Saturday, September 09, 2006

HOW SAFE

THERE ARE 19 AGAIN. ALL MEN. ALL MIDDLE EASTERN.
THEIR PLANNING IS FINISHED.
THEY BREAK INTO 8 GROUPS OF TWO AND 1 GROUP OF 3.
9 TEAMS.
19 BOMBERS IN ALL; A NUMBER FITS THEIR PLAN AND SENDS A MESSAGE. THE SAME NUMBER AS 9/11.
THEY JOKE ABOUT THE SYMMETRY.
AFTER SAYING GOODBYE, GOOD LUCK, AND PRAISE BE TO ALLAH,
THEY GO ON THEIR SEPARATE WAYS, TO 9 CITIES.
EACH HAS A MAJOR AIRPORT.

ONE TEAM GOES TO CHICAGO’S O’HARE.
ONE TEAM GOES TO DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL.
ANOTHER GOES TO RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL.
THERE’S DENVER INTERNATIONAL….LOGAN IN BOSTON…MIAMI INTERNATIONAL…LA GUARDIA…JFK …

TRAFFIC IS THICK. HORNS ARE HONKING, LIMOS JOCKEY FOR POSITION, CAB TIRES SQUEAL, A BARELY AUDIBLE P.A. ANNOUNCEMENT WARNS DRIVERS TO NOT LEAVE THEIR CAR UNATTENDED OR IT WILL BE TOWED AT THE OWNER’S EXPENSE.

EACH TEAM TAKES THEIR LUGGAGE OUT OF THE TAXI AND PLACES IT ON THE CURB. THEY PAY THE FARE AND INCLUDE A TIP.
THEY PICK UP THEIR LUGGAGE AND WALK THROUGH THE AUTOMATIC DOORS.
ONE TEAM EVEN ASKS A SKYCAP FOR ASSISTANCE.


THEY WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE CROWDED LINES IN THE TERMINAL BUILDING. THE LINES ARE LONG AND SLOW, AS USUAL DURING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. SOME PEOPLE LOOK AT THEIR WATCHES AS THEY FRET OVER THE LENGTH OF THE LINE. SOME ARE CLEARLY FAMILIES WITH IMPATIENT KIDS IN TOW. WELL-DRESSED BUSINESSMEN MAKE PHONE CALLS. COLLEGE KIDS WITH TORN JEANS SLUMP OVER THEIR BAGS AS THEY KEEP CHECKING FOR INCOMING CALLS. A COUPLE OFF ON THE HONEYMOON GIGGLE.
ONE BY ONE, PEOPLE ADVANCE TO THE STRESSED AGENTS AT THE COUNTER. THE AGENTS LOOK DOWNWARD AT THE COMPUTER SCREEN AND SEEM TO READ VOLUMES. THEY ASK, “DID YOU PACK YOUR OWN BAGS…?”
TICKETS ARE EXAMINED AND BAGS ARE LABELED WITH INDESTRUCTIBLE NEON PAPER STRAPS INDICATING FINAL DESTINATIONS.
PEOPLE INCH ALONG. SOME DRINK COFFEE. SOME SIT ON THEIR SUITCASE. PEOPLE PUSH BAGS ALONG WITH THEIR FEET.

THE BOMBERS LOOK AT THEIR WATCHES. IN TWO MINUTES THEY’LL TAKE OUT THEIR CELL PHONES. IT WAS THE TIME THAT THEY ALL AGREED TO. THE BAGS WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO THE COUNTER. THE BAGS WILL NEVER BE SCREENED OR WEIGHED. THE BAGS WILL NEVER BE EXAMINED OR X-RAYED. NOR WILL THEY BE PUT INTO THE BELLY OF A SAFE PLANE. IT IS THE AGREED TIME.
AS THEY PRESS THE CELL PHONE, THEIR LUGGAGE RIPS APART.

