9-11-ten yrs Later

[Ocean Breeze]

9/11 and Americans' Remarkable Incapacity for Self-reflection


When Lois Griffin gets elected mayor of Quahog by pandering to the stupidest and most meaningless references to 9/11, audiences roar. But when that same scenario is replayed over and over again in a largely successful attempt to separate people from their intellect, their conscience and their instinct for self-preservation, no one apparently even knows what's happening. Never Forget! Shriek the flag-wavers and cheerleaders of empire, as if such a thing were even possible.

For the past ten years, every march to war, every Free Speech Zone, every step in the criminalization of dissent--the whole ball of wax has been accompanied at every turn by the mindless repetition, the fear-and-fascism-drenched threat not to question or even think too deeply, because "9/11 changed *everything.*" There is a blunt and chilling meme floating around facebook and other internet fora, subscribed either to the Palestinians or some other victims of empire's vented rage to avenge the events of that day: "Your 9/11 is our 24/7."

Yet Americans so lack the capacity for self-reflection that we apparently prefer to continue to see ourselves as eternal victims instead of the initiators of one insane war after another.

In all of the parades, all of the cheers, the self-congratulatory pomp and circumstance with which Americans greeted the supposed murder of Osama Bin Laden (seen instead with horror by much of the world), there was nary a glimmer of the careful introspection one might expect from mature adults. Instead, there seems to be this constant recapitulation of the above scene from Family Guy. No questions asked, no effective movement against the wars, no real interest at all in grasping the long range consequences of the actions of our government. Nothing, really, beyond the throwaway line, "How much will it cost so we can feel safe again..?"



..........continued :http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26559


Lots of truth in the article..........even if many mock it, or simply refuse to see it ( which only confirms that amazing inability for introspection and thoughtful insight. Some will......and cudos to them. (no matter how concerning the truths are )

 

[Ocean Breeze]

The Government’s Illusory Terrorist Threat

In sum, in the war on terror, the U.S. government hypes the threat to justify expanding anti-terrorism efforts and budgets, argues that war is the only means to effectively combat the inflated threat (instead of using low-key intelligence and law enforcement measures, which don’t generate more terrorists by poking the hornet’s nest), and creates a wider retaliatory threat by using such draconian military action. This wider danger is used to justify the need for even harsher military action, and the action-reaction cycle escalates. In sum, the government is creating the demand for its own services; private businesses should be in awe of such ability.
And not only is the government hyping the terrorist threat, it is creating it. Like the hapless BVD bomber, who didn’t even have a bomb big enough to bring down the airliner, a graduate student the FBI recently arrested for plotting to blow up the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with hobbyists’ remote-controlled aircraft would have been foiled by the fact that the planes just couldn’t carry enough explosives to do the job. The student, a U.S. citizen, got very different treatment than Awlaki. Instead of being assassinated, he was arrested, but before that, the U.S. government purposefully helped him. The government, in order to entrap him, gave him money and grenades, assault rifles, C-4 plastic explosives, and even the remote-controlled aircraft to carry out the attack. Without all this money and equipment, the student would have likely been no threat at all. In fact, according to The New York Times, Carmen M. Ortiz, the U.S. attorney in Boston, admitted, “The public was never in danger from the explosive devices.”


The Government’s Illusory Terrorist Threat by Ivan Eland -- Antiwar.com

 

[Colpy]

