Thursday, August 20, 2009
Totally Shocking!!!
Some of the post-9/11 color-coded terror alerts might have been, politically-motivated!?!?
|
Who could have ever thought that might be the case?
Uh, anyone who noticed that the whole terror-alert thing seemed to just fade away from the beginning of 2005 and onward.
Labels: 9/11, George W. Bush, war on terror
Friday, March 27, 2009
Change We Can Bereave In
It looks like we can wake Green Day up: "September" has ended.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Thursday that the 1,776-foot edifice that was to replace the World Trade Center will no longer be called the "Freedom Tower." Instead, it will have the less ornate appellation, "1 World Trade Center."
Nice.
The timing couldn't have been better. It follows on the heels of the Pentagon's ending the War on Terror. You didn't hear? You must have missed the memo. No, seriously. In a memo, following a request from the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Defense declared that foreign military and strategic ventures associated with various Muslim-world nations will no longer be called the "War on Terror." It is now Overseas Contingency Operation."
Cool.
This, in turn follows Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano's statement to a "Der Spiegel" journalist earlier this month that she prefers to call terrorism, "man-caused disasters."
Wonderful.
And, lets not forget that the Obama administration no longer refers to opponents in the Conflict-Formerly-Known-As-The-War-On-Terror as "enemy combatants." Haven't quite figured out a proper replacement on that one.
Neat.
Now, this is real change -- a seismic cultural shift that not too many people might have expected.
The cumulative effect is clear:The symbolic, rhetorical and strategic signifiers of America's post 9/11 world are being airbrushed away.
"Freedom Tower?" Gone.
"War on Terror?" Gone.
"Enemy combatants?" Gone
"Terrorism?" Gone.
Three-thousand Americans? Gone?
Oh, right.
Well, at least they got the memo early.
Labels: 9/11, Freedom Tower, war on terror, World Trade Center
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Seven Years Gone
At this hour on this day, just for a few moments, we put aside all the petty fights and arguments and consider what unites us. As we remember those lost on September 11, let us give special thanks to those who sacrificed their lives for others, and resolve to work together for a better country and a better world.
God Bless America
Labels: 9/11
Friday, January 04, 2008
Johnny One-Note
Rudy Giuliani on his Iowa loss:
"None of this worries me - Sept. 11, there were times I was worried."
Joe Biden departed the scene last night, but his basic comment from a debate earlier this year still ring true:
"Noun, verb, 9/11."
My friend Karol -- who I love and respect dearly -- disagrees.
|
"None of this worries me - Sept. 11, there were times I was worried."
Joe Biden departed the scene last night, but his basic comment from a debate earlier this year still ring true:
"Noun, verb, 9/11."
My friend Karol -- who I love and respect dearly -- disagrees.
Labels: 9/11, Rudy Giuliani
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Six Years Gone
It is exactly six years to the day -- September 11. The big difference in 2007 is that it is a cloudy and rainy day. THAT particular day held a clear blue sky. Indeed, U2's "Beautiful Day" created the perfect soundtrack moment.
Then, as they say, everything changed.
To use another U2 song, the question that has arisen now is: Are we still "stuck in a moment" we can't get out of?"
Monday's USA Today raises the question of whether it is time to "move on" -- whether the extended formal ceremonies, the reading of nearly 3000 at Ground Zero, are quite as appropriate as they once were. Local broadcast station WABC (Ch. 7) first announced that it was going to forego the reading of the names, in favor of regular programming. However, the backlash was apparently too much: They will do the reading of the names. That suggests that for a certain segment of the grieving survivor community, it's still somewhat too soon.
I think Channel 7 should have stuck with their decision: Yes, it is a financial one: They think it makes more sense to do their "normal" entertainment programming (with the advertising that comes with it). Fine. There are innumerable other stations -- primarily on cable or sattelite -- that will be doing business as usual. They are presumably getting a fair amount of viewership.
But, perhaps it is still too raw for some people to permit New York local stations to just move on.