HOW MANY WOULD DIE?
WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO OUR COUNTRY AND OUR ECONOMY?
COULD IT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?
ARE WE SAFE?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very scary scenario. No we are not safe from random terror. There is only safety in statistics (as per your earlier piece.) God, I sure hope that no real terrorists read your blog!

Anonymous said...

Good thing you weren't around making decisions when the Nazis were raping Europe.

quicksand said...

MY DEAR NO NAME,

I WOULD BE DISTRESSED TO HAVE HAD YOU IN CHARGE DURING THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR. THE PELOPONNESIANS WOULD ALL BE DEAD…OR WORSE!
HOWEVER, LET ME DEAL WITH THE PRESENT.
ARE WE SAFE?
CAN WE BE MADE SAFER?
IF NOT, WHY NOT?

quicksand said...

HATE TO STRESS THIS AGAIN............BUT............
WERE THE IRAQIS RAPING EUROPE?

Mr.Turner said...

anon said..."Good thing you weren't around making decisions when the Nazis were raping Europe."

Apples and oranges...
A different time, with different players, and different weaponry. Right now the nuclear genie is being kept in a cracked bottle. How would YOU address the reality of the Pakistani and North Korean nukes escaping the current tenuous containment. Or consider the Iranian desire to nuke somebody (Israel) within the next few years. What should YOUR leaders do? It's time for some substance. Invading Iraq was purely stupid and a diversion from the real issues of global brinksmanship. It had nothing to with terrorism and everything to do with trying to establish a mideast beachhead for a future theatre of war. If they had said that in the beginning how much support would they have had? The Pentagon Generals have said from the begining it was a mistake. Now our crusading decider-in-chief and puppet of PNAC
has started to lose the confidence of common sense Americans. Let's call a quagmire a quagmire and leave now. Rumsfeld screwed the pooch on this one. He's just too arrogant to admit a mistake. The Shia majority will take over eventually anyway with either overt or covert Iranian help. Alternatives? Perhaps put 500,000 Americans in Iraq to establish our concept of an imposed democracy? Sure, that will keep us safe from harm. Do you expect us to march across all of rapist Islam like we did Nazi-Europe in WW2.

Please become an identity so that we don't get confused by your anonymous posts.

Mr.Turner said...

I hope my sarcasm was evident.
"imposed Democracy" "safe from harm" "rapist-Islam"

Anonymous said...

Bruce,
Please explain what is the point of this writting. What additive information or insight are you engaging us in?

quicksand said...

DEAR HERM,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

AS I STATED BEFORE, HOWEVER...OUR COUNTRY CAN'T GET AN ORDER OF PROTECTION AGAINST FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO DIE.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF PEOPLE WERE ANGRY....VERY ANGRY AT YOU?

Anonymous said...

Bruce,
"WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF PEOPLE WERE ANGRY....VERY ANGRY AT YOU? "

I think in this situation I would exchange Bush for bin Laden and if that doesn't do it, throw in Pelosi. This should satisfy both sides and then we can start killing each other over another controversy. At least it would be something different.

quicksand said...

DEAR HERM,
THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE. WITHOUT COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU, MY LITTLE PLACE HERE WOULD BE JUST LIKE A HERMIT.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER DAY...YET...IT IS A DAY WHEN WE'RE REMINDED OF 5 YEARS AGO.
REMINDED OF WHAT HAPPENED AND EVEN MORE, HOW FAST FIVE YEARS PASSES US BY.
ALL OF OUR LIVES ARE FLOWING BY...NO EXCEPTIONS.

I KNOW THE FOLLOWING NOTION DOESN'T QUITE FIT INTO AMERICA'S THINKING....BUT...

