Flutterby™! : Harry Browne on the attacks 2001-09-14 20:51:54+00

Harry Browne on the attacks

2001-09-14 20:51:54+00 by Dan Lyke 2 comments

Via Scripting News, Harry Browne goes further than I dared in condemning the US policies that lead to the attacks.

All I can think the last couple days is that as horrifying as this is, I *know* we brought it on ourselves with our arrogant foreign policy.

I have a serious worry about suitcase nukes. There is no reason to believe that some of the missing Russian nuclear arsenal didn't find its way into terrorist hands. If it did, there's no reason to believe those terrorists are too stupid to get them into the States (easy as pie) before the airliner kamikaze action.

Tac-nukes are tiny. They're easy to manufacture, given plutonium. The former USSR is missing loads of plutonium.

Leave the States, acknowledging that we brought it on ourselves and not wanting to pay for Demopublican policy decisions I disagreed with all along.

Join the Armed Forces, despite the fact I'd never see combat...hoping to in some way help to wipe out the aggressor before they wipe out the US.

Bottom line...I'm not a patriot. I never have been. I *don't* think we're the best country on earth, nor do I think we're morally superior. What happened to us was a crime against humanity, and that's far more important than the fact it happened to Americans.

When I look at the tragedy Tuesday, what I see is "Dear God, 10k+ human beings wiped out by someone with a grudge. Someone who maybe, just maybe...has the capacity to wipe out a whole lot more".

I want to help stop this. I don't think it's over. If there are tac-nukes in the US' borders already...well, I prefer not to think about it. What occurs to me is that in a non-combatant role (assured by my bad knees, bad back, etc) I can't do much but wait.

If I had the chance to get at the men who planned these actions...I'd gladly skin them alive in a vat of salt on international television. (This is where I usually start scaring Todd).

But if I don't have that chance, and let's be honest...I don't...I'm terribly tempted to admit what I've known all along: The US' foreign policy has driven certain groups against the wall. And nothing fights like a cornered animal. Anyone who would commit this atrocity would think nothing of setting off a TacNuke in LA, NYC, or San Francisco.

Let me make it clear that I think *nothing* could ever justify an act that takes tens of thousands of civilian lives. No cause, no oppression, no justification could possibly excuse this.

Now my decision-tree revolves around the basic question of self-preservation vs. a desire to see this horror avenged.

And I don't know which is more important. Except that if there *is* no chance to avenge (and put a stop to, much more importantly) the slaughter of innocents who did nothing to anyone...at least not those who killed them...I'd just as soon live to fight another day.

I'll be honest, I've been drunk every night since Tuesday. I am now. Maybe I'm incoherent.

I don't know if I'm asking for advice, approval, or if I just don't give a damn.

Perhaps your just venting but it got me thinking. Since Tuesday morning I've had a rage burning inside of me like one I've never known before. For the most part it has remained hidden, just smouldering away, but I know its there and I'm constantly aware of its heat. What scares me is that I'm nor real sure I want to put it out, at least not right now.

I guess it was a little after 10:00am on Tuesday that this rage ignited. It took solid news about what had happened at the Pentagon before I came out of the shock of losing all those lives and became angry at whoever could have done this. Someone had attacked my home! No, I've never been to New York City and I've only visited Washington D.C. once but this country is my home. No one does this to my home and gets away with it!

Only reason keeps this rage under control and smouldering. Every now and then, though, I feel it flare up and then it is only sheer self-discipline that keeps me from breaking things. I've identified what it is that sets off these flare-ups and I'm attempting to stay away from those things that do.

One of the things that causes a flare up of my rage is pictures of a plane hitting the WTC. I don't look at these anymore. The other thing is hearing "you reap what you sow" sermons from anyone. Those aren't so easy to stay away from.

Now, don't get me wrong, I know that we have dealt arms and trained warriors from every little country in conflict all around this world. I know that the Mujahadeen was the precursor to the Taliban and that we supplied them and trained them in their war against the USSR. I know that we have stubbornly backed Isreal, at times when Isreal couldn't claim righteousness, against the Palistineans. I know that we built up Iraq to fight Iran when Iran wasn't our friend and we built up Iran when the Shah was not acting fully in the best interest of his people. I know we have planted seeds of destruction all around the world and I know that this has caused us to become a target.

I know all that but I also know that several thousand people, fellow US citizens, that never did a thing to anyone are dead now, leaving wives, husbands, children, mothers and fathers grieving. These folks didn't deserve that. These folks shouldn't be dead. I'm not in the mood for any "I told you so." Please don't fan the flames of my rage.at never did a thing to anyone are dead now, leaving wives, husbands, children, mothers and fathers grieving. These folks didn't deserve that. These folks shouldn't be dead. I'm not in the mood for any "I told you so."

I'm not sure I have any idea at all as to where I need to direct my rage or if I should just let it burn itself out. I'm too old for military service. I understand that they don't want any more volunteers in NYC for clearing the debris and searching for bodies and possible survivors. I don't know what good my voice will do or even what I need to say or who the audience might be. There is frustration here with the rage and that doesn't feel good at all.