That's the first laugh I have had in two days, someone accusing Hollywood of being right-wing.

Just like WWII, the worlds problems wasn't our (USA) problem, because it didn't happen here. The kamakazi tactics are from the same war.

Charles, didn't that lefty Carter ban the production of the neutron bomb?

I have more trust in this President to take names and kick ass than the last two. I hope the peace lovers will be shouted down for once and the press will back the President.

Here in the UK we have been shocked numb by the events in the US, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their family's, and especially the emergency services, many of whom died trying to save others. Those poor passengers in the jets had no choice, the workers in the WTC building had no choice, those fire crew and police knew what they were getting into, and the risks involved and many of them paid with their life, trying to save others lifes.

They died Heroe's

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I am back in New York tonight, I drove in this afternoon as was allowed to cross into Manhattan. I arrived home at 3PM. I went to the roof of my building and saw the smoke and dust rise above where the twin towers used to reside.

I went to the phone and listened to the messages:

Brendan Dooley 36 Missing (One of my Little League players in the 70's) Father and Mother were childhood friends. Worked on 92nd floor tower 1

Richard Gabriel Died in Plane crash going to San Francisco, Friend who I use to play softball with in a bar league 70's & 80's.

Sally wife of Niel Holstein, worked on 102nd Floor Tower 1. Niel was a member of my oldest son's wedding party 1990. Known him since 1975. Wife is missing.

Bill O'Boyle New York Fire Department missing as building collapsed tower one. Godfather of My Grandson Griffin.

There will be more I am sure, but please keep these and all human beings in your thoughts and prayers.

I am angry, and as I think most of you know I am a former Marine Corps "Grunt" as Paul would say.

I love America, I believe in our constitution, my family had members in the American Revolution, The War of 1812, The Civil War, World War I, World War II ( We missed Korea), Cuban Missle Crisis and Viet Nam.

Another interpretation of Nostradamus's predictions in light of the New York bombing - from author John Hogue:
"This is some of what I understand is in the prophecies of Nostradamus concerning present and near future events. He spoke of a new type of world war to come; one using surprise and ambush. A rogue leader from the Mideast will trigger it. He is a terrorist, code named in the prophecies as "Mabus" or the "Third Antichrist." This man will be one of the first to fall in his war. He could become a symbolic martyr for terrorists who will soak the world with blood for 27 years. Nostradamus spoke of the great new city made of high "hollow mountains" near the garden of the world. The state of New Jersey, from whose shore one can view the great hollow mountains of New York City, is known as “The Garden State.” In two of Nostradamus’ prophecies a thing his 16-century mind can only call “it” cuts a path to these hollow mountains. They are then seized and boiled in a cauldron...Over four centuries ago, Nostradamus may have seen those great hollow mountains hit by a huge, "scattered flame." He implied that the flame could not be put out and the smoke and debris would rise and ferment in boiling clouds, as if they were “plunged in a vat.” What is next for us? If my interpretations are correct we will soon know who the perpetrator — this Third Antichrist — is. If “Mabus” stands as an anagram for Saddam Hussein or Usama Bin Laden or someone we have yet to uncover, look for his death very soon in a retaliatory attack. If a more balanced American foreign policy in Mideast affairs is not forthcoming after the Antichrist falls, then the war is only beginning. America and her allies will endure almost thirty years of terror bombings and catastrophic loss of life... I would like to add that there are a number of spurious and bogus prophecies of Nostradamus surfacing concerning “York’s” destruction, etc. These frauds are mixing lines out of context from several authentic Nostradamus quatrains with phrases that are complete fabrications. Do not believe them. A bulletin on the REAL quatrains that might concern the New York and Pentagon attack will be forthcoming."

