By Alan Caruba
In the years prior to 9/11, if you lived in New Jersey as I do and drove into New York there was a sweeping curve of roadway leading into the Lincoln Tunnel that provides a view across the Hudson River of downtown Manhattan. One could see the Twin Towers from that vantage point and it always bespoke the financial power of the nation, the greatness of our economic system, and our role in the world.
Little wonder it was targeted, along with the Pentagon, for destruction by al Qaeda, the evil spawn of a seventh century religion whose name translates as “submission.”
Though preceded by a number of violent attacks that included U.S. embassies and other manifestations of the Islamic mandate to make war until the entire world accepts Islam, it was 9/11 that demonstrated the demonic forces it has let loose in the world.
There are more than a billion Muslims worldwide and most desire peace no less than the vast majority of mankind. Too many, however, are driven by their worst instincts, their sense of victimization, their romanticized view of Middle Eastern culture and history.
It is instructive, therefore, to see how active leaders throughout the Middle East have become in their effort to hunt down and destroy al Qaeda. Awash in oil billions, the monarchies that control the region understand the threat to their suzerainty. In the meantime, the West continues its own largely secretive war.
It is the reason President George W. Bush sent the CIA, followed by U.S. military into Afghanistan to chase out the Taliban and al Qaeda following 9/11.
It is the reason President Bush decided to rid Iraq of its dictator and establish a U.S. military presence there. Too many other nations were too eager to do “business as usual” with Saddam Hussein and to continue likewise with Syria’s dictator and others who threaten the peace of the world.
It is the reason the U.S. military can be found in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Yemen. It is the reason we can be found in places large and small around the world. We are the guarantor of peace and the safety of the world’s sea lanes.
It is the reason the U.S. Secretary of State recently sat down with the dictator of Libya, granting him a measure of forgiveness after he abandoned the pursuit of nuclear weapons and made payments for the losses inflicted by the bombing of a Pan Am flight.
And these are the reasons, in part, why the United States of America has not been attacked by al Qaeda since 9/11.
I am mindful of these things as my mind goes back to dining at the doomed Windows on the World, a restaurant at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center from 1972 until the horror of 9/11. One could walk the perimeter of the restaurant and enjoy magnificent vistas of Manhattan, look out to New Jersey and Brooklyn, and see the Statue of Liberty, still welcoming those seeking freedom in the New World.
My mind goes back to 9/11 and the willful destruction of both buildings by men who believed they had a place waiting for them in Paradise and that Islam justified killing thousands of innocents trapped in airliners and in the great structures that stood for a new age of world trade and worldwide prosperity.
A religion that celebrates such barbarity has no place in the modern world.
It is not a religion of love and forgiveness of sin, the central theme of Christianity. It is not a religion that has produced countless scientists, artists, and others devoted to advancing knowledge and the welfare of mankind as Judaism has. It is not a religion that seeks harmony with the world as does Buddhism. It is not Hinduism devoted to a single divine principle, nor any of the other faiths that offer prayers for peace and tolerance.
9/11 occurred because of a religion that literally divides the world into Dar al Islam and Dar al harb, the world of war.
9/11 was an act of war, not just against the United States, but against the West in particular and the whole of the rest of the world that resists Islam, a religion that has been at war with the world from its inception.
We need to be mindful of that on 9/11/08. We need to stir the embers of our memory of 9/11/01 when we hear calls to withdraw from that war and to yield to its terrorism and threats of war.
We need to remember. We need to resist.
In the years prior to 9/11, if you lived in New Jersey as I do and drove into New York there was a sweeping curve of roadway leading into the Lincoln Tunnel that provides a view across the Hudson River of downtown Manhattan. One could see the Twin Towers from that vantage point and it always bespoke the financial power of the nation, the greatness of our economic system, and our role in the world.
Little wonder it was targeted, along with the Pentagon, for destruction by al Qaeda, the evil spawn of a seventh century religion whose name translates as “submission.”
Though preceded by a number of violent attacks that included U.S. embassies and other manifestations of the Islamic mandate to make war until the entire world accepts Islam, it was 9/11 that demonstrated the demonic forces it has let loose in the world.
There are more than a billion Muslims worldwide and most desire peace no less than the vast majority of mankind. Too many, however, are driven by their worst instincts, their sense of victimization, their romanticized view of Middle Eastern culture and history.
It is instructive, therefore, to see how active leaders throughout the Middle East have become in their effort to hunt down and destroy al Qaeda. Awash in oil billions, the monarchies that control the region understand the threat to their suzerainty. In the meantime, the West continues its own largely secretive war.
