Open Q: What should be our response to another 9/11?

[stevietheman]

I ask this as I've been having this funny feeling in my gut that another 9/11-scale (or worse) attack may be imminent. Bush's numbers are sinking to the lowest of his Presidency. His war (read: illegal naked aggression) is going badly. He's on a long vacation. We haven't heard of any new intelligence stories for a long time indicating "chatter" or whatever, much less saying that the color-coded risk status is rising or falling. We are at a time when we are close to seeing the grotesque crimes of Bush, Rove and the Republican Party revealed. They are going down unless something "monumental" enough happens to become a "great distractor."

So, what if another 9/11 happens? Of course, we will all grieve for all the lives lost. But should we also find a way to mentally set aside the grieving to perform very much needed political tasks associated with this event?

Here's some ideas: Call for Bush's resignation or removal using every venue we can find. We can claim everything from incompetence and negligence (safest argument) to his regime having something to do with the event (watch your back as you make this argument, even if plausible). Put up signs (e.g., "Blame Bush", or "Bush is Incompetent", or "Bush Resign Now!") everywhere you can. Quickly form action groups and decide on subversive actions against any forces that try to enact any fascistic policies or decrees. Become very stern and strong (if not vicious) with anyone who still supports Bush, and don't back down, even if said people are "friends" or family. This will be a war of words (and possibly more), and we have to win it. Even prepare to go to jail or put your person at risk as you do these activities.

The bottom line is: If we don't act in the early aftermath of a new 9/11 tragedy, we may well lose our country to fascism. We have to fight Bush to his end if it happens again. WE MUST DO THIS. Or our republic will go down the toilet.

I realize this all may look like a "premature rant" (and possibly loony)... but just think of the state our country will be in if and when another event the magnitude of 9/11 (or greater) happens again. I hope it will give everyone pause.

What will YOU do? WHAT WILL YOU DO??

[FloridaPat]

1. Agree totally. I have the same feelings too. If there is another 9-11

these clowns in Washington - including most of the senate and house should be impeached, arrested, and imprisoned for treason. All their money should be taken from them to pay down the national debt.

[uppityperson]

2. If it happens, I'll be angry

I am ready, will not be afraid but pissed. It is difficult to be afraid of the gvt.

[Son of California]

3. I'm glad that people are thinking ahead on this

I don't put it past Bush and his buddies at all to let one slip through.
However, I have no choice but to put faith in my fellow Americans. To believe that the majority would see through any attempt to scare us back into our cages, that any attempt to spin another attack into another war would fail.

IF anything, I think another attack would have the people asking, and what have we done lately about catching Osama?

What choice do we have but Hope?

[stevietheman]

7. I would say we need hope + action

We certainly shouldn't let go of our hope, but our strenuous actions could actually lend a hand to hope winning out against the Bush regime. We certainly won't have to exert ourselves much to convince those already on our side--it's the lizard brains we have to take on--and there will be many around after a tragedy, waving the flag and sounding all patriotic, all while we do the most patriotic of deeds: saving the republic from an despicable, malicious regime.

[Ilsa]

4. Hell, I don't put it past

them to create another "9-11". I think the first one was a LIHOP, but I wouldn't put it past them to MIHOP one soon.

Yeah. He'd need to be impeached. The lies, the death, the money (my apologies for sounding crass, but it is part of our natioonal security).

Thanks for thinking ahead.

[Poiuyt]

5. I think we need to approach it as a police matter, like the British did

rather than going off guns a blazin' and invading countries. Unfortunately, I know that the American public likes a John Wayne type response.

[niallmac]

6. Fear and Nationalism are far scarier than 911 alone.

Shrub has done everything I can imagine to please OBL. Even if by magic every Al Queda original was rounded up it would not matter. Thanks to our thrashing blundering, opportunistic invasion and crimes against humanity we have lost any vestige of moral authority and have created a kind of universal enmity towards the U.S. that will grow with every subsequent bomb we drop on a third world, non judeo christian nation. I could never have imagined a single president being able to destroy our futures with such lethal effect.
When the next 911 occurs, and I agree with you that it is about time, democracy will be cornered by the forces of fear and hate. We have to fight in the ways you suggest. But I wonder if in the end we won't have to hunker down and ride out the coming darkness.
Will there be a 100 year civil war within the country? If so, happy birthday OBL. Will the U.S. become a calvinistic theocracy intolerant of non believers? If so, hey OBL, want fries with that?
I know what I'll do. I'll fight the hate and the fear. I have no idea what will happen though.

[eleny]

8. The administration must step down

Special election to follow.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stevietheman]

10. I guess we could do some immediate gun shopping...

right after the attack... before the 2nd amendment is suspended. We might as well take advantage of our freedoms, while we still have them.

[wli]

11. I suspect you underestimate how bad things are

They've got the body armor and armored vehicles to make all the dimestore guns irrelevant.

If you're going to do something while at this kind of a disadvantage you've got to do it subtly (e.g. infiltration, economic attacks, PR, etc.).

[stevietheman]

22. Agreed, but...

an armed public will "give the government more pause."

