Wednesday, October 17, 2007

THE TERRORISTS "FAILED MISERABLY"

Another of these telling ironies was al Qaeda’s famous “miscalculation” regarding the effect of their attack on the American psyche. Bin Laden’s network had “intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat,” as the President himself explained bare hours after it happened. But of course, Bush intoned gravely, “they have failed; our country is strong.” Indeed, a wave of patriotism spread across the nation in the wake of the attack, like shockwaves radiating out from an epicenter at Ground Zero. Flags flew off the shelves nationwide as people showed their solidarity with the President, with the victims, with each other. “If it’s anything red white and blue it’s gonna sell” said one Wal Mart employee. Dan Rather said it well when he pointed out the irony: “the terrorists who set out to destroy America failed miserably. In fact, after September 11th, the nation was more united than ever.”

The idea continued well into 2002 at least. The Ad Council started a line of television spots to mark the first Independence Day after 9/11. These promoted the concept of “Freedom.” (Appreciate it, Cherish it, Protect it). In one particularly telling spot, a narrator intoned “on September 11th, terrorists tried to change our lives forever,” as a row of plain looking houses faded to black. Then the houses faded back in decked-out with American flags under a cloudy sky, over which the narrator intoned "they succeeded."
The spot’s writers certainly saw an irony in that, but the irony I see is a bit different, and I read different weather in those clouds. The attack “succeeded” not in intimidating America but, ironically, in boosting patriotism and jingoism – as well as flag sales, Bush’s popularity numbers, military recruitment, church attendance, support for a radical foreign policy of conquest, etc.

Is Osama bin Laden, or Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or whatever deputies planned the ghastly attacks really that stupid that they couldn’t foresee the chain of events their actions would trigger? Were they not aware the attack might be seen as a “catastrophic and catalyzing event, like a new Pearl Harbor,” or fail to realize who would benefit most from the political fallout? If not, their collective intelligence is clearly brought into question. If so, either the true motives of al Qaeda or their guilt for the attack must likewise come into doubt.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree more, CL. The idea that al Qaeda lacked the wherewithal to work out that a 9/11-style attack would inevitably lead to an increased US presence in the Middle East rather that a reduction - their alleged aim - beggars belief.

And when you consider that elements within the US have a history of acting vicariously through 'terrorist' organisations in pusuit of their agenda, it's not hard to imagine an alternative interpretation of the US/al Qaeda relationship vis-a-vis 9/11.

In fact, examples of this sort of criminality are hidden in plain sight, such as the much under-reported Operation Gladio (and the Strategy of Tension).

Keep up the great work. See you in the forums.

Caustic Logic said...

Danke - a new comment! Yay!

There is another possibility that AQ's independent goal of provoking us into a fight they decided to launch and hoped to win was followed knowing the US would gladly take the bait. A sinister symbiosis.

But this is trobling in itself, and given all else, AQ - which by the way wasn't even identified legally by name until a court case in the US in early 2001 - is looking like a useful cancer requiring global neo-imperialist surgery.

Pakistan behind 9/11? Framed. Watch developments there...

PS - avoiding forums largely these days except to babysit mt current findings. Drop me alerts to great new articlles you do, okay?

Anonymous said...

Ahem, it is truly funny how it is so much in front of your eyes however fail tl see it.

The immediate clamour for patriotism with caps, flags and building sized banners maybe what you folks believe counter to what the foolish hijackers intended, it was definitely beneficial to the administration already months ready for war in the pre-targeted region al described in the PNAC papers. They were short on boots! And straight out of the book of the most prominent of dictators: Goëring.

The atmosphere was well anticipated by those who knew what was coming however any interception obstructed in any possible way. It worked absolutely well to stiffle any potential of attention to suspicious evidence. Who would have dared to utter 'Hey look what I found here?' ... just dump it in the FBI truck. Meanwhile evidence was shipped away by the hundreds of tons a day. No one ever would have tried to call out faul play in tbe midst of cleanup activities because you know, 'Have some respect for the dead.'

Did you know Rumsfeld was doing some citizen voluntary work in the midst of high alert?