The Government’s Illusory Terrorist Threat

In sum, in the war on terror, the U.S. government hypes the threat to justify expanding anti-terrorism efforts and budgets, argues that war is the only means to effectively combat the inflated threat (instead of using low-key intelligence and law enforcement measures, which don’t generate more terrorists by poking the hornet’s nest), and creates a wider retaliatory threat by using such draconian military action. This wider danger is used to justify the need for even harsher military action, and the action-reaction cycle escalates. In sum, the government is creating the demand for its own services; private businesses should be in awe of such ability.
And not only is the government hyping the terrorist threat, it is creating it. Like the hapless BVD bomber, who didn’t even have a bomb big enough to bring down the airliner, a graduate student the FBI recently arrested for plotting to blow up the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol with hobbyists’ remote-controlled aircraft would have been foiled by the fact that the planes just couldn’t carry enough explosives to do the job. The student, a U.S. citizen, got very different treatment than Awlaki. Instead of being assassinated, he was arrested, but before that, the U.S. government purposefully helped him. The government, in order to entrap him, gave him money and grenades, assault rifles, C-4 plastic explosives, and even the remote-controlled aircraft to carry out the attack. Without all this money and equipment, the student would have likely been no threat at all. In fact, according to The New York Times, Carmen M. Ortiz, the U.S. attorney in Boston, admitted, “The public was never in danger from the explosive devices.”


The Government’s Illusory Terrorist Threat by Ivan Eland -- Antiwar.com

You are, in fact, quite correct in your accusations on the domestic over-reaction of the USG.

Then you blow it.

You ask for legal action in places where that is impossible, and complain about legal action when it is used inside the USA.

Make up your mind.

 

[In Between Man]

The Government’s Illusory Terrorist Threat

30 Terrorist Plots Foiled: How the System Worked

 

[Colpy]

30 Terrorist Plots Foiled: How the System Worked

Uh-huh........

How many terrorist plots have been foiled by the crotch-grabbing, granny diaper removing, psychotically rude TSA??????

None.

Zip Zilch Nada

How many have been prevented by anti-terror legislation that is questionable in its constitutionality???

See above.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

30 Terrorist Plots Foiled: How the System Worked

funny, that these THIRTY (and how do they know so precisely ,??) did not make the media. You would think that each time a plot was foiled......it would be big news in the stupid "war" on terrorism. It would be bragging rights about just how effective the "system" is. It would be a genuine confidence builder for the population.

 

[In Between Man]

Uh-huh........

How many terrorist plots have been foiled by the crotch-grabbing, granny diaper removing, psychotically rude TSA??????

None.

The whole reason why we have the TSA grabbing crotches in the first place is because not everyone's on board with the xray scanners. They have to check your crotch - either we touch(pat down) or we look (xray). That's the result of a terrorist's willingness to strap a bomb in his nether regions, we all suffer unfortunately.

How many have been prevented by anti-terror legislation that is questionable in its constitutionality???

Are you saying that every tool in the anti-terror legislation, all the expansion in ability to search without a court order, hasn't been used at all to foil any one of these 30 potential attacks? Wouldn't you have to be the head of DHS to know that kind of information?

 

[Cliffy]

The whole reason why we have the TSA grabbing crotches in the first place is because not everyone's on board with the xray scanners. They have to check your crotch - either we touch(pat down) or we look (xray). That's the result of a terrorist's willingness to strap a bomb in his nether regions, we all suffer unfortunately.



Are you saying that every tool in the anti-terror legislation, all the expansion in ability to search without a court order, hasn't been used at all to foil any one of these 30 potential attacks? Wouldn't you have to be the head of DHS to know that kind of information?

Well some people like having their crotch fondled. I think I'll go down to the airport and pretend to board a plane. Mine hasn't been fondled in a long time.

 

[In Between Man]

Patriot Act helped foil New York terror plot

Terror averted

 

[Cliffy]

Patriot Act helped foil New York terror plot

Terror averted

I'm terrorized by the Patriot Act. How can we foil that piece of draconian legislation?

 

[Ocean Breeze]

That's the result of a terrorist's willingness to strap a bomb in his nether regions, we all suffer unfortunately.

and each time you are humilated , "suffer" this way..........the terrorists are probably laughing , knowing they won. What they won is in the "war" of fear . They have nothing to lose and more will crop up with each one that is killed. So again.....the terrorists win as they wanted a protracted and very expensive war that would drain the US financially.

quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that a population would rather be probed, prodded and otherwise physically humiliated than be XRayed. Gosh, are americans terrified of everything now?? Between the terror threats and the gov't reinforcing those threats it is no surprise the population has become placid , fearful and ever so willing to surrender what it ordinarly would never consider.

the dynamics of this terrorism phenomena are incredible in how far reaching it has become. Again. The terrorists win. The USG comes in at a close second.(by giving itself more liberties all the time) While the PEOPLE lose and keep losing......one bit at a time. as that way it is not a shock to them. & it is easier to accept ... on that gradual bit by bit basis.

