WORLD WAR III

[David Morris]

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/13/national/13MILI.html

Early public opinion polls show that Americans overwhelmingly favor a swift 
and forceful retaliation, even if it means casualties, a sentiment shared on 
Capitol Hill. "Americans know now that we are at war, and will make the 
sacrifices and show the resolve necessary to prevail," said Senator John 
McCain, Republican of Arizona. "I say to our enemies, we are coming. God may 
show you mercy. We will not."

Many people throughout the government have expressed frustration at the 
inability of past cruise missile attacks to wipe out terrorist cells, or 
even to severely punish them. But military officers have also clearly read 
signals from the political leadership and the public, desiring combat 
operations to be casualty-free.

Today, Pentagon officials said something fundamental had changed after the 
attacks, with civilian death tolls expected to rival America's worst combat 
casualties.

Placing troops in harm's way to retaliate against those responsible for the 
attacks, and to prevent further terrorist action, "now seems completely 
justified," one military officer said. "Our senior leaders are describing 
this as war, so those in uniform are willing to accept the risk. And we know 
the public will support us."

>From: "Jasper Fidget"
>
>History ceased to be relevant on 11 September, 2001.  Context ceased to 
>exist.  The boundaries surrounding that second crash are impossible to see 
>now, so obscene was the event, so devastating to the American heart and 
>mind, sending details of place, incident, practice, and debate into an 
>empty vaccum.  All that matters now is the innevitability of war, and the 
>necessity of TERRIBLE and MERCILESS revenge.  The US has been changed by 
>this event--do not mistake it--our temperence lies in the same rubble as 
>the skyline of our greatest city.  Your worries about compassion and 
>fairness and even justice are irrelevant.  Compassion was not a factor in 
>the minds of our enemies--nor will it be in ours.  Fairness now involves 
>only what's fair to our dead.  Justice now will only be decided with the 
>sword.

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