What The Holy Hell Is Going On?

[Ralph Baer]

To update false information that I posted yesterday: They are now sayng that they have been between 100 and 800 casualties (deaths and injuries) at the Pentagon. The area between Corridors 2 and 6 has been damaged in varying degrees. (There are ten corridors, sort of radials.)

[HankWP]

.. I just found out that we lost a Sr VP... Lisa Raines who was on Flight 77... a very dynamic and bright lady.

Henry.

[Jim W]

<a href="http://www.amazon.com">Amazon.com</a> is accepting contributions (from $1-$50) for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

[Jenna]

Hank

I have not heard from Jim since yesterday, I have to believe he is fine still. I am hoping to him from him today or I will give him a call.

[Scott Murphy]

Fortunately, I have been able to account for my friends living in NY. Unfortunately, some of them did lose family or friends in the WTC.

Apparently, the rescuers have started finding a few survivors last night and this morning. But it's still a very ugly scene.

[Taz Boy]

There are two reactions to this attack the US might consider:

Weeks or months of investigation followed by small, targeted strikes at well-known cells of the Al-Qaeda. Diplomatic policy against Afghanistan and other regions for harboring these terrorist groups. And, build a beautiful memorial on the grounds where the WTC towers once stood.

OR...

Unleash an aggressive military assault on all terrorist-supporting countries of such magnitude that even our allies could not fully support. Massive bombing strikes with little or no prejudice in regions known to have, or once had, terrorist training facilities. The incredible devastation and loss of life would stun the planet. Then, build two new WTC towers standing even taller, with huge American flags waving from their roofs.

I choose the latter. Why? Terrorists aren't afraid to die. They see it as an honor for their cause. To stop them, we must stop their support. The world must unify in the fight against this barbarism. The best way to get everyone on board is to remind all of just who exactly is the superpower. The world needs a wake-up call. I'm tired of the hand-wringing and the let's just all get along. We are the greatest country in the history of mankind. It's time for Freedom to flex it's muscle and bring down the thunder. Where's Maximus when you need him.

Rather than wallow in misery, we need to strike fear into the hearts of everyone. This seems extreme, but I believe necessary to truly combat terrorism. Negotiating won't work. Killing key leaders won't work. Governments must know we will not lie down. We have to show some evil of our own to insure no one will ever again think to support or tolerate the cause of a lunatic.

taz

[Jim W]

I agree Taz. We need to make it deadly clear that any country that allows terrorists to operate from its soil will be treated as direct threats to the safety of our people and dealt with accordingly. We can't sit back and worry about future terrorist attacks caused by our retaliation. They're going to come anyway. If we don't do anything, more attacks <b>will</b> come. The only way we can reduce them to a minimum is to hit them hard and hit them often so they have a hard time organizing. That includes hitting their financial sources as well as their physical assets.

[Tom Foolery]

President Bush is supposed to address the nation in less than one hour.

[BlackBearBobby]

What time is he supposed to speak? Has anyone else noticed that the time is all messed up on this message board??

[Ralph Baer]

It defaults to GMT. You can set your own favorite time zone.

[Dirty]

Last i heard Bush was to speak at 10:45 EST

[BlackBearBobby]

Thanks!

[Kieron]

Jenna,

If you speak to Ritt today, give him my best.

[Jenna]

Will do Kieron, I will call him tonight.

Hope all is well with you

[Dirty]

Bush just called this an Act of War. Saying this enacts the War Powers Act, moving power from Congress to the President.

[HankWP]

... Jenna if you speak to Jim today... tell him all of his friends, compatriots, and fellow USCHO'ers wish him well.

The Bush speech was kind of... boring and 12 hours over-due... I think the sole purpose of his delivery was to make mention that it is an act of war...

Things are moving along in the investigation pretty well... the police have identified the 5 guys... flights are suspended from Canada to the US...

Henry.

[The Sicatoka]

I'm going to ask again, simply and quietly:

<I>Are four fully-fueled hijacked airliners "weapons of mass destruction"?</I>

Those of you with understanding of US policy on weapons of mass destruction understand fully what I am asking.

I quite simply say, "Yes."

[HankWP]

Colonel, in the context of US Government, no, of course not... in the context of terrorism... yes, of course they are.

...if I owned a flat in Afghanistan... I'd be moving out...lickety-split.

Henry.

[ctvtguy]

I agree that they were used as weapons of mass destruction, and I understand the reason for the question.

[Tom Foolery]

An interesting (chilling?) link about the U.S. and its ability to combat weapons of mass destruction...

http://www.llnl.gov/str/Imbro.html


Or perhaps this one:


<I>"The experts tell us that it's their view that it's not if, but when a weapon of mass destruction will be used in this country. "</I>

- Acting Secretary of the Army Robert M. Walker
DoD News Briefing
Tuesday, March 17, 1998

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar1998/t03191998_t317rcdp.html