Looking back on Sept. 11, 2001
Sept. 11, 2010
COLUMBUS: It’s been nine years since 9-11 became a common part of our vocabulary. This weekend there were commemorating ceremonies at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, various football games. Television programs are looking back at that horrible day. We haven’t forgotten.
Here’s part of what I wrote in Weekly Comments the evening of September 11, 2001:    This is not a time for comedy. Civilization was attacked today. The targets were in New York and Washington, but we ALL got hit. Yes sir, not just Americans, but everybody around the world who believes in freedom and democracy and fair play.
I included a few lines from an earlier Weekly Comments, August 20, 1998: News is happening so fast it’s hard to believe it’s August. We had bombs explode in Kenya and Tanzania and Ireland, and just today we sent cruise missiles after some terrorists in Afghanistan and Sudan. You might not have heard of this Saudi Arabian billionaire named Bin Laden, but you’re likely to hear plenty from him now. He’s got more money than many countries, and a bigger army than at least half of ‘em.
Then in subsequent Weekly Comments I included these observations: This fight we’re in is against Evil. It’s not just one man, or his army of radical followers. And certainly not against one country. I read in the paper where some Islamic clerics are meeting to decide if it’s a sin to murder women and children, and commit suicide. The outcome appears to be in doubt. Now I ain’t one to interfere in a religious debate. But based on what I’ve picked up from the radio, and from conversations with folks I know personally in that denomination, at least 99.999 percent of the followers of that particular faith know the difference between right and wrong.
It’s pretty clear that these terrorists, including the Taliban, are no more Islamic than Hitler was a Christian. And any cleric that needs more than ten seconds to decide where he stands, well, he ain’t Islamic either.
Everybody is supporting President Bush, saying he has been quite, well, downright Presidential. Ninety percent say they approve of the way he is handling the situation, along with Mr. Cheney and Powell, Rumsfield and Ashcroft.
Democrats and Republicans in Washington are all pulling together. Of course it’s easy for ’em to all agree when they are spending money. When they have to figure out where the money is coming from, that’s when they’re likely to separate.
Defeating this Evil is the important task at hand. Taking care of Bin Laden and the Taliban won’t be easy, but it may not take as long as people fear. Bob Hope says he’s ready to entertain the troops at Christmas, if they still need him.
Have you noticed, nobody has said a word lately against Prayer in schools.

Well, nine years later Bin Laden is still on the loose, probably in Pakistan. We’ve spent a Trillion dollars on two wars and Billions on security at airports, government buildings, and large public events. If these radical Islamists can’t kill us all, they may be satisfied bankrupting us.

Historic quote from Will Rogers:
“No nation ever had two better friends than we have. You know who they are? Well they are the Atlantic and Pacific ocean. There is a couple of boys that will stand by you. And you can always depend on ’em, three thousand miles wide and a mile deep.” WA 537, April 9, 1933 (their value dropped a bit on Sept. 11, 2001)