# World Trade Center **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857 "2001-09-11T13:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/41 "2001-09-11T17:08:53Z")
Let me say, that it is highly unlikely that any nation-state is behind the attacks, for the simple reason that nation states are much too vulnerable to the US Military. Nations can be bombed, invaded, and occupied, and their leaders sent to the Hague for war-crimes trials. No dictator is going to do such a thing. We tend to imagine that dictators are all crazy. Well, they may be vicious bastards who’d kill you just as soon as look at you, but they are typically not crazy, otherwise they’d never get to be dictator. It is much much much more likely that some non-state organization is responsible. But I imagine that a very high percentage of that organization is already dead in the suicide attacks. It will be very difficult to track down the people who gave the orders, since all the people who took the orders are now dead. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/42 "2001-09-11T17:14:49Z")
Crap. Crap Crap Crap. Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/43 "2001-09-11T17:20:47Z")
From [this](http://www.bartcop.com/) site > [@](#): > > Who attacked the World Trade Centre? > Special report: terrorism in the US > > Staff and agencies > > Tuesday September 11, 2001 > > The Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden, warned three weeks ago that his group would carry out an unprecedented attack on US interests for its support of Israel, an Arab journalist said today. Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, said Islamic fundamentalists led by bin Laden were “almost certainly” behind the attack of the World Trade Centre. > > “It is most likely the work of Islamic fundamentalists. Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that he would attack American interests in an unprecedented attack, a very big one,” Mr Atwan said. “Personally we received information that he planned very, very big attacks against American interests. We received several warnings like this. We did not take it so seriously, preferring to see what would happen before reporting it.” The rest of it is about halfway down the page in his updates. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/44 "2001-09-11T17:26:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lemur866 \* > \*\*Let me say, that it is highly unlikely that any nation-state is behind the attacks, for the simple reason that nation states are much too vulnerable to the US Military. Nations can be bombed, invaded, and occupied, and their leaders sent to the Hague for war-crimes trials. > > No dictator is going to do such a thing. We tend to imagine that dictators are all crazy. Well, they may be vicious bastards who’d kill you just as soon as look at you, but they are typically not crazy, otherwise they’d never get to be dictator. > > It is much much much more likely that some non-state organization is responsible. But I imagine that a very high percentage of that organization is already dead in the suicide attacks. It will be very difficult to track down the people who gave the orders, since all the people who took the orders are now dead. \*\* The Taliban supports Bin Laden. Saddam, Iran, Lybia, all support terrorist organizations. Just because the players weren’t wearing a uniform, doen’t mean the nation state wasn’t involved, informed, and culpable. ---
**Author:** ![Demise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@Demise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demise)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/45 "2001-09-11T17:29:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > **I saw two joyously laughing men hugging each other, jumping up and down, slapping each others backs and kissing - almost in an orgasmic pleasure. Then it cut to a group of smiling Arabic youths spitting on an American flag.** I would kill them with my bare hands. I am not exaggerating whatsoever. Nits make lice. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/46 "2001-09-11T17:30:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by c\_goat \* > \*\*The Middle East will shortly be renamed “The Middle Wasteland” if I could have my way. \*\* Now, I understand you’re upset. But this is the kind of xenophobic, overgeneralized, ignorant, bigoted shit that start these sort of terrorist attacks to begin with! How can you say that? How can you wish destruction on an entire region? There are people there, people just like us. Give me a fucking break. My friend Jerome’s wife and children are in Jordan right now, because it was too dangerous to visit their native Iraq. My friend Melissa’s husband’s entire family is still back in the Palestinian territories. My friend Carla? Friends and family still back in Lebanon. These aren’t faceless people, and there is no way an entire region needs to suffer for the acts of a few deranged zealots. We sure have a long fucking way to go in fighting ignorance. You’re as bad as the terrorists are when you say crap like that. I can’t recall the last time something on the boards made me so mad. I’m chalking it up to the heat of the moment. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/47 "2001-09-11T17:36:36Z")
Seem from a distance. I was camping on an Island on LI Sound when about 8:45 we heard a loud bang followed shortly later by another. I looked down the sound and saw the smoke coming from the Towers and commented on how the must be on fire. A little after nine the ferry come over and told us what happened. We sat there from a distance and watched them both collapse! I am in a state of shock at this time. It was the most horrible thing I have ever witnessed. My prayers for all who lost loved ones. God I will never be able to look at the skyline of NY again Bastards! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/48 "2001-09-11T17:49:21Z")