 

[In Between Man]

and each time you are humilated , "suffer" this way..........the terrorists are probably laughing , knowing they won. What they won is in the "war" of fear .

Then instead of living in fear, what do you suggest? I suggest we face our enemies.

They have nothing to lose and more will crop up with each one that is killed.

If we could never kill enough terrorists doesn't that shoulder some of the responsibility then onto the Muslim community to speak out against extremism - lest we're forever hunting down bad guys and creating more in our wake? Certainly both sides would benefit from more Muslims speaking out against terrorism, we wouldn't be drained financially and we wouldn't be pissing off the Muslim world and fueling anger towards the West.

quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that a population would rather be probed, prodded and otherwise physically humiliated than be XRayed.

Me too.

The USG comes in at a close second.(by giving itself more liberties all the time) While the PEOPLE lose and keep losing......one bit at a time. as that way it is not a shock to them. & it is easier to accept ... on that gradual bit by bit basis.

That sounds like NWO conspiracy talk.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Then instead of living in fear, what do you suggest? I suggest we face our enemies.

How do you propose to do that ??? Dialogue?? along with ???

How about examing our own conduct that has contributed to creating these so called enemies in the first place. You can't change another persons behavior using violence and bully tactics. What you CAN do is change your own behavior so that it yeilds a more constructive result.

the problem is that the barbaric mentality of those enraged is also a distrusting mentality. But slaughtering them , the way we have been doing does not show us in a constructive light or an example to set .

violence begets violence........and if we have not learned that in the last ten years....then we collectively need to have all our brains reprogrammed so we can start learning from our past obscene mistakes. And the reality is ...the west has made many many mistakes and has treated other nations . populations and cultures like CRAP. So what can the "west" expect in return........?? some delusion of hearts and flowers that the almighty arrogance and stupidity believes.??? It is beyond ignorant .

This dynamic and cycle of violence is not going to go away with more slaughter.

Facing the 'enemy" and learning about it and even getting to know folks from that culture would be a start. One will find that underneath all that rage is a frightened, human being. Who bleeds like everyone else. But that rage is not going to go away all that easily now. Too much damage has been done by virtue of trying to solve things with WARS...

 

[Goober]

Then instead of living in fear, what do you suggest? I suggest we face our enemies.

How do you propose to do that ??? Dialogue?? along with ???

How about examing our own conduct that has contributed to creating these so called enemies in the first place. You can't change another persons behavior using violence and bully tactics. What you CAN do is change your own behavior so that it yeilds a more constructive result.

the problem is that the barbaric mentality of those enraged is also a distrusting mentality. But slaughtering them , the way we have been doing does not show us in a constructive light or an example to set .

violence begets violence........and if we have not learned that in the last ten years....then we collectively need to have all our brains reprogrammed so we can start learning from our past obscene mistakes. And the reality is ...the west has made many many mistakes and has treated other nations . populations and cultures like CRAP. So what can the "west" expect in return........?? some delusion of hearts and flowers that the almighty arrogance and stupidity believes.??? It is beyond ignorant .

This dynamic and cycle of violence is not going to go away with more slaughter.

Facing the 'enemy" and learning about it and even getting to know folks from that culture would be a start. One will find that underneath all that rage is a frightened, human being. Who bleeds like everyone else. But that rage is not going to go away all that easily now. Too much damage has been done by virtue of trying to solve things with WARS...

Al-Shabaab - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes = try talking to these people - You are off in another reality.

 

[captain morgan]

You can't change another persons behavior using violence and bully tactics. What you CAN do is change your own behavior so that it yeilds a more constructive result.

How about we organize some "Peace Protests" in the heart of Al Qaeda country. We can all hold hands, sing songs and wave banners.

