Yet another 9/11 irony
I enjoyed Brad Burke’s column on how the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks hardly lived up to their promise of ending irony. It was one of many 9/11 stories in the JS these days, as Peoria’s newspaper of record has jumped on the bandwagon along with other media organizations who have decided that because, come Monday, exactly 1826 days will have passed between now and then, that we need to temporarilly wallow in the memories of that day.
I suppose it makes up for the fact that the media have been trying to tell us for at least three of the last five years that the attacks have nothing to do with the current situation in Iraq. Oh, no. They say that 9/11 was an isolated incident, a crime perpetrated by individuals, most of whom have escaped punishment thanks to a president who is distracted by personal agenda.
I’m glad we’re wallowing in memories of 9/11. It might remind America that the events of that day were not a crime. They were an act of war, perpetrated to help bring about a Fascist movement that wraps itself around of cloak of religious piety.
But never fear. The anniversary will pass, and we can all go back to complaining that fighting this war is inconvenient and requires of us sacrifices that we don’t feel as motivated to make as we did five years ago. We all went out and bought flags and put magnets on our cars, and isn’t that enough?
And besides, terrorists would never attack us where we live, would they? Terrorism only happens somewhere else.
Yeah. I guess irony isn’t dead after all.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
“They were an act of war, perpetrated to help bring about a Fascist movement that wraps itself around of cloak of religious piety.”
Who are you refering to? Cheney and his chimp bush or the “islam-o-fascist brown people”?
Fascism: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
“911 Press for Truth”
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-1016720641536424083&hl=en
Billy,
I’m glad you resort to reading the Journal Star for your in depth coverage of 9/11. Sadly, that is part of the problem in this country: the fear of long form, in depth journalism.
Over at my own blog, I just posted a entry about James Fallows’ article “Declarying Victory” in the September 2006 issue of The Atlantic magazine. It is a very good article and I highly suggest people read it.
There is also detail about how the war in Iraq has actually done us more harm by diverting assets from what should be the true battle against the true terrorists.
And if we were battling the “true terrorists,” the Left woduld be harping about how we’re ignoring all those unaccounted-for WMD in Iraq and how Bush is secretly propping up his friend Saddam.
Spare me.
Yeah, Bush is doing a lousy job … on paper. I think the fact we’ve gone five years without a single repeat domestic incident on U.S. soil speaks for itself.
“And if we were battling the “true terrorists,†the Left woduld be harping about how we’re ignoring all those unaccounted-for WMD in Iraq and how Bush is secretly propping up his friend Saddam.”
Bill, you’re a friend of mine…a good friend. But that sentence really ticks me off. That is so far off base it’s laughable. C’mon, take that one back.
I’ve watched the video link from KO, and all I can say is that hindsight is 20/20. I’m sure our government gets thousands of threats and get wind of hundreds of terrorist plots that are either thwarted, spurious, or otherwise don’t come to fruition. There’s this guy in the video who has spent apparently three or four years doing nothing but scouring newspapers and websites for information about bin Laden, Al Qaeda, planes, security warnings, etc., and he’s been able to over that time piece together this timeline that shows — IN HINDSIGHT — how “obvious” these warning signs should have been. But what he doesn’t do is put them in the context of all the other warnings the U.S. receives. I think it’s unrealistic and a witch hunt to make the claim that someone should have been able to piece together the 9/11 plot before it happened. Secondly, even if, hypothetically, they had pieced together the intelligence, what could have been done about it? Do you think the American public or the ACLU in the pre-9/11 U.S. would have put up with the draconian security measures we have now based on the intelligence they had then? Should we have invaded Afghanistan or Pakistan pre-emptively? Should we have wiretapped intercontinental calls then? Until these people come up with a presidential briefing that says, “intelligence reports that next week, on 9/11/01, four planes will be hijacked by Mohammed Atta, [list of other hijackers], and flown into the WTC, Pentagon, and Capitol building,” then I’m sorry, I’m not buying these conspiracy theories.