IF WE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT REDUCING TERRORISM AGAINST US, AND, IF IT'S NOT TOO LATE, I WOULD HAVE US KEEP OUR GUARD UP WHILE WE DO SOME SELF-EXAMINATION AND NATIONAL REFLECTION.
WHY DO THEY HATE US?
MY SIMPLE MIND CAN'T ACCEPT THAT THE ROOTS OF THE HATRED ARE NOURISHED BY FREEDOM, MODERNITY, RELIGIOUS CONVERSION, OR DEMOCRACY.

Anonymous said...

Quicksand,
I must of missed your point. I did not realize, from your writing, that you were being remorseful about 9/11. It is hard to understand hate.

Anonymous said...

Quicksand,
Here's a thought! Why don't the Terrorists "DO SOME SELF-EXAMINATION AND ....... REFLECTION."

Anonymous said...

Coco laboy,
I agree with you. I was just commenting on the idea that it is the USA that should do the reflecting. The fact that we are responsible for the actions of the terrorists is like saying that the blacks were the cause of the actions of the KKK. Perhaps the Black community should of self reflected to understand the KKK.

quicksand said...

Isn't it just possible that terrorists are just a bunch of murderous thugs and that no amount of self-reflection and change in policy will appease?

YES, YOU MAY BE CORRECT

Let's try to imagine what might make them go away. Finding a solution to the Palestinian question? Maybe,

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD START.
YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER,

but bin Laden and all the other jihadi theorists rarely mention the Palestinians and have their eyes set on changing regimes in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia...

HOW MANY OF HIS SPEECHES HAVE YOU LISTENED TO OR READ?

Maybe if the US and the West gave up all those Enlightenment principles that seem to get up the noses of the jihadis?

NO. OUR ENLIGHTENED PRINCIPLES ARE OUR GREATEST FEATURE. IT WOULD BE SAD TO LOSE THEM OR TO NOT LIVE UP TO THEM. NO?

Hmm, might make airports more secure but I kind of like societies based on reason rather than religion;

BUSH HAS SPOKEN TO GOD. I'LL TAE REASON OVER ANY RELIGION.

and I really don't like stoning as a way of dealing with women who have the nerve to speak in public.

HOW MANY MUSLIM WOMEN ARE IN THE WORLD?
HOW MANY HAVE BEEN STONED FOR SPEAKING IN PUBLIC?
HOW MANY U.S. MILITARY ARE IN IRAQ?
HOW MANY HAVE RAPED, KILLED, AND SET FIRE TO A TEENAGE GIRL? JUST A VERY FEW.

Maybe the US could use the U.N. more? That probably wouldn't do the trick. The jihadis have declared war on the UN

BUSH'S CHOICE FOR U.N. AMBASSADOR, BOULTON, HAS DECLARED 'WAR' ON THE U.N.

peacekeeping force that just went into Lebanon; and they didn't waste to much time in blowing up the UN headquarters in Iraq in 2003.

I AGREE.


The US is the superpower and is seen as representing values that a group of fanatical thugs want to destroy.

YOU MAY BE CORRECT. PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW YOU KNOW THIS, AND WHICH VALUES ARE YOU REFERRING TO.
PLEASE BE SPECIFIC...WITHOUT SAYING, 'EVERYBODY KNOWS.'

It is a tiny fraction of a part of the world's population. Self-reflection is a good thing but I don't think it will make anyone any safer.

I DISAGREE. IT MIGHT MAKE US SAFER.




10:58 AM


The Hermit said...
Coco laboy,
I agree with you. I was just commenting on the idea that it is the USA that should do the reflecting. The fact that we are responsible for the actions of the terrorists is like saying that the blacks were the cause of the actions of the KKK. Perhaps the Black community should of self reflected to understand the KKK.

NO. BLACKS WERE TREATED IN A SUBHUMAN WAY. THEY WERE DENIED RIGHTS, AND, IN SOME CASES, LYNCHED.
THEY HAD NOTHING O REFLECT UPON EXCEPT TO FIGHT BACK.
THE BLACK PANTHERS FELT THAT WHAT WAS NOT DONE LEGALLY MIGHT BE ACHIEVED THROUGH VIOLENCE. MARTIN LUTHER KING DISAGREED WITH THEM.

quicksand said...