Is that the kind of alternate behaviour that will placate our jihadist friends?

the problem is that the barbaric mentality of those enraged is also a distrusting mentality. But slaughtering them , the way we have been doing does not show us in a constructive light or an example to set .

It is the barbaric mentality that ha been incestuously bred with ignorance and bigotry that has generated this terrorist 'solution set'.

The very moment that a group attempts to affect a political statement via harming innocents or using their own children as human shields, it is clear that they have no interest in discussion, negotiation or peace... They simply want everyone to endure the same sh*tty existence that they have come to know.

violence begets violence.......

.. An eye for an eye...

Al-Shabaab - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That's a great example... Are these the retards that are disallowing Western food aid to their own people in Somalia in order to make a statement?

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Al-Shabaab - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes = try talking to these people - You are off in another reality.

Have YOU tried??? Or do you just believe all the crap that comes your way from the "media". ( which is truly another reality most of the time .....as facts are selective at best.

Just as their rage and hatred is consuming them........and making them irrational...... , the west's propaganda against them fostering hatred and rage is just as irrational.

so you have two irrational , over reactive , highly emotional , dramatic groups in an never ending war with each other. In a few years few will remember just why the war exists as the reasons will have devolved into something far from what it started out to be.

Seems that the important question is : how can we best stop this cycle of violence ASAP and begin some kind of preliminary diplomatic measures. It will take a lot of time now. Too much damage and pain has been caused by both sides.

 

[captain morgan]

Have YOU tried??? Or do you just believe all the crap that comes your way from the "media". ( which is truly another reality most of the time .....as facts are selective at best.

I did call them up and made the invitation.. I even organized it as an evening of beer, vodka shots and had even bought a whole whack of baby back ribs.

They promised they'd come, but the bastards stood me up... If it wasn't for the hookers that I brought in, all of those pork ribs would have been wasted.

 

[Goober]

Have YOU tried??? Or do you just believe all the crap that comes your way from the "media". ( which is truly another reality most of the time .....as facts are selective at best.

Just as their rage and hatred is consuming them........and making them irrational...... , the west's propaganda against them fostering hatred and rage is just as irrational.

so you have two irrational , over reactive , highly emotional , dramatic groups in an never ending war with each other. In a few years few will remember just why the war exists as the reasons will have devolved into something far from what it started out to be.

Seems that the important question is : how can we best stop this cycle of violence ASAP and begin some kind of preliminary diplomatic measures. It will take a lot of time now. Too much damage and pain has been caused by both sides.

I gather information from a number of sources. I also look to culture - to what has been proven beyond all doubt - reports from a variety of Aid agencies for example.
I am somewhat sane and i would not talk with these zealots.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

re: an eye for an eye.

........well, that explains a lot. No wonder progress with civility is almost non existent. What are you complaining about?? Your philosophy is being enacted via more wars all the time. Does that make you feel happy and more secure ?? Are you less concerned about terror activity as a result of all the death and destruction ??

Or is it just possible ......that the over reactive war response has rendered more rage and hatred against the west ???

If you could......... put your self in their place and try to see the west through their eyes. What is it that they are fighting for ...in their own way ???

I am just saying that the west is not guilt free in creating this dynamic.

I gather information from a number of sources. I also look to culture - to what has been proven beyond all doubt - reports from a variety of Aid agencies for example.
I am somewhat sane and i would not talk with these zealots.

fair enough. that is your choice.

Yes, their culture is very different from ours. It has had a much longer time in history to become entrenched into their being and essence.

As time goes on, and more of their culture are educated and exposed to the larger world....things will gradually change. But when it comes to religous beliefs.....(any religious belief) fanatics are just part of the dynamic.

For eg: Why do Xtians bomb abortion clinics?? Are they not as fanatical and insane in their own way??? Terrorism is not the sole property of the Islamic culture. It surrounds us daily and no amount of genital probing is going to change that. The core issue is that some minds are just more susceptable to being programmed into extremist ideologies. Religion of any sort is a form of brainwashing and when that is channeled into a cause......well, you get the picture.

 

[DaSleeper]

Breezy:
Yer starting to sound like a....