And as for the contention that the U.S. media is in cahoots with the Bush Administration to keep all this hush-hush — the absurdity defies analogy.
Billy,
If you would expand your horizons a bit and read a few long essays and articles such as the things Fallows has written, you might have some more insight into all of this.
As for your idiotic “five” year claim, tell me, just what other FOREIGN based terrorists attacks on US soil are you aware of other than the first WTC bombing in 1993 and the later one in 2001? Five years isn’t shit in a battle that will continue on throughout our lives and our children’s lives.
But here is something to consider: while the attention of all of our assets have been re-directed to Iraq, just what has really been done to prevent al Queda from getting their hands on nuclear material from the fragments of the former Soviet Union? As Fallows points out, one goal of bin Laden and his crew is probably to plan something beyond the scope of the attack of 9/11, but where has Bush pointed these assets? Yep, to Iraq.
A man who those in the know knew did not have WMDs nor the capability to harm the US.
Can’t wait till you feast your myopic eyeballs on the REAL videotape that has just been released of Bin Laden walking away through Tora Bora just as Kerry and US Generals stated.
I think the blame game over who is at fault for 9/11 is a waste of time, energy and resources. It is of course valuable to go back and see where security lapses occurred, where information did not get passed along, etc. so that hopefully we can learn from our mistakes and move on. We already had a bipartisan 9/11 commission to look into those questions.
Republicans blame Clinton and Democrats blame Bush. The events of 9/11 were a wake up call to everyone. Let’s please just move on and deal with the now.
My problem is with the RESPONSE to 9/11. Instead of asking the question “where are the greatest threats to our safety?” our administration instead directed our intelligence services to prove that Iraq was the greatest threat to our safety. Their “proof” is anything but, as we all can now see (and many saw before the invasion).
However, my biggest problem with this administration is their response to anyone who questions them. They label all doubters as traitors and friends to the terrorists, using fear to maintain control. That’s the tactic of dictators, not representatives of the people. They also seem to think the Constitution is a nice soft piece of paper, great for wiping excrement from their almighty derrieres.
Say what you want about George W. Bush (you will anyway), but one thing that makes him the polar opposite of his predecessor is that he has done what he said he would do. The goals and main themes of his administration haven’t changed just because a pollster reported something or another was amiss with his popularity.
If you don’t like him, well – you’ve got to put up with it for two more years. All the harping from B.J. and Cindy Sheehan aren’t going to change his mind one iota. You’ve got over 25 months to get your stuff together and try to get them into office.
A recent favorite editorial carton showed an elephant reviewing the ‘mistakes’ of the G.O.P. in recent years. Finally the elephant says, “You can’t lose.” The donkey replies, “Watch me.”
I never saw 9-11 and Saddam linked.
I knew Saddam had USED chemical weapons in the past, had a history of lying, and had a hatred of the U.S. I also knew the information regarding WMD’s was tenuous, at best.
Didn’t matter, the boy should have been taken down, anyway. My regret is we just don’t have the manpower to do the same in North Korea. I have no doubt Isreal will take care of the light work in Iran (and possibly, Syria.)
While we are talking about it, BJ, where did you stand when Clinton made that pre-emptive bombing raid on Monica Lewinsky? It seemed whenever the heat got turned up on him at home, he was shooting off Tomahawk missiles into the desert.
After eight years in office, the worst terrorist attack comes less than 8 months after he leaves. Clinton left an open invitation to UBL to attack America on American soil.
Let there be no mistake, 9-11 was, by no means, the first Al-Qaeda attack against American interests. It was just the first to garner a significant response.
B.J. I stand by that statement. MUCH of the carping about Bush is based on partisanship. Just like the GOpers woduld be carping about Clinton — hell just like they are STILL carping about Clinton.
It’s all BULL and it’s all unpatriotic because in way we are supposed to be making an effort to put party loyalities aside and word toward a victory.
