The World Isn’t So Dark

Fashsback1 and Sparkly,

9/11 was a terrible day and it should shape our policies and our mindset. The only problem is that we don't actually know what really happened that day. We have the government's official conspiracy theory. But we still haven't had an _independent_ investigation.

At last count, 474 licensed architects and architectural engineers (along with >2300 other engineers and scientists, who have an understanding of basic physics) have signed statements saying that the do not believe based on _real_ evidence that the WTC towers came down as a result of fire caused by burning jet fuel (www.ae911truth.org). Not all these people can be raving lunatics. That in and of itself should be enough to cause the average person to take pause.

But if you look at www.patriotsquestion911.org you'll see that lots of other highly credible people (miliary, CIA, ex-government officials, 911 survivors, scholars, etc) think that the story we all "know" is absurd.

There are literally hundreds of well documented inconsistencies and outright lies (both specific and of omission) in the various government reports. If you truly care about the country and about yourself, you should take the time to seriously consider the _facts_ in this case rather than relying purely on a concocted story. Google "911 truth" and you'll find a large number of websites. Maybe the best place to start with is the Wikipedia article as it gives a short overview and many links to websites.

Great article.

It's a shame more people dont realize that you cant just jump every muslim jihadist group together and attack them the same way. Each group has its own motivations. Heck, the groups dont even really get along with each other. If American lumps them together, we run the risk of driving them into each others arms and creating super terrorist groups. Imagine if Al Queda and Hezbollah were to team up? Now that would be a
disaster.

I really think Obama's way is the right way to handle these threats.

With $150 bilion dollars in foreign aid , Israel and Aipac have bought our senators and congressman.
Israel runs our foreign policy, and our soldiers are used as proxies fighting Israels enemies.

There are 3 great reasons for our involvement in Iraq.
1. The map, it lies squarely in the middle of region that has been devoted to the destruction on America and it's principals.
2. It was run by a dictator so despicable that not even his neighbors would lift a hand to defend him.
3. The 3100 people who died on 9/11 and the need to show the World that we would no longer cling to Mr. Zakaria's views of the dangers to America.

I agree in large fashion with your thesis. Frankly, though, it is difficult to "forget" and put behind you the events of September 11 and no wise person should. The painful lesson we learned that day is that Islamic extremism is dangerous and as a nation are very vulnerable. On the other hand, I do we think spend too much time looking for the bogeyman.

Bush and the hawks throughout history have seen boogey men under every bed, and have reacted with brutish aggression. A measured and calm U.S. presence produces less threat to the world, and does less to inspire the people who want to destroy us. Teddy Roosevelt's position of 'speak softly and carry a big stick' should be a fundamental of foreign policy. 'Scream wildly and swing a big stick' does not work so well- as evidenced by our debacle with Iraq.

ferrelled if you think the world is safer you are dreaming. Ask the people in Madrid, in London, and in New York if they think the world is safer. It is not. Certain people just sugarcoat the truth.

So if deaths from terrorism are down since 9/11, doesn't it make since to continue the policies? When you have your enemy on the floor you keep him their. letting him get back up is asking for a punch in the nose.

We cannot move on. Because, if we forget about it and relax, we will get hit again. They are simply waiting. Our friends in Europe, Russia, Middle East will cheer them on. Let's face the reality. If we wave white flag, they will come at US with vengeance. We need a leader who loves this country, not putting it down or ashamed of it and who will make constructive changes not just beat people who worked hard and succeeded.

I read Mr. Zakaria at home in Newsweek. Based on this article and many other anti-US editorials, is Mr. Zakaria possibly an Iranian agent in our midst??

As an American who has lived and worked abroad for 10 years now, I cringe at the constant reference to 9/11. Yes, it was horrible and, for me, personally devastating, but let's move on and grow from it instead of making it a new cross to bear. And, yes, I took the bus the day the tube bombs went off in London. 50/50 chance I would have been on one of the lines that went bang. But the world is a safer, if also more vigilant, place now, and we need a leader who is not belligerant. I agree with Zakaria on all points.

Thank you Sparkly! I might add....and on American soil. 9/11 was an direct attack on innocent and unsuspecting people on their own land. Is that cause to sound the alarm and awaken "the Eagle"......I should say so!

Shyam, you are racist m...

Zakaria has no credibility, whatsoever. He is an anti-american. It simply does not matter what he says. Newsweek should fire him.

Wake up people. Bill Clinton sold Americans down the tube when he signed NAFTA. It did not bring in jobs but took them away! As for the economy under Bill Clinton...it was good because technology was booming, not because he did anything to help it. He was too busy messing around in the oval office. As for America exaggerating danger -- get real! All the tests and signs were there -- Beirut, SS Cole, bombing of US embassies, and the 1993 bombing at the WTC. The terrorists out and out said they someday would take it down! As for democrats..all the talk about is "change", how they will help the blue collar worker, and talk about the programs they will come up with. Read the fine print folks........who is paying for that? Why the struggling and shrinking middle class. We don't need more government, we need less. That will save money right there. McCain is right....Washington needs change. Get right of the excess and those that consider a vote stating they are present!

Everyone says that Americans are not smart enough to understand what you are saying. like the comments below from sharkman and neo are living proof.
Of course you are correct, but to reach sharkman for example, you must revert to coloring books and show and tell. Half a brain would tell him that Bill Clinton's act only hurt him and the whore, but Bush/McCain era is going to kill America.
We must get back on track and be realistic about the rest of the world. Mr. Z. America is only .05% of the worlds population and think we should be the rulers of everyone.
These people who hate Bill Clinton would find that he had the national debt coming down and under control at around $4 trillion. Georgie has destroyed everything he touched, to include a $10 trillion, but then I doubt they would comprehend such an amount.
The real problem in America is the inclination to racism. Bush has simply empowered America to hate (even More) the people's of any color, race or religion. Bush has set America back 100 years with his horrible policies and vacuous ideas.
I hope Obama is elected simply for the intelligence that has been and will be missing with 4 more years of the republican blindness and dis-intelligence.

This country is in trouble before of Bill Clinton and NAFTA. When he signed on the "dotted" line, he gave away jobs that were Americans. Did it happen overnight? Of course not. These things take time. The economy looked good under Clinton because technology was booming at the time. It wasn't anything he did. As for America exaggerating danger, wake up. We ignored all the signs and the "tests" that took place -- Beirut, SS Cole, bombing the WTC in 1993 and saying it would be taken down. Did you forget 9/11? I know I did not.

duh