[MisterP]

16. or the mil would raise themselves up as saviors:

worked in South America, works in North

[wli]

19. depends; I doubt military dictatorship would be popular here

I think they'd probably stick to the Constitution, maybe with some amendments to prevent repetitions of the Bushler fiasco.

[nashbridges]

12. How about this...

Blame the terrorists?

If someone kills another 3,000 of our citizens, and that someone isn't the US government, then how about we lay the blame right where it should be: AT THE FUCKING FEET OF THE PEOPLE WHO DID IT!

You are trying to turn a hypothetical tragedy into a means of removing a president. It won't work. And the Democratic party will not win elections by telling the American people that their friends and family died because of policy.

Really, try it. There will be no less than 40 million Americans who think their friends and family died because of an asshole terrorist. When you stumble along and tell them that "no, your friends and family died because our policy is wrong and it makes people feel bad" - well, I won't stay up for the election results.

You are selling a negative self-worth image to people who have already lost something. It's like trying to sell a terminal patient a coffin - there's no way you'll be the good guy.

[wli]

13. Bushler & Cheney won't ever let investigations prove they did it

So either it's the bin Laden et al dog & pony show, or "tinfoil" or "conspiracy theory."

The 9/11 fight isn't one we can win before sweeping the House and Senate.

[Amonester]

17. The blame was (still is: that's the problem) on OBL, but...

Bush is really not concerned about where he is (remember: he said he wanted that creep "dead or alive" and then, flip-flopped and went after thousands of innocent people who had absolutely nothing to do with it).

Newsweek -- CIA Commander: We Let bin Laden Slip Away

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1682889

.

What any more good would "laying the blame right where it should be" do? The blame has already been dropped at the rotten feet of OBL for almost four years now, and the madadministration is clearly not interested in doing what has to be done in order to arrest him or just plain kill him. The only way to do him justice is to get proper leadership (John Kerry would have been the perfect man to do this... but the gangsters robbed the show, along with the BANK!).

Why in the world do people think Bushler is "strong on terrorism" is beyond millions... when in fact, time and time again, they have let them run away (including Zarqawi... THREE TIMES!) when they had them cornered!

Strong my a**!! :grr:

[wli]

21. there is only one explanation for "why?" and that's MIHOP

[stevietheman]

24. With all this time passed, and no capture...

I'm afraid there's only one natural conclusion: This administration was in cahoots with al-Qaeda somehow. Now, I have to say that this is no stronger than a suspicion for me. But, it's awfully strange how the Bush administration essentially just let bin Laden go, isn't it?

[Amonester]

25. I honestly think they let him (and others) go for 1 of 2 "reasons"

It's not strange at all for me, except it's not clear which of the following two (sick) "reasons" is the "right" one:

#1. OBL is on the PNAC's "payroll" somehow (Make It Happen On Purpose). Motive: greed.

#2. They "let him go" because the longer they can use him to scare people -- well, the ones who can be intimidated -- the longer they profit from their fears. Motive: greed.

Now, we all know the real policy should be to use all the most advanced technology to go after them (since spy satellites can spot the location of a dime on a sidewalk... and lots of other advanced stuff!), and get them wherever they are. Get in at night (the stealth way + night vision), do them justice, then leave before dawn. That wouldn't cost hundreds of billions for sure! But, of course, in order to be absolutely certain the "right" thing to the "right" murderous monkeys would be done the "proper" way (ie. with "honesty"), we'd have to have honest leaders...

Unfortunately (and sadly...), it's not the case with the robber barons in charge (re: #1 or #2 above) :grr:

[stevietheman]

23. It's about assigning responsibility for the neglect (or worse) that...

allowed it.

Needless to say, I don't agree with your points, and I plan to rail against the President and join others who do. As far as I'm concerned, this kind of event would transcend politics, and "which party wins" would not make any difference to me. Preserving the republic will have the highest degree of importance.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Well, they DID warn me that if I voted for John Kerry, there'd be another

terrorist attack.

[Stirk]

15. Agreed. It will be vitally important to immediately point out

the Bush Administration's imcompetence. After a big attack, people could go either way, but whichever direction they choose, it'll be extreme. They'll either embrace a new war and a new fascist agenda or they'll demand impeachments. One of the two.

[nookiemonster]

18. Not to be alarmist, but I'm certain of another 9/11.

This cabal has already shown that they will stop at absolutely nothing to achieve their goals. To maintain power.

This is no Nixon, folks. Not even close.

But most DUers know that already. :think:



Fuck.

[wli]

20. I'm certain Cheney's going to order another one to be carried out

But I'm not 100% certain his orders will be followed. These guys may very well be hauled off to jail extralegally/unconstitutionally in order to stop it. But that isn't certain either, and I don't see any way of guessing the odds. The "evidence" it could happen consists of signs of massive discontent from those told to wield the guns (generals, JAG's, etc.; even Powell walked out).

This is the Twilight Zone. There's no telling what's going to happen, or what the odds are. And that's a lot of what makes it so terrifying.