Yes, yes, yes. It’s possible to criticize the prosecution of the war and not be unpatriotic. But you can’t seriously read the statements coming out of the Democratic faithful and think these people seriously want a win. They want to quit, they want to make the successes seem unimportant compared to the losses (which is idiotic considering no nation has ever had as complete a victory as we;ve had in Iraq and Afghanistan).
Scott: How completely typical of a partisan to assume that anyone who disagrees with his position is just not sufficiently educated in the propaganda HE reads.
Well stated and defended Billy. I have to say, I don’t recall any past generations that were the thin end of the wedge more than this baby boomer generation of ours. I can just hear these fellows if they were around during World War II. I can only imagine what they would bitch about during that conflict.
Bill, I’m on the left, and I can tell you without hesitation that I would NOT be “harping” on the WMD’s, and I would NEVER have tried to claim Bush and Saddam were buddies. I don’t know ANY of my fellow lefties who would be that idiotic. Period. So that’s what I said you should take back.
Knight said it best…it makes no sense and it’s a waste of time to play the blame game on 9/11. I, for one, have NEVER “blamed” George W. Bush for 9/11. As a matter of fact, on the air on 9.12 and the following days, I was putting aside my dislike of his handling of the country (he had basically been either on vacation or screwing things up for 8 months…I preferred he stay on vacation) and supporting the President. Right up until the talk turned to Iraq.
And I also, along with Scott, wonder why “five years of no attacks” is such a big deal? That argument makes it seem like there were attacks on home soil constantly. There were not.
Billy,
How come everything you DON’T read or disagree with is propaganda or partisan? Have you even attempted to read the Fallows piece? No, you stick with simplistic local newspaper articles and seemingly gloss over the more in depth ones.
Sometimes I really wonder about your so-called “journalistic” background. As I’ve pointed out numerous times before, before his death in Iraq, Michael Kelly, a well know conservative and critic of Clinton and Gore was the editor of The Atlantic Monthly.
Ynonymous,
Your comments lack in logic and fairness. There are huge differences between the elements behind most of the past wars and the present ones. The major difference between the war in Iraq and the other ones is that this is a frigging war of choice and not necessity. I get so sick and tired of people like you questioning the patriotism of others because they have criticisms about a a war like this one in Iraq. You may not have typed that directly, but that is the underlying meaning that I grasped.
One other major difference, back during WWII the entire damned country was sacrificing for the war effort. Something you certainly can’t say about the US during this war.
I’m sorry … I just choked on some bile. Successes in Iraq and Afghanistan? Homenahomenahomena WHAT????? Did I miss something? Let’s see … Iraq – already bloody chaos. Afghanistan – rapidly descending into bloody chaos. In an asymmetric war where winning the hearts and minds is the ABSOLUTE KEY, we’re disliked by most and hated by many.
Wait, I did just think of one success … agriculture in Afghanistan! They’ve had a bumper crop this year! Unfortunately it’s a bumper crop of opium that will end up poisoning our children while the profits go to fund the next generation of suicide bombers.
A guy named Pyrrhus had a similar “victory.”
Which Pyrrhus? Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus, son of Achilles or Pyrrhus of Epirus, king of Epirus in the 3rd century BC?
Bill: Don’t confuse him with the facts – his mind is made up.
Iraq is not a “war” – it is an occupation.
Iraq is in full fledged civil war – American Soldiers are only collateral damage from suicide bombs blowing up Shias or Sunnis. Mothers and children.
Afghanistan is on the bleeding edge of falling apart.
The Taliban is stronger than it has ever been.
Some victory. Knight is right – its the response to 9/11 that is the true atrocity.
Anyone else think it’s interesting that Bush can’t visit the former World Trade Center today? New Yorkers, the people most deeply affected by today’s tragedy, HATE THE B***ARD by a 5 to 1 margin. He’d be booed if he showed up today. Take a cue from New Yorkers, they’re damn well educated.
You’re projecting. Treatment for your severe BDS is avalable.
