IF YOU'RE NOT WITH US, YOU'RE AGAINST US (Attacks on America)

Member Name: splodgethecat

Product:	Attacks on America
Date:	14/09/01 (172 review reads)
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Didn’t George W Bush say something to this effect yesterday, or was it perhaps just someone’s journalistic interpretation of a statement? Either way, I truly believe that this notion should stand after this week’s terrible events. I know I am not going to be terribly popular with this opinion, but hey, free speech and all that.


First of all, before I start the opinion proper, I would like to express my condolences, prayers and support to all of the families who have been so dreadfully affected in the US and those dotted throughout the world this week. Words cannot express the sadness I feel, not to mention the disbelief and anger that I am now starting to feel at the acts of these cranks.


After reading some of the opinions here, many of which call for no reprisals and ‘common sense to prevail’, I wrack my brains to try to understand this logic. The sentiments are fine and noble, but for the sake the thousands of those poor innocent Americans, (and those from other nations) reprisals are a MUST. What would happen if America did nothing? In a few months or even after a year or so, these evil perpetrators would think up something even *more* horrendous. Then, unpunished, their twisted logic would lead them to believe that they had ’won the war’ and they would end up basking in the ‘glory’ of their actions. They would also see the new president as a soft touch, which could open the floodgates for all sorts of attacks from other possible factions.


Some would say to this, that *more* innocents might die, but if surely, if America give out CLEAR instructions to any countries that might be harbouring the suspects, that if they don’t give them up, they are liable to retaliation, then fair warning would have been given? This puts the ball firmly in the other countries' court. Also, it must be noted that this attack has been so appalling that it has provoked unparallele
d support from many nations - many of which you would not have expected to come forward in support of the USA. World outrage has been so strong this time that doing nothing is simply not an option (and I would most definitely not support the notion).


Therefore, going back to my title, I believe that those nations who do not come forward in support of the USA at this terrible time SHOULD be deemed to be against it! Just look as those sickening scenes we saw on the news the first night of those fanatics CELEBRATING in the streets at the carnage. Absolutely sickening. Personally, I would consider the people who could do such a thing an enemy - almost as bad as the perpetrators! Likewise the leaders who would harbour these terrorists. It’s all well and good saying ONLY the leader of this group should be killed (bin liner - or whatever his name is) and that innocent citizens shouldn’t be harmed, but those who rejoice at the deaths of people from other nations are far from innocents themselves, even if they are not direct supporters of the prime suspect.


Also, how could this be done? They say all’s fair in love and war, and unfortunately to get to the suspects, other people will probably have to be killed in the process. Saving innocents was by no means the tenet that these terrorists lived, and died, by! You can’t make omelettes without breaking eggs, as the saying goes. In ANY war, because mark my words, this is what this is, there are innocent casualties. Fortunately in this day and age, technology is such that as little innocent life is lost as possible, but frankly, I find all this pussyfooting about a little sickening myself.


It appears very fashionable these days to take a sort of pacifist line. Many of the postings here seem to be straining to be *so* politically correct - I can’t understand it. Maybe people whose families had been directly affected might think differently? Anyway, no more
bloodshed is a very gracious ideology, but in remembrance of all those who have died, these people AND THEIR SUPPORTERS must be quashed. There was no such ideology when those maniacs planned and executed this terrible act. Their goal was to kill and maim AS MANY innocent Americans as possible!


Imagine the sheer terror of the people on those planes who knew that the phone calls they were ordered to make to families would be the last words their loved ones would ever hear from them. What of the bewilderment of the children on those flights, looking to their mommies or daddies to keep them safe. How could any of us possibly imaging what it must be like to have to decide whether to burn to death or jump thousands of feet to our deaths? Will any of us ever endure the sheer torment during our lifetimes as those poor people who are now wondering the streets of New York searching for their loved ones who are missing?


Well, I’m sorry, but I have no sympathy for anyone who would condone or support the people who would carry out such murderous atrocities. Now I know that some of the readers here are going to see my views as a little old fashioned, but I was brought up to believe that bullies should be stood up to. Therefore I personally believe that the American response should he absolute I’m afraid. I know many people are going to post vehement replies to my view, but I am not interested in exchanging argument. This is my own personal view. Therefore I shall not be posting any replies on the comments section. Thanks for reading.

AFTERTHOUGHTS
===============After seeing another night’s terrible pictures and news reports and reading some of the comments left I felt impelled to add a few afterthoughts. As I thought, the majority of comments have been against my views, therefore I need to add the following to the op;

First of all, it must be noted that the perpetrators of these vile acts have NO scruples
at all. They would not hesitate for a millisecond in using biological weapons if they had them. How on earth can you be diplomatic or *civilised* with the UN-civilised? What is more, a couple of opinions written by other members ask that the USA don’t start another war. Well, excuse me, but I was under the impression that the *terrorists* had just started the war?!?!? The logic is completely twisted here.

Secondly, it is not *I* who wishes to “divide up the world into 'them and us' “. This has already been done by the terrorists. This FOUR PRONGED attack which was *minutely planned* and which was initiated well over a year ago was devised to kill as many people as possible, was not a token spur of the moment madness. It was a deliberate, calculated act. In addition, this was not the act of a couple of madmen; it consisted of a NETWORK of dozens of cunning and unscrupulous people, planning, plotting and infiltrating into American society in order to carry out these murderous deeds. I can’t help but wonder if some here would like to let all this go? Why not go the whole hog and openly support these evil cowards. One op even has its first line “Do you not think that America had this coming”. One op is even entitled ”Did they deserve it”. Personally I consider these writers traitors!

Maybe it’s because this has happened so far away that it seems the majority of folks appear to want to take the pacifist line? However, the *world* will never be the same again after this. This will impact on almost every nation, not just America. Everyone in democratic society has been attacked here. Even NATO has invoked article 5 (I think it is) *for the very first time* which in a nutshell means that if you attack one you attack us all.

I also feel very sad that those in opposition to my view come out and say openly, yet those who *agree* with the concept of an eye for an eye have to _*emai
l me privately*_ to say they agree wholeheartedly. Why is it that those who feel affronted, saddened, sickened and angry by these evil people should have to cower and hide? It’s ludicrous. This is just what these maniacs want. I cannot understand how the large majority of opinions here are so NFI or even gleeful about these dreadful acts!!!!!!

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