The Written Word - September 11th - Opinion 250 - News for Northern and Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada

The Written Word - September 11th

Thursday, September 11, 2008 03:45 AM

9/11 is on us again and it was one of those events where everyone remembered forever where they were when they got the news.

I happened to be in the studios of CKNW. I had been listening to a CD on the way in and arrived to see the shocked looks on my colleagues faces and just in time to see the second tower hit.

It’s been 7 years and perhaps a bit of stock taking is in order.

The United States invaded Afghanistan and as their wont, didn’t finish the job. Osama Bin Laden is still alive and in better political shape than ever. His brothers in philosophy, the Taliban, are slowly but surely retaking the country, a country that Alexander the Great and the Soviet Union couldn’t conquer. Canadian Armed forces are taking it on the chin for American stupidity – so what else is new?

Iraq remains a political basket case with the same warring factions it had until Saddam Hussein brutally pulled and held them together. The United States, like Bre’r Rabbit and the tar baby are stuck fast. Iran, before Bush II, was looking like an emerging democracy – it is a theocracy which hates the United States and almost has nuclear weapons. Pakistan, the only real hope to control the Taliban, is in near anarchy with the Taliban roaming freely on her territory.

The running sore is Israel whose economy would be like that of the Palestinian Authority without the US subsidies which last year exceeded $2.5 billion. American aid to Israel coupled with its blind eye to Israeli atrocities and plain aggressive policy has given much of the Muslim world a constant inspiration for fomenting hatred.

9/11 was a terrible tragedy made infinitely worse by US rightwing hardliners led by a nincompoop.

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Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 03:45 AM in Views by Rafe Mair

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Comments

Posted by: netsurfer on September 11 2008 7:08 AM

Tell us what you really think Rafe.

Are you going to vote for Dion this election or are you waiting for another Trudeau?

Posted by: seamutt on September 11 2008 8:04 AM

So Rafe what is the answer, you didn't give us the solution, I'm waiting. Do you get paid for your drivel.

Posted by: Bridge on September 11 2008 10:01 AM

And Rafe you said it all, but there will always be those that go around with their head up you know where.

Cheers

Posted by: Death to Socialism on September 11 2008 1:41 PM

Douche

Posted by: govsux on September 11 2008 2:02 PM

The yanks want everything from everyone for nothing, and if you don't cough up, your the enemy. Bush and co. should be charged for completely ignoring their constitution.

Posted by: RUEZ on September 11 2008 3:10 PM

Wow, you'd think that if there was one day people could have a little respect it would be today. Now I've lost respect for you Rafe.

Posted by: diplomat on September 12 2008 11:50 AM

Rafe, what you say is mostly true (except for what you state about Israel), but the truth about the ill conceived kneejerk reactions to 9/11 is not always appreciated when it is somewhat disturbing.

The EU trades vigorously with Israel (as it should) and if the Palestinians were allowed to build industries and have access to water and so forth they would also be able to do the same and enjoy a better standard of living.

I believe that they are basically the same people and would live together quite well if power politics wouldn't always get in the way.

They respected each others' customs and religions for many centuries and most of them (on both sides) are more than anxious to live in peace side by side again.

Withdrawing American subsidies is not the answer, but perhaps they should be matched by equal American subsidies to the Palestinian Authority as long as they are not used to support acts of terrorism.