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I suppose you may have wondered why I haven't said anything for the last few weeks. I have been in a state of disbelief, and remain so. Yes, I've even been afraid to say what's been inside my head since that fateful day that seems to never end. I might even be afraid of what will happen when it does. I've been busy.
The media has had a total fixation on the dastardly deeds of 9-11 making any comments made here about the burning of our most important city absolutely redundant and irrelevant. You don't need or probably don't want me to tell you how tragic and terrible a thing it was to kill those 6 thousand plus innocent people, and how we have to seek retribution on the evil murders of our citizens and friends. If, in the oft chance, you are interested in how I see the events to date, please continue.
So, the Taliban wants to pick a fight with America. Do they have any idea what that means? Do you? I served my country when I was called and I know there are a lot of young Americans ready to serve now as well. I went to Viet Nam as a young media specialist in 1971, and that only means that I had no practical experience when I arrived but a good education (for the Army). But this isn't about me, what about this current threat to America and it's allies? Should we go to war? I don't want to see another war, I've seen too many already and let me tell you there's nothing noble about losing your head to a bullet. It's an awful and messy sight, not to mention unfriendly, so my answer would be no. We should try to solve this conflict without inflicting more sorrow.
The thing is, we're already at war and have been for quite some time it seems. The events of 9-11 just woke us up with a big fist to the nose. What I want to know is, what has America done to the Taliban to piss them off so much? Why do they hate us? Did we not give them enough aid? Maybe they wanted new guns or something, perhaps some new Stingers or an A-bomb? Are they mad because we wouldn't die for them? It can't be because we like to eat pork, could it? I don't think this country, given it's history and all, is going to lay down for anyone, especially a tiny group of outlaws in a small desert country. Sure it won't be easy, it never is when you're chasing a bunch of fugitives, even if the fleeing felons are world renown and we have the best surveillance devices ever known or thought of. Perhaps someone can tell me who started this mess, or are we way beyond caring about that anymore. Does it even matter?
This planet seems to be at a crossroads. We have become so populous and clever that whatever happens anywhere in the world, even in the smallest backwater, it can be instantly known everywhere. Our technology has brought us into a Science Fiction Reality. Even as I type this story someone is building a device that will make my typing seem like trying to chisel pictographs into granite. I want one of those devices, by the way, and hurry. The American People should not then, think that we can send our army or the CIA into someone's back yard and grab his favorite guest and benefactor without angering a whole bunch of people, even if we have the means to get away with it. If we are at war, then we must contain our efforts to those who fight against us and seek our demise, whatever it takes. Bring the perpetrators to justice, and do it without any guilt of wrongdoing on our part. I haven't heard anything about solving the underlying problems, only that NATO won't negotiate their terms for the unconditional surrender of all the "terrorists." I suppose that also means the Taliban Government and army, and maybe Pakistan, Iraq, and Sudan (sorry if I didn't mention your favorite country to hate).
I don't want to involve those who are not our enemies. This remains to be a very complicated matter to accomplish, and I expect that more innocent people will pay the ultimate price for unresolved conflict between adversaries that have lots of guns and surplus resources. Our zeal to defeat the foe may be good for moral, but it is very important to be deliberate and circumspect, and remember that the taste of human blood is better left untried. We should not seek revenge in anger. How many human souls will it cost to have peace? What are you willing to pay? What is the ultimate goal of this war? And don't say to crush terrorism, we're talking much more than just that, remember that the Taliban has been mad at America for years. If you find it difficult to answer these questions in a positive way, it may not be helpful for the troops in the field, but you'd be honest. Do we take the high road, or do we take the low one? The world is watching. I told you before that I'd be redundant, I'll make it up to you, I promise.
I have to have faith that our leaders will do the proper thing for humanity and not think too much about their careers. I don't really have any other choice that doesn't involve me getting politically active, which is not an option for me, but could be for someone else. I shall contain my efforts to asking questions, some without answers, reporting, and writing, mostly about how I think and feel. You can write about your own feelings and send them to me and maybe I'll publish them here, even if you want to say I'm full of pig shit.
This of course is only my opinion, it's right for me.
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