I’m not sure where to put this so my apologies if it’s in the wrong place. I’m still stunned by the bombings in NY and DC and worried because I have friends who live and work in both places, and I’ve not heard from some of them. My sincerest condolences for those who have friends or family in those areas targeted by terrorists. I wish you all well.
At any rate, Collounsbury asked me to post this for him:
Because of a horrible coincidence, I just suspended
> my
> participation in the SDMB due to a family health
> emergency. Now I find that today, 11 September
> 2001 that I may have lost many friends and family to
> an event of truly horrific proportions in NYC. None
> of us know of course who is still with us. My deep
> condolences to my comrades in New York and elsewhere
> who directly share this tragedy.
>
> I don’t expect to share any time with the SDMB for
> some time now, of course. I sincerely hope that the
> inevitable racist calls for the blood of the towel
> heads and for nuking the Mid East and other
> understandable but unworthy reactions will be
> roundly
> condemned.
>
> At the same time, I find myself possessed of the
> desire to renounce my work and seeing if my
> linguistic
> and other skills might be useful to those
> authorities
> who will track done and kill, to the last
> motherfucking scum, all those responsible for this.
> And I have no doubt it is the complex of Osama Bin
> Laden. I do believe that vengeance is called for,
> even bloody vengeance but it should be precise and
> not
> blindly collective.
>
> Otherwise I hope that we all can donate blood and
> aid
> as soon as possible. I am about to go do this
> myself.
>
> May this find you all well.
I just wanted to say that my prayers are with you Collounsbury. This is truly a horrific situation, and I wish that I could help you in anyway possible.
I pray to God that your friends and family are okay.
Collounsbury, well said, please focus on your family right now, as we will find those responsible. I too have no doubt it was bin Ladin, but all of the Afghani people should not be made to pay.
Collounsbury I just briefly wish to express my condolences. I share your sorrow and outrage. You and Manhattan were the first people to come to mind when the news first broke.
Celestina, if you should happen to hear again from Collounsbury, please let us know if his family and friends are all right, as well as the outcome of the family health emergency.
There is an article from Jane’s Defense Weekly today that notes a deficiency in U.S. human intelligence (HUMINT). “Areas such as analysis, linguist skills, cultivation of agent networks, and ‘tradecraft’ were all of paramount importance during the Cold War, particularly before the advent of space-based intelligence assets, but have suffered a lack of resources of late.”
If you did offer your services, Collounsbury, they might prove very welcome.
To everyone who’s responded with well-wishes for Collounsbury, thank you. I realize I can’t speak for him and I certainly cannot begin to imagine what he must be going through, but if I were in his shoes, it would be a comfort to know that people care. If I hear from him and he authorizes me to update you on events, then I will try my best to do so.
In response to andygirl’s inquiry in re my family,
I simply respond, “Like all Americans I shall mourn 11
September for a very long time. I would prefer not to
have personal connexions enter the SDMB in any form.”