I do not like war. I do not like violence. I won’t even kill a bug. But if I ever get within arm’s reach of the weak-minded, phallus-impaired little shits who decided killing thousands of innocent people in my country, I won’t let go of them until one of us is dead. I never ever wanted to join the military. I never saw a need. “No one can possibly be creatinous enough to actually attack the US! We’d smoke their little asses so quick!” Well, here it is, here’s the one thing that coud get me in a uniform. If I’m needed, I’ll do anything I can to get the motherfuckers who did this. ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/49 "2001-09-11T17:58:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Milossarian \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\*How do you know it’s the Arabs? George W. Bush, Boy President, has been pissing of just about every fucking psycho group on the face of the Earth during his short time in office - I just hope he’s capable of sorting out this mess now. > > \*\* > I always knew some of the farthest-left liberal Bush-bashers on this message board were delusional, out-of-the-mainstream freaks. > > That you would even have a _thought_ that something our president has or has not done in the past seven months is the reason for the worst atrocity in U.S. history shows you to be a shitskull of the highest order. That you would be partisan at a moment like this is really fucking creepy. > > Well, idiot, you’re about to get a lesson in what the U.S. does when something like this happens. Hint: It doesn’t involve partisanship. > > (To the thinking members of the left that I have come to respect on these boards - I wouldn’t even think of lumping you with the aforementioned grease stain.) \*\* I’m sorry if I have offended anybody - I was just angry at a politician whom I feel could have done a lot more to prevent this kind of situation if he hadn’t done his best to shut us off from the rest of the world. You know, there was a time when a lot of Americans where very angry with the government for staying out of WWII for so long, and for good reasons. A lot of people also felt that Chamberlain could have done a much better job in the years leading up to the same war, even though nobody would be crazy enough to blame him for Hitler’s atrocities. And whether I was right or wrong in my (admittedly hasty) judgement of the President, I don’t think we should refrain from discussing what effect the rather dramatic change in foreign policy during the Bush administration has taken us. Still, the most important question is what we should do now. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/50 "2001-09-11T18:12:46Z")
I cannot believe anyone is trying to pull any partisan bullshit spin on this tragedy. I dislike Clinton intensely, but I NEVER, NEVER would have blamed him for any such disaster. I didn’t blame him for the OKC tragedy, ever. It never occurred to me to do so. During that time, I merely saw him as our **PRESIDENT** , and I respected him as such. I don’t recall all the details too well on the Oklahoma City tragedy, but if I recall correctly, I greatly admired how he handled dealing with the nation, and our shock. I expect no less from George W. Bush. I have every confidence in him, just like I did with Clinton. I know G.W. will do his best, and I certainly know he grieves along with the rest of the nation over this horrible thing. He certainly isn’t to blame for **any** of this. This is AMERICA. This happened in AMERICA. We have to stand together in this. Blaming the Democrats or the Republicans is _so wrong_, and useless. I think if ever there was an issue that went across political lines, this is it. We are all in this together, we all grieve and mourn this tragedy together. I am furious at whoever did this, but it still is like something out of a science fiction movie, and I’m in shock. I can’t believe it. It’s not real. I can’t even wrap my thoughts around WHO did it, let alone think of who to blame. But whoever did it, I believe their souls will burn in Hell forever. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/51 "2001-09-11T18:16:20Z")
Anyone who thinks this was someone other than a middle eastern group is nuts. If this had been a single attack; a car bomb or even one crash, then yes we should wait and see. But this was a massive well planned and coordinated assault. No group other than bin laden has the resources to carry out an attack like this, and even he could not have done it without the support of at least one government, and the aquiesence (sp?) of several others. Make no mistake. We are at war. Palestinians are cheering and spitting on flags. We need more than the typical, predicatble statements that “We denounce this cowardly act” and “We will hunt down those responsible.” We need to realize that we are now at war with Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Palestinian authority, and retaliate accordingly. ``` 1.) All middle eastern nationals (not U.S. citizens) need to be expelled within 48 hours. 2.) Israel should be given carte blanche to launch massive incursions into palestinian territory. 3. A sufficient portion of the U.S. Nuclear arsenal should be dumped on the approximate area where Osama bin laden is rumored to be. And don;t say we don't know more or less where he is. ABC interviewed him, for heaven's sake. I apologize for typos. My sister lives in lower New York (though I doubt she was injured.) I am really really pissed. Kill 'em all. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/52 "2001-09-11T18:26:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Borgia \* > \*\* > 1.) All middle eastern nationals (not U.S. citizens) need to be expelled within 48 hours. > \*\* No. Many middle-eastern nations are our allies. They are to be treated with respect and dignity. We will have great need for all the friends we can get in the coming months. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/53 "2001-09-11T18:30:44Z")