It is the reason President George W. Bush sent the CIA, followed by U.S. military into Afghanistan to chase out the Taliban and al Qaeda following 9/11.
It is the reason President Bush decided to rid Iraq of its dictator and establish a U.S. military presence there. Too many other nations were too eager to do “business as usual” with Saddam Hussein and to continue likewise with Syria’s dictator and others who threaten the peace of the world.
It is the reason the U.S. military can be found in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Yemen. It is the reason we can be found in places large and small around the world. We are the guarantor of peace and the safety of the world’s sea lanes.
It is the reason the U.S. Secretary of State recently sat down with the dictator of Libya, granting him a measure of forgiveness after he abandoned the pursuit of nuclear weapons and made payments for the losses inflicted by the bombing of a Pan Am flight.
And these are the reasons, in part, why the United States of America has not been attacked by al Qaeda since 9/11.
I am mindful of these things as my mind goes back to dining at the doomed Windows on the World, a restaurant at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center from 1972 until the horror of 9/11. One could walk the perimeter of the restaurant and enjoy magnificent vistas of Manhattan, look out to New Jersey and Brooklyn, and see the Statue of Liberty, still welcoming those seeking freedom in the New World.
My mind goes back to 9/11 and the willful destruction of both buildings by men who believed they had a place waiting for them in Paradise and that Islam justified killing thousands of innocents trapped in airliners and in the great structures that stood for a new age of world trade and worldwide prosperity.
A religion that celebrates such barbarity has no place in the modern world.
It is not a religion of love and forgiveness of sin, the central theme of Christianity. It is not a religion that has produced countless scientists, artists, and others devoted to advancing knowledge and the welfare of mankind as Judaism has. It is not a religion that seeks harmony with the world as does Buddhism. It is not Hinduism devoted to a single divine principle, nor any of the other faiths that offer prayers for peace and tolerance.
9/11 occurred because of a religion that literally divides the world into Dar al Islam and Dar al harb, the world of war.
9/11 was an act of war, not just against the United States, but against the West in particular and the whole of the rest of the world that resists Islam, a religion that has been at war with the world from its inception.
We need to be mindful of that on 9/11/08. We need to stir the embers of our memory of 9/11/01 when we hear calls to withdraw from that war and to yield to its terrorism and threats of war.
We need to remember. We need to resist.
Some of us, Alan, will NEVER forget. I am mindful of this each year and realize that if it hadn't been for 9/11, I would NOT be living where I live, and that my DH would still be a commercial pilot in the States and not a private pilot, here.
ReplyDeleteHaving been there - with a vivid memory of exactly what I was doing - driving to work - listening to the news unfold in the car - calling home to tell DH to turn the television on... All of it. Clear as the day it happened. Being in a semi-shocked state for that day and the next...
Hopefully, there are MANY, MANY, MANY others that will NEVER forget.
Enjoyed your post on it - and the connection between those that want us ALL to submit from "this" side of the world.
we will all ways remember that day that they took away
ReplyDelete9/11 in Brussels.
ReplyDeleteWe tried, with only a few people, to put red roses in front of the WTC Tower in Brussels on 9/11.
The mayor of the French speaking socialist party ("Parti socialiste") did send a large number of policeman to obstruct our peaceful remembrance.
Immediately they arrested two woman – The first one because she did put down the roses, the second one because she interfered after a policeman was brutal and kicking the first woman.
A third woman was carrying a poster that said ‘No islamisation in Europe’ – The three woman were brought to jail for a couple of hours. The rest of us couldn’t get there, the police formed a blockade and arrested anyone with a red rose in their hands. They were many, and we a few, so we had to stop.
On the other side of the city, Muslims were throwing stones at busses and trams, the police did nothing.
That’s how it is in Belgium and all over Europe, or should I say Eurabia?
Either the Europeans will resist Islamification or they will fall victim to it. That's how Islam is spread.
ReplyDeleteSocialist and other liberal thinking people appear t me as if they think the world is a "rational place" That with enough hugs and kisses "the land of perfect" will naturally fall into place.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem with that is the world with all its cravings, passions, etc. is not rational. The world has never been rational; I do not believe the world will ever be rational.
People comment to my sobriety and maturity and even I am not rational at times. My mind plays tricks on itself like everyone else’s. I am a human being too, and I am not complaining about it.
The danger truly comes from ignoring it, choosing to forget about it, or some other sort of denial.
Much of the maturity I have found in the most rational of humans is there ability to openly and honestly reflect upon the very irrational parts of their own beings.
Democracy thrives upon mindful people, and Islam upon those who would deny there own natures such as liberals; it seems to me.
I am one who will never forget either.