Yet, today's New York Times moves that view a bit further with a look at Michael Bloomberg's efforts to restore/create a "new normal."
This is the last year that a significant portion of the ceremony will actually be held at Ground Zero. To be exact, the families will walk by the pit, but not remain there: Bloomberg determined that with ongoing construction, it wasn't safe to hold the full proceedings at Ground Zero. Thus, the actual recitation will happen at a nearby park. Next year, there won't even be a "walk-by."
In a sense, this the most symbolic way to show a "moving on." The families no longer "stay" at the Pit. They approach, reflect -- and move on.
In many ways, New York as a city has already done that over the last six years. It is appropriate. The grieving time has become a thing of the past.
|
Then, as they say, everything changed.
To use another U2 song, the question that has arisen now is: Are we still "stuck in a moment" we can't get out of?"
Monday's USA Today raises the question of whether it is time to "move on" -- whether the extended formal ceremonies, the reading of nearly 3000 at Ground Zero, are quite as appropriate as they once were. Local broadcast station WABC (Ch. 7) first announced that it was going to forego the reading of the names, in favor of regular programming. However, the backlash was apparently too much: They will do the reading of the names. That suggests that for a certain segment of the grieving survivor community, it's still somewhat too soon.
I think Channel 7 should have stuck with their decision: Yes, it is a financial one: They think it makes more sense to do their "normal" entertainment programming (with the advertising that comes with it). Fine. There are innumerable other stations -- primarily on cable or sattelite -- that will be doing business as usual. They are presumably getting a fair amount of viewership.
But, perhaps it is still too raw for some people to permit New York local stations to just move on.
Yet, today's New York Times moves that view a bit further with a look at Michael Bloomberg's efforts to restore/create a "new normal."
This is the last year that a significant portion of the ceremony will actually be held at Ground Zero. To be exact, the families will walk by the pit, but not remain there: Bloomberg determined that with ongoing construction, it wasn't safe to hold the full proceedings at Ground Zero. Thus, the actual recitation will happen at a nearby park. Next year, there won't even be a "walk-by."
In a sense, this the most symbolic way to show a "moving on." The families no longer "stay" at the Pit. They approach, reflect -- and move on.
In many ways, New York as a city has already done that over the last six years. It is appropriate. The grieving time has become a thing of the past.
Labels: 9/11
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The Fire This Time
Two more names to the roster of firefighters who lost their lives because of 9/11. New York continues to mourn Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino who died Saturday responding to a fire in the set-for-demolition Deutsche Bank building at Ground Zero. The duo basically suffocated as they ran out of air in a building that had been insulated in polyurethane after it was deemed unuseable -- and a condemned health hazard after being covered with debris from the collapsing Twin Towers.
Tactical questions on this tragedy center around why the ground standpipe had no water pressure.
However, there may be even greater anger over the broad policy fiasco that led to this building still standing six years after 9/11. The Post's story on the contractors issue. Our editorial looks at both tactics and policy. My colleague Steve Cuozzo weighs in. The Daily News has some of the audio from inside the building.
|
Tactical questions on this tragedy center around why the ground standpipe had no water pressure.
However, there may be even greater anger over the broad policy fiasco that led to this building still standing six years after 9/11. The Post's story on the contractors issue. Our editorial looks at both tactics and policy. My colleague Steve Cuozzo weighs in. The Daily News has some of the audio from inside the building.
Labels: 9/11, Deutsche Bank, Joseph Graffagnino, Robert Beddia
Friday, August 10, 2007
Rudy Steps In It
Rudy Giuliani admitted today that he "misspoke" when he engaged in a bit of hyperbole Thursday:
It's easy to dismiss criticism on Rudy's 9/11 leadership like that in this week's Village Voice. The Voice is a well-known paper of the Left and the author Wayne Barrett has written several anti-Rudy books.
Rudy was also able to throw some cold water on the critical video produced last month from the International Association of Fire Fighters, by portraying the attack as rooted in "union" vs. "mayor" labor issues.
