# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/101 "2001-09-12T13:16:39Z")
Christ, dude! Where the fuck did I attack you? Was your pinhead comment really necessary? I’ll chalk it up to the fact that this is an unusual situation, but you attack me for no reason like that again, and I won’t let it go. I asked you a fucking honest question, and there was NO hostility behind my words. Can you deal with that? If so, then good. It was a misunderstanding. If not, then kindly go fuck yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/102 "2001-09-12T13:24:44Z")
Look Evil Ghandhi, my point is this: you think Bin Laden was likely to have been responsible for this (a reasonable assertion I think). What are you going to do? Wander down to 43 Kabul Boulevard, knock on the door and ask Mr bin Laden to eat lead? Or lay waste to the entire country? Or just bomb little bits, where he _might_ be holing up and hope that not too many Afghanistanis get wasted too? The essence of terrorist warfare is that these enemies of the United States could _never_ defeat the US military in a conventional sense, so they fight this way. Call it dirty or cowardly or whatever, but it’s been very successful for many years all over the world (I’ve experienced it all my life, althought the cost in lives here (the UK) hasn’t reached anywhere near the unimaginable proportions we’re sensing here). It is extremely difficult to defeat terrorists with simple military might without causing enormous civilian casualties…although I rather suspect that some posters in this thread would think a few hundred thousand Afghanistani lives wouldn’t be too high a price to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/103 "2001-09-12T13:27:31Z")
On a related note, I just heard someone on TV here locally (idiot on the street-type interview) who used a phrase that I’ve never heard before, on what should be done about this: “nuclear carpetbombing” The problem was, he wanted to do it to an undefined region called the “Middle East”, which I assume means everything from Libya to India, Turkey to the Sudan… ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/104 "2001-09-12T13:28:35Z")
Oh, and regarding your “nuke” comment… You’re right, you didn’t use the word “nuke”. You said “We should strike out with all our avalible fury.” Either way… you were planning on striking against these countries? Against the US as well? Don’t give me that bullshit about McVeigh being dead, because he sure as hell isn’t the only terrorist on American soil. So, forgive me, Your Royal Fucking Highness, if I mistook one piece of mindless reactionary bullshit for another. ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/105 "2001-09-12T13:44:01Z")
Zaphod, I take your swarmy remark about the U.S. nuking itself as an attack. Both on my post and my intellect. Especially since my post was to take action against ALL terrorists. Mc Veigh was dealt with by a nation that seems to have a grip on internal terrorism, but no resolve to meet the external threat. In direct answer to your question. I don’t care if Bin Laden was responsible or not. The US shoud demant his extredition within 24 hrs or land 20,000 US troops on Afganhani soil. If the real culprit is found to be some other, I say we demand their extredition. And look at what Happened in Afghanistan. If you feel The United States is Incapapable of making such a troop movement. (after the declaration of war) That is your opinion. I think once the casualty list is compiled and the monetary damaged asseesed, we’ll have plenty of recruits. God knows we got the guns ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/106 "2001-09-12T13:48:05Z")
Zaph quote, “So, forgive me, Your Royal Fucking Highness, if I mistook one piece of mindless reactionary bullshit for another.” I must admit, I really liked that. ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/107 "2001-09-12T14:08:25Z")
Oh I get it andy. The reason your not pissed off is because you’re a bleedin limey. What? some fuckead gotta blow up Buckingham Palace before you start sing “hail Britannia”? Lemme tell you something here. Those muther fuckers just shed more blood on American soil (in a half hour)than in any battle in American history. I don’t think you understand us at all. (Americans) We like our freedom. We refuse to live in fear. You think the Arabs hate us now? Give us a minite. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/108 "2001-09-12T14:09:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t care if Bin Laden was responsible or not. The US shoud demant his extredition within 24 hrs or land 20,000 US troops on Afganhani soil. I agree, only make it 200,000. Even if he didn’t do this ( :rolleyes: ), his record speaks for itself. Orchestrating attacks on US Embassies; Threats against America; Running terrorist training camps; and as he claimed he wasn’t responsible for yesterday, he still congratulated those who were. As far as I am concerned, The Taliban and the citizens of Afghanistan can either help us find him; or they can stand in our way, and prepare to meet their maker. