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 7 of 17)
91. to MARY...
Again darling, my advice to you is to read a little. Check that, READ ALOT!
In what world do you live in? I mean seriously? Have you EVER read ANYTHING from history? I know that your Beloved Leader likes to say (read LIE) that he has kept you safe, but has he really? Safe from what exactly? real bad arabs with 3$ box-knives? Do you have ANY idea wht the so-called Patriot Act consists of? Most likely you didn't. I would be suprised you even read the morning paper. You watch FoxNews don't you?
Poor MARY, keep feeling safe, you ignorant fool.
JS
JS at 3:36PM on Sep 7th 2007
92. to EZE...
I just read your posts...Pathetic. From to looks of them, you're not somebody that likes to be informed are you? Well, I took the liberty to educate you a little, so in the futur, you'll stop calling liberals paranoid idiots.
Here...READ a little buddy.
http://alternet.org/waroniraq/61735/
No, I don't think your Beloved Leader Bush is stealing the oil himself. He just invaded a defenseless country ILLEGALLY, so that his buddies in the Oil Industry (and Defense Industry) could rape and pillage that same country. So no, there aren't any pipelines running under the White House, but there might as well be. Did you even know the the much anticipated Iraqi Oil Law was writen by the Oil Giants? You didn't did you?
Poor EZE...I feel sorry for you man. But maybe someday, you'll wake up and join us. I hope so.
Take care,
JS
JS at 3:32PM on Sep 7th 2007
93. Bush surrendered to bin Laden when U.S. troops were pulled out of Saudi Arabia. That is what Al Qaeda's "manifesto" called for and that is precisely what our "president" did.
This is all about OIL. "Religion" (pardon the pun)fuels the natural hatred and fans the flames, but in the end it is all about WHO PHYSICALLY CONTROLS THE DWINDLING WORLD OIL SUPPLY.
The world oil supply will be GONE IN 30 YEARS. Bush and his ilk are determined to get every dime they can WHILE THEY CAN.
Captain Negative at 3:58PM on Sep 7th 2007
94. #81 the "first" bombing of the world trade center happened when the clintons were in office and americans were killed, but the clintons chose to ignore it, they did nothing to retaliate! then because nothing was done, the plans were put in place for the big one, 911, and they had the time the clintons were in office, 8 years, to plan it. after bush was in office for 7 months they hit us. tell me where the blame lays, it doesnt take a rocket scientist, ya smuck!
cindi at 4:01PM on Sep 7th 2007
95. To Mary,
I'm sorry to say, but it is NOT Bush protecting us, our troops are. And JS, I couldn't agree with you more. I honestly in my heart believe that 9/11 was a conspiracy. How is it that we have been in Iraq/Afghanistan, etc. for 6 years and still cannot find him?? But, Saddam Hussein was found and killed. Bush got what he wanted, and it wasn't bin Laden.
Dee at 4:26PM on Sep 7th 2007
96. A new attack is coming and soon. The problem I see here is that the majority of you people think the attack was by "Al Queda" and not by the real terrorists who are our evil upper core sicko's called the United States Government!
The 9/11 attacks were nothing more than a scare tactic to allow things like the Patriot Act to be passed. A way for the most powerful to become even more powerful in their sick game of ultimate world control.
When will American people wake up and see that the only people that have profitted from the attacks are the war profitteering assholes such as Chaney and Bush!
Go to infowars.com, go to google and watch Loose Change, go to Brave New Films and watch all the movies...
A.B. at 4:27PM on Sep 7th 2007
97. TO #25 JS, A DUCK IS CALLED A DUCK BECAUSE THATS WHAT IT IS, NO MATTER THE ERA. WE CALL THEM LIKE WE SEE THEM.
KERRY at 4:42PM on Sep 7th 2007
98. TO #93 WHO IS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE TROOPS? ITS BUSH. WHO PUT THE GENERAL WHERE HE IS? BUSH. SO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE AS HARD AS IT SEEMS TO BE FOR YOU BUSH HATING DEFEATISTS.
CARL at 4:46PM on Sep 7th 2007
99. Let us not forget war was declared by Bin Laden even earlier than 9/11, here in the U.S. The WTC had been hit before. American targets in the US or on foreign soil are continued terrorist trophies. A U.S. aggressive response is critical, using approved "covert" or "overt" military or domestic intelligence means. Our targets are self declared combatants and are numerous and elusive. Intelligence will always change both sides tactics. Fear is a powerful tool in the terror wars. The USA should continue to be agressive and maintain our pursuit internationally of self-delared terrorists and their financiers. The U.S. with other countries (including) Middle Eastern nations needs to maintain an international purge of the self-declared radical Islamists. They savor the cowardly killing of unarmed citizens. Nothing is more inately cowardly despite their grandiose schemes and other rhetoric. Granted politics and religions differ in every country but every country's basic goal is to protect against self-proclaimed fanatics who vow vengence on the "infidels." (which by their definition: "all humans who are not islamic". I believe United we stand; divided we Fall. I back our country to be strong and aggressive.
Laurie at 5:02PM on Sep 7th 2007
100. TO JS AND CAPTIAN NEGATIVE,
To Captian Negative.. So now its about securing oil reserves 30 years from now NOT the personal finicial interest JS claims that Bush has in making oil reserves LESS sucure. We will both agree that JS is a moron but I include you in the same class.
TO JS.. HMM now I get it Bush is just faked 9-11 and everything else so he could give his oil buddies money by raising the price of oil. SORRY BUSH IS NOT DR. EVIL FROM AUSTIN POWERS.. REAL BAD GUYS DON'T BUILD SUPER LASERS AND CREATE HUGE CONSPIRICIES TO STEAL MONEY WHEN THE MONEY IS LYING AROUND FOR THE TAKING. He is the president and there is 10 million ways he could steal more money with out having to create this non existant vast conspiracy. At least we agree that Bush is very smart.. he must have been if you really think he faked 9-11 and what not!
EZE at 5:27PM on Sep 7th 2007
101. Many of those commenting on this issue have made good points and I'd like to offer my views. Our military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have kept the terrorists off balance. The American public isn't being adequately informed about our other militarty actions in the Phillipines, Mali and Indonesia that hhave resulted in a dramatic decrease in Anti-American rhetoric from the Imams in those areas and have created a positive image of Americans in those regions. The tightening of security in our financial institutions and use by the NSA of wiretapping has resulted in numerous plots coming to light before they could be carried out. I hope that if the '08 elections result in democratic control of the executive branch our pro-active measures will continue. I have my doubts.
Joe Edgington at 5:47PM on Sep 7th 2007
102. Keith J. Mohrhoff (8.)
Liz at 6:07PM on Sep 7th 2007
103. Why would Bush, a Republican, intentionally destroy perhaps the most lucrative structure in America, one whose downfall created massive economic problems in Argentina, let alone America? The only reason the fall of the towers did not spark a depression is because the wealth of America's economy and its inherent flexibility absorbed the blow, but this does not mitigate the losses incurred by 9/11. Last i checked, Republicans are the party of business, right?
GO RUDY 2008!
-Michael
Michael at 6:06PM on Sep 7th 2007
104. Keith J. Mohrhoff (8.)
Liz at 6:12PM on Sep 7th 2007
105. (Let me try this again...)
Keith J. Mohrhoff (8.)
Liz at 6:20PM on Sep 7th 2007