But, when the mayor himself makes a statement that is so out of touch with the actual facts, he puts at risk the entire uber-image of "America's Mayor" that has been so carefully put together.
We shall see.
UPDATE: Here's the video of Rudy's comments:
|
The former New York mayor upset some firefighters and police officers when he said Thursday in Cincinnati that he was at ground zero "as often, if not more, than most of the workers."Time will tell whether this is just a minor stumble or whether this rhetorical overkill has long-term consequences.
"I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them," he told reporters at a Los Angeles Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds baseball game.
It's easy to dismiss criticism on Rudy's 9/11 leadership like that in this week's Village Voice. The Voice is a well-known paper of the Left and the author Wayne Barrett has written several anti-Rudy books.
Rudy was also able to throw some cold water on the critical video produced last month from the International Association of Fire Fighters, by portraying the attack as rooted in "union" vs. "mayor" labor issues.
But, when the mayor himself makes a statement that is so out of touch with the actual facts, he puts at risk the entire uber-image of "America's Mayor" that has been so carefully put together.
We shall see.
UPDATE: Here's the video of Rudy's comments:
Labels: 9/11, GOP 2008 President, Rudy Giuliani
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Rudy vs. The Firefighters
Here's the International Association of Fire Fighters video going after Rudy Giuliani:
Marc Ambinder gives a overview of the political stakes and Rudy's aggressive pushback.
My question is why did the IAFF unveil this ad at such an early stage. It wouldn't have been smart to do it during the general campaign next year (a la the Swift Boaters), but one would think it would have made a greater impact heading into the primary season in the late fall. Releasing this in the middle of the summer runs the risk that it will be just "old news" by the time Republicans are voting next January.
|
Marc Ambinder gives a overview of the political stakes and Rudy's aggressive pushback.
My question is why did the IAFF unveil this ad at such an early stage. It wouldn't have been smart to do it during the general campaign next year (a la the Swift Boaters), but one would think it would have made a greater impact heading into the primary season in the late fall. Releasing this in the middle of the summer runs the risk that it will be just "old news" by the time Republicans are voting next January.
Labels: 9/11, firefighters, Rudy Giuliani
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
September Never Ends
Here's a golden oldie. Let's go back to that interesting time -- just a few short days after the 9/11 attacks. Remember those flights that ushered out various Saudi nationals -- and several members of the extended bin Laden family?
Well, it appears that at least one of them may have been charterd by Osama bin Laden himself. This according to FBI documents obtained by the right-leaning public-interest legal group, Judicial Watch:
Now, let's underscore the "may" in the document. One FBI source tries to completely dismiss the notion of bin Laden chartering the plane -- or of the Saudi nationals that left being suspicious:
Consider that last paragraph for a moment: "the FBI conducted a satisfactory screening of Saudi nationals that left on chartered flights."
Yet, these flights began on September 14th.
So, we are supposed to believe that -- after the worst, most-widespread attack in the continental U.S. ever; launched by unknown foreign individuals; with the vast majority of its resources working to either confirm/deny whether a follow-up attack was underway or tracking down leads to other plotters -- the FBI was able to complete background checks on an unknown number of Saudi nationals and bin Laden family members within three days?
That, simply speaking, beggars belief.
"Thorougly investigated by the FBI." Yeah, just like those anthrax attacks.
Yes, the 9/11 Commission ostensibly gave a clean bill of health to the FBI's behavior doing these background checks. But, obviously, this otherwise-redacted line ("The plane was chartered either by the Saudi Arabian royal family or Osama bin Laden.") would likely have jumped out at investigators and warrented a bit more study, don't ya think?
You know, you don't really need A-plus examples of government incompetence to fuel conspiracy theories.
