Today in History

This is a day that will never be forgotten. Terrible, terrible.

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It is indeed a terrible day, and one that will no doubt be repeated if the US doesn't take immediate, decisive, and deadly retaliation.

But, at the present moment, prayer is more appropriate than speculation and calls for vengeance.

A few words of caution: Remember the bombing in Oklahoma City. We (certainly myself included) were so sure the the attack came from without. There are people in this country with their own radical (seems like too tame a word) agenda. Are any of the anti-WTO, anti-military or extreme radical 'environmentalists' in the U.S. (or other Western nations) this organized? I don't think this is the case (like I know), but we need to keep our eyes and minds open, and not just start carpet bombing the usual suspects, much as that may make us feel better in the short term.

Shawn

P.S. Go donate blood.

I think I have an idea now, how my grandparents felt on a a certain Sunday morning so long ago...

Ryan Wubben Chapel Hill, NC (formerly of Indianapolis) (fellow VSA member)

I had to look up the statistics, but the initial attack on Pearl Harbor killed approximently 2400 military, and civilian. Preliminary estimates today have started at 10,000 casualties, which sadly will most likely grow. At least then they knew who the enemy was. Good luck to us all. ED3

I think I have an idea now, how my grandparents felt on a a certain Sunday morning so long ago...

Ryan Wubben Chapel Hill, NC (formerly of Indianapolis) (fellow VSA member)

> This is a day that will never be forgotten. > Terrible, terrible. > GA

Now is the time, especially for those near to NY (NJ, CT, VT etc.) to get to their Red Cross blood banks and give. They will need the blood for days/weeks to come. Also direct $donations to the National Red Cross will be greatly needed or to the assistance group of your choice. Tom Dixon

We, at Estonia, follow the horror in US with the questions in our mind as much as You do there.

It's so terrible to hear, thet human being is capable of doing such a things.

I just have no words anymore.

Kaido Tiigisoon

If anyone doubts the effect this all has. I have lived near Boston, Ma for nearly my entire life. For 50 years there has always been a airplane above my head. For the past decade I have live under one of the busiest airways in the world. For the first time in my life the skies are quiet. No where can you see a 'con' trail, a glint of light, nor any object from horizon to horizon.

It is as if God is giving us time to think and pray.

It's just unbelievable, and up here in Norway, the quiet corner of the world, I slept terrible last night after watching the news. Rest assured, we all pray for you.

Birger

Maybe the Vietnamese felt similiar in those days. Just a thought. Stop terrorism. *All* terrorism.

Grunts, NCO's, low echelon officers don't make policy...we follow orders. The Vietcong were communistic and sadists. Geneva convention meant nothing to them. Human life meant nothing to them...not even towards their own people.

IF you care to look at history, you will see that our ability to defend S. Viet Nam was hampered by diplomatic pressures which did the utmost to preserve civilian populations and prevent escalation or even direct engagement by the Chinese and Russians. The executive branch also had hidden reasons for addressing the conflict the way they did. We can all be ashamed by their conduct.

I do agree with you...all terrorism should stop. But we were initially in Viet Nam because THEY asked us for help and we thought it in the US best interest to be there. We handled it poorly to be sure, but that again was the decisions of the executive branch of the government, not by the 'tools' of that government. We 'tools' never have a say in what we do, only in our own individual conduct. Our conduct is dictated by the UCMJ...which basically says you will do what you are ordered to do so long as it is reasonable. (reasonable in war means you do your job when told to do so -even die- in the manner ordered)

I will not debate the gray areas of that last statement, but if you were not there and have never served 'your country', then you can never really know what it is like or all about. You have to be there...in there...to understand. (just like having a baby, you know or you intellectualize)

Armand