We do not know for certain who did this thing. But eventually, we will. Blood for blood. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/54 "2001-09-11T18:45:28Z")
From Rueters in London > [@](#): > > Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper said > Islamic fundamentalists led by bin Laden was ``almost certainly’’ behind the attack > of the World Trade Center in New York. > > "It is most likely the work of Islamic fundamentalists. Osama bin Laden warned > three weeks ago that he would attack American interests in an unprecedented attack, > a very big one,’’ Atwan told Reuters. ---
**Author:** ![Shylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Shylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shylock)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/55 "2001-09-11T18:46:46Z")
a couple of thoughts… I would feel quite uncomfortable right now if I was of an “Arabic” or “Middle-Eastern” appearance right now, especially for the next 48 hours. It’s unfortunate, and I pray that we don’t have to read about any mob attacks or lynchings or the like, since it will be terribly wrong to do such. Just can imagine it happening. For those listening to CNN, I thought richard Holbrooke was right on the money in his interviews, saying that the first thing we need to do (after focusing on rescue and security) is make it abundantly clear to all nations that any nation who harbors a terrorist will be considered to have aided and abetted in terrorist crimes, and will be dealt with militarily. I would send a simple message to the Taliban: Produce bin Laden, in chains, to us. You have 24 hours. fuck them to hell the people who did this. C. ---
**Author:** ![Acco40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Acco40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acco40)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/56 "2001-09-11T18:57:17Z")
We should bomb who did this… fuckin’ hard. We should also bomb those who claim to have done this… for good measure. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/57 "2001-09-11T19:00:37Z")
> [@](#): > > I would send a simple message to the Taliban: Produce bin Laden, in chains, to us. You have 24 hours. If it can be proved he did it, I agree absolutely. If he did it and they don’t produce him into US custody, then god help them. They have sealed their fate. Re: the Middle East. Do we need to expel all non-US citizens that are middle eastern? No. Detroit would be a wasteland. The largest Arabic population outside of the middle east lives in Detroit. Most, if not all, are law-abiding, fair people simply wanting to live their lives, raise their children, the same as we do. Let’s not repeat the mistakes we made in WWII with people of Japanese descent. I say **crush** the terrorists. Terrorize them. Make them so afraid of hurting a US citizen or interest that they wet their pants just thinking about it because of the severity of our reprisal for this inhuman action. ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/58 "2001-09-11T19:03:57Z")
Any nation or nation-state that harbors terrorists or foments terrorism should BE-FUCKING-WARE!! Yes, more innocents will die. Unfortunately that’s the nature of WAR, and I don’t see how anyone could consider this anything less than an act of WAR against the US. When you take innocent lives by perpetrating an act of such horror, you must surely be aware that innocent lives will be taken in retaliation. Is there anyone out there who really thinks that this is just an isolated act of perceived vengeance? Or is this the beginning of an attempt to critically wound our nation? Also, I would suggest that rather than make stupid partisan political statements, now is the time for us to stand together in the face of a very real threat. ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/59 "2001-09-11T19:09:51Z")
Any nation or nation-state that harbors terrorists or foments terrorism should BE-FUCKING-WARE!! Yes, more innocents will die. Unfortunately that’s the nature of WAR, and I don’t see how anyone could consider this anything less than an act of WAR against the US. When you take innocent lives by perpetrating an act of such horror, you must surely be aware that innocent lives will be taken in retaliation. Is there anyone out there who really thinks that this is just an isolated act of perceived vengeance? Or is this the beginning of an attempt to critically wound our nation? Also, I would suggest that rather than make stupid partisan political statements, now is the time for us to stand together in the face of a very real threat. ---
**Author:** ![Godfrey\_Daniels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Godfrey\_Daniels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Godfrey_Daniels)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/60 "2001-09-11T19:23:20Z")
Please forgive the double post…please, exalted moderator, can you nuke one of them? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857.md?page=4)