But they sure don't hurt.
|
Well, it appears that at least one of them may have been charterd by Osama bin Laden himself. This according to FBI documents obtained by the right-leaning public-interest legal group, Judicial Watch:
One FBI document referred to a Ryan Air 727 airplane that departed Los Angeles International Airport on September 19, 2001, and was said to have carried Saudi nationals out of the United States.
"The plane was chartered either by the Saudi Arabian royal family or Osama bin Laden," according to the document, which was among 224 pages posted online.
The flight made stops in Orlando, Florida; Washington, DC; and Boston, Massachusetts and eventually left its passengers in Paris the following day.
In all, the documents detail six flights between September 14 and September 24 that evacuated Saudi nationals and bin Laden family members, Judicial Watch said in a statement.
"Incredibly, not a single Saudi national nor any of the bin Laden family members possessed any information of investigative value," Judicial Watch said.
"These documents contain numerous errors and inconsistencies which call to
question the thoroughness of the FBI's investigation of the Saudi flights.
"For example, on one document, the FBI claims to have interviewed 20 of 23
passengers on the Ryan International Airlines flight ... on another document the
FBI claims to have interviewed 15 to 22 passengers on the same flight."
Now, let's underscore the "may" in the document. One FBI source tries to completely dismiss the notion of bin Laden chartering the plane -- or of the Saudi nationals that left being suspicious:
"There is no new information here. Osama bin Laden did not charter a flight out
of the US," FBI special agent Richard Kolko said.
"This is just an inflammatory headline by Judicial Watch to catch people's attention. This was thoroughly investigated by the FBI."
Kolko pointed to the 9-11 Commission Report, which was the book-length result of an official probe into the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people.
"No political intervention was found. And most important, the FBI conducted a satisfactory screening of Saudi nationals that left on chartered flights. This is all available in the report," Kolko said.
Consider that last paragraph for a moment: "the FBI conducted a satisfactory screening of Saudi nationals that left on chartered flights."
Yet, these flights began on September 14th.
So, we are supposed to believe that -- after the worst, most-widespread attack in the continental U.S. ever; launched by unknown foreign individuals; with the vast majority of its resources working to either confirm/deny whether a follow-up attack was underway or tracking down leads to other plotters -- the FBI was able to complete background checks on an unknown number of Saudi nationals and bin Laden family members within three days?
That, simply speaking, beggars belief.
"Thorougly investigated by the FBI." Yeah, just like those anthrax attacks.
Yes, the 9/11 Commission ostensibly gave a clean bill of health to the FBI's behavior doing these background checks. But, obviously, this otherwise-redacted line ("The plane was chartered either by the Saudi Arabian royal family or Osama bin Laden.") would likely have jumped out at investigators and warrented a bit more study, don't ya think?
You know, you don't really need A-plus examples of government incompetence to fuel conspiracy theories.
But they sure don't hurt.
Labels: 9/11, FBI, Judicial Watch, Osama bin Laden, Saudi Arabia
Monday, May 14, 2007
Home Town Takes
The local papers heat up their presidential coverage. Today, it's a Rudy (and Mike)-palooza:
My Post colleague Geoff Earle reports on the controversial decision to place the city's Emergency Response Center in an office building next door to the World Trade Center -- after the first WTC bombing in 1993.
The Times focuses on the growing health concerns of Ground Zero workers and the possible impact on Giuliani's campaign.
The Daily News reports on New Yorker sentiments on their two recent mayors as presidential candidates.
The Gray Lady also does a snapshot on Mike Bloomberg's Bloomy a big fat wet kiss (also from The Post).
|
My Post colleague Geoff Earle reports on the controversial decision to place the city's Emergency Response Center in an office building next door to the World Trade Center -- after the first WTC bombing in 1993.
The Times focuses on the growing health concerns of Ground Zero workers and the possible impact on Giuliani's campaign.
The Daily News reports on New Yorker sentiments on their two recent mayors as presidential candidates.
The Gray Lady also does a snapshot on Mike Bloomberg's Bloomy a big fat wet kiss (also from The Post).
Labels: 9/11, GOP 2008 President, Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani
