking place) is astonishing, to say the least.
Nazi Germany did the same thing.
The evidence is overwhelming. Bush and Cheney are probably amazed that the pretext has held up this long.
Bush and Cheney (and thier assoicates) have few options. They can start World War III or they can go to prison.
When people stop relying on "Popular Mechanics" for their "proof" we can begin to put things in perspective.
Captain Negative at 4:24PM on Sep 12th 2007
237. Yo Captain, ease the freak up. I am on the same side.
Don't vote for Hillary. I just suggest that people listen with fresh ears to what she articulates rather than rely on old hatreds of her. She has grown quite a bit.
Don't vote for Hillary b/c she brings Bill to the White House with her. (Did you read my follow up to your asking for my reasons elsewhere on these blogs?)
But in the aggregate, she has more cache than the typical candidate. But not more baggage than any of the others. Go ahead, ask me about it.
Captain, if you are going to start ripping me, I won't engage at all...ooooo but you might like that. Nope. I'll write what I want and try to ignore the fact that you diminish your arguments every time you drag out those cutesy little slurs like the repugs. Don't you realize that you sound like ONE OF THEM? Those are their imbecilic tactics. Name calling Rush O'Reilly crap.
Anyway, I'm not changing my party affiliation. The democratic party has room enough for me and you both. Or go independent or libertarian and waste your energy and your vote.
(Did you even check out the Pop Mech. story? It's EXCELLENT and written on a level that even you can understand. That's why it's called "Popular".)
Anyway, buddy, I'm not the enemy. More often than not I can support what you write, but if you don't stop your poop I'll let you twist in the wind or smack you around a bit if I feel like it...but gently, because after all, we're on the same side!
Liz at 4:32PM on Sep 12th 2007
238. Oh Captain, (not) My Captain:
I take back every conciliatory thing I said above.
You think Bush and Cheney planned 9/11.
You are tragically flawed.
Your bad.
Game over.
Liz at 4:36PM on Sep 12th 2007
239.
Captain:
Here are your scholarly journals:
http://www.jod911.com/
Have somebody read them to you or better yet, summarize them for you.
Liz at 4:40PM on Sep 12th 2007
240. It is plain luck that there hasn't been another 911. Unfortunately, thanks to Bush's inept foreign policy, there will be a number of attacks in the decades to come. Just part of the great Bush legacy.
John at 8:23PM on Sep 12th 2007