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/109 "2001-09-12T14:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EvilGhandi \* > I don’t care if Bin Laden was responsible or not. The US should demand his extradition within 24 hrs or land 20,000 US troops on Afghani soil. Um, what ever happened to justice? And what are these 20,000 troops to do? What can they achieve that missiles and bombing cannot given that _you_ know where these terrorists live? How large a body count will you, and the American public, tolerate? Will you send more troops when necessary?..I have a sense of deja vu. I’m not trying to mock you at a time when you’re rightly angry and distressed, but can’t realism enter the equation somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/110 "2001-09-12T14:22:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EvilGhandi \* > The reason your not pissed off is because you’re a bleedin limey. I’m not pissed off? I spend half the night trying to contact friends in NYC and DC to see if they’re **still alive** and I’m not pissed off? I see people dying on TV and I’m not pissed off. You assume at lot you ignoramus. > [@](#): > > I don’t think you understand us at all. (Americans) Again, you assume a lot, although the Americans _I’ve_ had the privilege to get to know where not reminiscent of you…so I guess you’re right, I don’t understand Americans like your good self. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/111 "2001-09-12T14:24:52Z")
Oops, there really should be a further ? after the third ‘pissed off’. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/112 "2001-09-12T14:25:13Z")
I don’t believe this… We’re going thru another bomb threat right now at BHP. Why can’t Osama be here? ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/113 "2001-09-12T14:34:37Z")
Dammit andy, I don’t know you. You don’t know me. I’m sure you feel for your friends just as I mourn for my lost family. Admit it though. This doesn’t slap you as hard in the face as it does me. (Or any American) I heard about the bombings in Ireland, guess what, I didn’t care. Now this shit has come home. And (speaking pretensiously for the US) we don’t care for it. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/114 "2001-09-12T14:39:08Z")
Hey, as you said, you don’t care about what happens if it ain’t in the US, but don’t dare tar me with the same brush. When people die, I feel it whether they’re Americans, Brits, or even…seriously, Afghans. Believe it or not. ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/115 "2001-09-12T15:12:09Z")
Andy, Some time today, we should start geting real numbers as to the number of wasted American lives. Innocent, civillian lives. The same lives you “feel just as bad about” as their terrorist murderers. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/116 "2001-09-12T15:17:51Z")
Um, I was referring to the civilians in Afghanistan who’ll be endangered in your hunt for terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/117 "2001-09-12T15:31:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EvilGhandi \* > **The US should demand his extradition within 24 hrs or land 20,000 US troops on Afghani soil.** Alas, I’m reminded of the sad fates of other nations that invaded that country: Macedonia, Britain, and Russia. Alexander had some success but for everybody else it was a sinkhole. It’s never as easy IRL as it seems when you are armchair generalling around a couple beers. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/118 "2001-09-12T15:43:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*Alas, I’m reminded of the sad fates of other nations that invaded that country: Macedonia, Britain, and Russia. Alexander had some success but for everybody else it was a sinkhole. It’s never as easy IRL as it seems when you are armchair generalling around a couple beers. \*\* Damned right. First, [a little map](http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/reference/JPEG%20versions/802694.jpg) of the area. I’m curious to know how **EvilGhandi** proposes to get his troops in? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/119 "2001-09-12T16:15:52Z")
Only send in U.S. troops if Afghanistan gives us permission to go after him. If they won’t then barrages of carpet bombs from B-52’s and Tomahawks demolishing Bin Laden’s camps and suspected hiding places is in order. Bush has already given notice to countries that shelter terrorists. I’ll absolutely love it when he has the evidence and can carry through on it. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857/120 "2001-09-12T16:52:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Only send in U.S. troops if Afghanistan gives us permission to go after him. If they won’t then barrages of carpet bombs from B-52’s and Tomahawks demolishing Bin Laden’s camps and suspected hiding places is in order. Bush has already given notice to countries that shelter terrorists. I’ll absolutely love it when he has the evidence and can carry through on it. \*\* Ignoring all problems with flying bombers over the airspace of other countries who might not be pleased about it, how would this be any more succesful than Russia’s attempts to bomb enemy camps in Afghanistan how, exactly? You see, Bin Laden is rather good at this terrorist lark. He should be - [he received at least some of his training from the CIA](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/terror_binladin980610.html). He’s also a rather seasoned commander, who led troops against the Russians in Afghanistan for nearly 10 years. He knows the terrain (for reference, it’s mostly mountainous, with lots of caves) and knows how to hide in it. If you’re going to take the fucker out, I’d guess it’s going to take something a bit more precise than carpet bombing. Something precise would also have the advantage of reducing civilian casualties, which is kind of good too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade-center/80857.md?page=5)