The tragedy that happened yesterday in Washington DC and New York affected me in a fairly big way. I'm not an American, and the only relative I have in the US lives in Texas, and I also feel secure, as Canada is immensely more passive as a nation than the US, but I do feel a deep sadness for the unnecessary loss of life.

What do you think is an appropriate way for Bush and his administration to deal with the terrorists, once their identity is discovered? I hope that all that is done is that the people who condoned the act are killed, and nothing else. (If the hijackers hadn't died as well, I would add them to the list). The biggest mistake Bush could make, in my opinion, is to get too agressive and strike back with another terrorist attack on the nation who hit the US yesterday. This kind of violence will not end if people keep using the same kind of violence to retaliate.

I deeply hope that Bush and the American people can humble themselves and be peacemakers, instead of stubbornly holding onto their pride and perpetrating more unnecessary violence. It is the criminals who deserve to be killed, not the army or civilians of the counry who is responsible.

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Mike Chase
mike_intel@hotmail.com
My Home

Mike,

There would be no terrorism without the support (financial and otherwise) of certain countries. As an airline pilot, I can tell you that this kind of attack didn't happen without some VERY sophisticated planning and training for the individuals involved. You can't provide that kind of training without a place to do it and significant financial resources.

Unfortunately, you can't properly address this thing without some level of violence... that's the only thing these monsters understand. Nothing we can say is going to change their minds about the U.S. being "evil" or change their resolve to kill innocent people in an effort to disrupt our nation and break our spirit.

Given that, the only thing we can do is to physically STOP them... make it very difficult or impractical to do what they do. And you can't do that effectively without some kind of retaliation against the specific individuals/groups involved and the countries that support them. It's absolutely tragic that our response must result in the loss of innocent lives... but it will be necessary to prevent a GREATER loss of innocent lives.

The whole thing is incredibly TRAGIC.

Rick

Mike,

I agree with Rick. It is so unfortunate that these senseless acts of violence against our country has and will result in the loss of innocent lives; but it has to stop somewhere. We are a peaceful nation as is evident by the sharing of the largest unpatrolled border in the world with our equally peaceful neighbor Canada. However, as it was so appropriately stated by the Japanese on Dec 7, 1941; these actions have awakened a sleeping giant. May the Lord have mercy on us all.

On one hand I can agree with what Mike is saying. A violent retaliation where we consciously destroy more innocent lives is not good. Two wrongs usually don't make a right but this is a different situation. Many of these people (countries) don't think as rationally as we do. Don't be fooled into thinking that the poor goat farmer in the rural Mid-East is appalled at what happened. Their hatred to the U.S. is real. Sadly, these people are brainwashed into thinking that this was truly the proper thing to do. I truly believe that if we do nothing, the U.S. will continue to be attacked in years to come. Bush will be criticized no matter what he does. I'm not sure what the proper way to retaliate is but I have to think it that once the decision is made to do so, it will be quick and it will send a bigtime message not to mess with the U.S.

Steve

I just want Osama Bin-Laden and his followers to be caught and dealt with, and if that means death to them all, so be it...but I'm not so sure I want WW3 and more innocent people to be killed, maimed or whatever...I mean, when is it all going to stop? I am just sick of all of this.....something has to give, folks!

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Anita Bonita

There was a time when I would have prefered a diplomatic settlement over ouright aggression. But I think Rick is correct, the time has come for some quick, meaningful action to be taken. We could argue that aggression will only bring more aggression. But then we could argue that diplomacy will lead to no were, opening more attacts. In fact we could find arguements against almost any kind of action, resulting in no action. This has Ben Ladens fingerprints all over it. If we come the ultimate decision that he planned it, we give the Afgans a set period of time to turn him over or level the capital city. Harsh? You bet it is, but this is a man who has been very open about his hatred of the US and the Afgans by hiding him take on that hatred for themselves and are just as guilty as he his. This was an overt act of war against the people of the United States and should be treated as such.

I find it interesting that planes were being deployed in formation from Mayport today, we saw them but of course have no idea what is happening. And several people I know who have loved ones in the military (jax has a big navy base) have received emails that they are going to be incommunicado (sp) TFN. Working in a cluster with a news/talk station there is information, both substantiated and not substantiated, flying thick but we are all "on call" right now to come in and work should something more happen, which they seem to think is likely. In an ideal world retaliation toward the people who did this thing would be possible without innocent lives being at risk too but I wonder if that is possible.

There is no doubt that a lot of what we do in response will be done in the shadows and with any luck we can bring about justice with as little bloodshed as possible. I hate to see the lives of children and non combat people put in harms way, but at some point we must say enough is enough. One thing is for sure, this will not be settled quickly. I am afraid we are in for a long battle, we may catch those responsible, but others are sure to follow and I am not sure there is a clear cut answer of how to just end it all.

While many people have expressed the "need" for a major retaliation (and I'm sure one's coming) I am intrigued by many statements made by goverment officials voicing that we will be stronger because of this...we will be a better country etc. I hope this just isn't rhetoric and we truly somehow can gain something out of this tragedy. What if (let me dream here for a minute) we were somehow able to break up OPEC and take partial control over a certain percentage of the oil fields in the nations responsible for attacking us? We could take control of the fuel prices we pay and take the extra $$ to subsidize the funding to help offset the billions and billions in losses. In no way does this in any way offset the loss of lives but to me, this would be a scenario where the U.S. became stronger and a better country as a result of this tragedy. Could you imagine if we could somehow pull this off?? Do you think any of those other OPEC nations would dare stand up to us right now??

Steve

I believe that this act of unspeakable agression has forced our country to do something we don't really want to do, but know we must.

I'm sure I speak for many when I say that I am troubled to see loss of life in another country as a result of this action. But, by taking no action, we can guarantee additional loss of life in our own country. And that, I am not willing to accept without a fight!

You cannot have diplomacy with terrorists, or the states that support them. This has been tried, to no avail. We must strike swiftly and decicively. Our true friends in the world will support and applaud our actions.

May God bless us all in these terrible times.

Doug