I TAKE IT THAT YOU THINK WE ARE IMMUNE FROM THE NEED TO BE SELF-REFLECTIVE.
I BELIEVE IT IS THAT VERY ARROGANCE THAT GETS US DEEPER INTO SOME PROBLEMS.

SOMETHING FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT:

BIN LADEN LISTED 3 GRIEVANCES.

U.S. TROOPS WERE IN SAUDI ARABIA. HE WANTED THEM OUT.

HE WANTED THE PALESTINIAN ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED.

HE WANTED THE U.S. TO STOP SUPPORTING 'DESPOTIC' REGIMES IN THE MIDDLE-EAST.

AFTER 9/11:
BUSH REMOVED THE U.S. TROOPS FROM SAUDI ARABIA.
BUSH PRESENTED HIS 'ROAD MAP FOR PEACE'.

BUSH CLAIMED THAT THE GOVERNMENTS IN THE MIDDLE-EAST NEEDED DEMOCRATIC REFORM.

REFLECTIVE?

Anonymous said...

"NO BLACKS WERE TREATED IN A SUBHUMAN WAY. THEY WERE DENIED RIGHTS, AND, IN SOME CASES, LYNCHED.
THEY HAD NOTHING O REFLECT UPON EXCEPT TO FIGHT BACK."

I am not sure what history books you are reading. Blacks were treated as sub-human, indiscriminate lynchings, lack of equal justice, separate bathrooms, no vote, back of bus, minimal pay for the worst jobs, etc. etc.
Most of us are capable of reflection and understanding our mistakes, that does not mean we have compassion for murderers and people who impose their will through violence. Now please do not tell us all how Americans are like the terrorists.

quicksand said...

CHECK MY LAST RESPONSE......

YOU MISSED THE PERIOD AFTER THE WORD 'NO'

I WAS RESPONDING TO YOUR RHETORICAL QUESTION WHICH ASKED IF BLACKS HAD TO BE REFLECTIVE ABOUT THE KKK.
I ANSWERED:
NO. BLACKS WERE....
A VERY IMPORTANT PERIOD THAT YOU EXCLUDED.

DO SOME RESEARCH FOR US. FIND OUT HOW MANY IRAQI CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY OUR COUNTRY.
THEN, TELL ME WHY THEY'RE DEAD.
HECK.WE EVEN CALLED IT 'SHOCK AND AWE'

quicksand said...

THANKS COCO,
YOU PRESENT MANY INTERESTING POINTS.

SO, YOU SEE NO NEED FOR SELF-EXAMINATION OR REFLECTION.I DISAGREE.

BY DOING SO, WE DON'T ASSUME ALL THE BLAME FOR ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS. IT JUST MIGHT.....MIGHT.......MAKE US A LITTLE SAFER.

NO FRIEND OF THE TALIBAN HERE!
AMERICA DID THE PROPER THING GOING AFTER THEM.

NOTE: AUSTRALIA AND FINLAND DID NOT INVADE IRAQ.

TELL ME A STORY BEFORE I GO TO BED.
TELL ME THE ONE ABOUT THE SHAH...PLEASE!

Anonymous said...

To Coco laboy

EXTREMELY WELL SAID. I AGREE 100%

Anonymous said...

THIS WAS SENT TO ME
BY 'TEXAS BITCH'

All I know is that I am more afraid of Bush than any terrorists!

quicksand said...

DEAR COCO
I AGREE WITH THE FIRSTHALF OF YOUR COMMENT.

A FEW THOUGHTS:
THE U.N. INSPECTORS DECLARED THIS WEEK THAT IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPON DEVELOPMENT IS GROSSLY EXAGGERATED BY THE U.S.

WHAT ABOUT THE RAPTURE?