Posted on 09/14/2001 6:07:26 PM PDT by ouroboros
A Season for Sadness
After we penned a lament for those lost in Tuesday's tragedy, someone logged onto our message board accusing us of "laps[ing] into old Cold War jingoism" because we did not "call for America to withdraw from its arrogant, bullying foreign policy." Since then we've received calls here at The Cause expressing a similar sentiment.
Several points must be made. First, the ashes of tragedy give birth to heroes, and the great ones of this disaster are not armchair critics or think-tank scribblers. The real heroes of September 11 are passengers who vowed to die before they allowed a plane to plow into their capitol city. They are rescue workers whose mission of mercy cost them their lives. And they are families desperately, bravely clutching photos and awaiting word. Rather than arguing policy over the graves of the fallen, a good nation should circle round our broken and resolve that they will not be forgotten.
We have said before and remain convinced that rampant interventionism is the spawning pool of international terror, and that our global adventuring has fomented resentment around the world. But this is no time for "I told you so" games. When our nation comes under attack, compounding the assault with self-criticism is callous in the extreme. Once the full freight of this tragedy settles, we can unpack probable causes and potential culprits, and we may well find our own hubris at fault. But now is not the time.
For those who saw war-mongering behind our conviction that any associated with these perpetrators must pay, we say that anti-imperialism and pacifism bear no relation. The former argues that great powers cease to be so when they splinter their strength by blustering into other nations' wars. But when war comes calling - as it did Tuesday morning - passivity is no virtue.
We must therefore respond -- not in wanton revenge, but with precise determination. Those who say "We are at war with all fundamentalist Islamic entities waging war against the United States" risk rewarding the terrorists by igniting a massive conflict in the Middle East. We cannot declare war on an amorphous enemy or embark on aspirin factory crusades. But in this case, a proportionate response based on reliable information is well within the scope of justice.
As for re-evaluation of our empire-building, that will come with time. We don't advocate paralysis, but for now, we have no interest in receiving prophet's credit or joining the chorus of hegemony gone wrong. This discussion will continue for months, and some will recognize that no defensive measure, from missile shield to security super-structure, will deter a madman with a skyscraper in his sights, thus we must find the taproot of his rage. Others will realize that the ruthlessness propelling our assailants did not grow from a hatred of our goodness, but from animosity born elsewhere. Amid those questions, there will room to re-orient our policies, but until our dead are buried and our suffering are comforted, claiming prescience will not help us heal.
I'm sauced and bitter. And more importantly, some think they can play bomb the furry'ners and not have it come around to take a chunk out of their backside.
And take a chunk out it will if we are not very very careful, which I am not confident we will be. There is a subtext to this whole incident that is the real dividing line in our society now, and no one will be willing to touch it.
You can be forgiven for being sauced and bitter, and also for giving the unthinking here a serious tongue-lashing.
<Regards, as usual...
BUMP! Exactly what I was trying to express on another thread!
Well in warfare you expect enemies to fight back.
Thoughtful, I thought...
There's enough blame for this event to go around five or six times through numerous federal government entities and agencies.
Out of respect to the families of the fallen, I have held my tongue. In a few days I will stop doing so.
Buchanan could have said a hell of a lot more, when it comes to the subject of I told you so. He didn't. Some of the less attentive should have noticed!
I'm not exactly sure what brought on that comment...
I think he was makin' a jokey.
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