What’s the difference between now and two years ago when GWB received – ahem – a majority of the popular and electoral votes?
If you watch the video of “Loose Change” and you believe everything that is spoon fed to you from the media about what happened. It does not matter what form of government you claim to support…you have been owned- Plain and Simple
Bill, I’m ready to flip you that twenty to rename your website for the day.
I, too, read Brad Burke’s column and was struck by the absurdly broad thesis on which his comments were based. He began with, “It was to be the birth of patriotism and the death of irony.”
I couldn’t get past that sentence without thinking, “Sez’ who?”
As you probably know, Roger Rosenblatt writing for Time magazine was the essayist who launched the ‘death of irony’ idea. It was a sentiment echoed by Graydon Carter, the editor of VANITY FAIR. It was an empty idea then and is nothing more than a hubris filled platitude today. Talk about missing the mark.
It takes a lot of guts to declare irony dead. It also makes the direct implication that it needed to die, that an entire generation of Americans were simply too ultra-hip for their own good.
In that column, Rosenblatt wrote this little gem; “History occurs twice, crack the wise guys quoting Marx: first as tragedy, then as farce.”
Let me pause here to ask a few questions:
#1. Is it ironic that George Bush and his familiars have proven Marx correct?
#2. Is it ironic that Vanity Fair editor Carter, who declared irony dead, was once the editor of SPY magazine.
#3. Is it ironic that one dictionary definition of irony is, “Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.”
David Beers, writing for Salon on September 25th, 2001, wrote, “(I think…) we need a profoundly ironic outlook to avoid being swept up in the new jingoism, to see that the best intentions might lead us further astray, to protect ourselves from the manipulative propaganda that envelops us in wartime.”
Beers went on to say that it was his hope that a golden age of an “engaged irony” was upon us. “It may be all,” he wrote, “that stands between us and tragic hubris.”
#4. Is it ironic that a writer that you, Bill, would consider a “harping lefty” hit it squarely on the nose only 14 days after the attacks on our country?
The autocrats controlling our country today have succeeded in making our nation a house divided. And for what? This from the party of Lincoln? I wish I could type the gut wrenching ’sigh’ that goes with having seen this come to pass.
Every person on this response string who is blasted down by right-wing auto-speak is thoughfully and passionately arguing for effectiveness and results. The true arrogance of the death of irony crowd and the true arrogance of blind and bumbling leadership is that you don’t need to comport to reality when you’re always right. Is that ironic or just plain sad?
I truly wish that 9-11 would have indeed given birth to a new cultural zeitgeist. So to that end I offer this: “Peoria Pundit: The Birth of Humility.”
So … where’s the $20? Or are you just going to bore me to death with your yappin’?
Did I say $20??? My apologies. I just sent you $40. Let’s make it two days.
Now, get to naming and start making this site pay. Or are you happier boring us to death with your whining?
BTW, save me a slice of the deep dish with extra cheese.
[...] “Peoria Pundit: The Birth of Humility” will be the title of this blog for the next two days. The generous patron is Bill Thill, who gave his reasons why in this post. [...]
where is my cut?
where is my cut?
Your “cut” is to benefit from the improved coverage of news events once I get a new laptop with all this swag.
Thanks for the idea, though …
Also … I could not POSSIBLY give you a cut. You are anonymous. I have no idea who you are.
Fascism aka Totalitarianism aka Islamo-Psycho: dominating others, restricting their speech, forbidding certain books, banning information, persecuting and killing those who think differently, like Christians or atheists.
Islam is being used by thugs and joy killers to justify their barbaric deeds. Other sadistic misanthropes have used Christianity, Hinduism, and other faiths to justify genocide and destruction.
Islamo-Fascism is a perfectly good term that has evolved from the original Italian Fascism of Mussolini.
Fascist now means Unjust Domination System, usually patriarchal and demeaning to women. Making women wear burkhas covering their bodies from chin to toe, while the hypocrite men prance around with guns and pornography, as they kiss each other. Sick.