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Shortly after it all started, I received a call from the guy who owns the art cinema about 60 miles south of me. He wanted to know if I was going to be open the evening of the tragedy. Of course I was going to be open. Running a theater is what I do and what most of us do. As with pretty much everybody here, I can all tell stories of being sick with no replacement, and lying under the projector, trying not to pass out between change-overs. I’ve watched a parent die and ran the show the next day. I had to have my cell phone taken away from me in the ER so I wouldn’t call the theater and make sure the help got there. And so on . . . . All that pales in comparison to the least affected NYer. If they can look at a skyline missing it’s two front teeth, punched out in the most inhumane and deadly fashion, then I can turn on the neon open sign, pop some popcorn, and offer people a place to be for a couple hours without live coverage blasting from every corner. I can't be in there helping to remove rubble, but I can be part of life going on in my community. It's the best I can do.

This is for you and your loved ones lost in this disaster--and everyone else who has been affected ~

A very popular Jewish/Israeli folk song "Next Year ~ Bashana Haba'ah"

Soon the day will arrive when we will be together,
And no longer will we live in fear.
And the children will smile without their wondering whether,
on that day dark new clouds will appear.

Wait and see, wait and see what a world it can be
If we care, if we share, you and me.

And the vines they will grow, the tender leavesw will blossom,
and the fruit of our hands will be sweet.
And the winds that bring change will clear away the ashes,
And a new world of peace we shall greet. Wait and see...

O-Jerusalem by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
1972 Simon and Schuster

Lightning Out Of Israel
1967 The Associated Press

Swift Sword
about the June 1967 Six Day War
Assoicated Press (?)

Terror Out Of Zion by J. Bowyer Bell
1977 St. Martins Press

By Blood and Fire ~ 22 July 1946: The Attack On Jerusalem's King David Hotel by Thurston Clarke
1981 G.P. Putnam Sons

Shield of David: The Story Of Israels Armed Forces by Yigal Allon
1970 Random House

The Revolt by Menachem Begin
1951 Henry Schuman

I have had the experience of flying El-Al Israel Airlines nonstop from New York to Tel Aviv. I arrived in New York about 8hrs or so prior to my El-Al flight, and the El-Al terminal was closed. It was only after arguing with El-Al security and being subjected to a security check that they allowed me to rest my bones in their terminal, as I had no place to go. Preparations for boarding the plane started about 4hrs prior to departure. Several 4 X 8 card tables were lined up at which El-Al security interrogated each passenger as to their trip to Israel ~ why were you going, what business do you have, who do you know, do you have relatives, whats the duration of your stay, has a stranger asked you to carry on a bag or pass a message and on and on! Furthermore, all carry on bags were physically opened and searched. Besides this, all checked and transfered bags were opened and searched prior to being loaded into the cargo hold. Once on the plane, the majority of the flight attendants were male, and these were people who one would not dare mess with! There were also plain clothed security personnel on the flight. This flight was a fully loaded 747! And you wonder why El-Al is a secure airline!

One of the reasons that Israeli Intelligence has been successful and has pulled off exploits like the Eichmann kidnapping is because they relied on human intelligence! Many of the people who were instrumental in the early creation of Israeli Intelligence have written books--mostly about what went into the Eichmann kidnapping. But there are a great deal of other excellent books about Israeli Intelligence in print.

Ex N.Y. Mayor Ed Koch said today that we know what Arab countries support terrorism. He said that we should give them a max time period to coorporate or else we should launch a military actions. I agree with this, for one thing an Arab Muslim knows is words followed by actions. Arab Muslim Terrorist Fanatics are cowards--they are brave at sneak attacks, terror assults etc, but run like cowards at the first sight of a real one on one fight! Yes, we need to kick some Arab Muslim Fanatic Ass, but we also need to protect/secure our inner borders against further attacks that may come as a result of our conducting military action! We need to neutralize any weapons of mass destruction that these Arab Muslim Fanatics may possess!

I'm beginning to seriously wonder how much of this is actually related to Israel/Palestine though. I'm getting a distinct gut feeling that this whole attack might be much more related to Saddam and Iraq than anything else.

The currently popular mideast phrase "Never wound a king." fits exactly. The U.S. not only pummelled him and embarassed him during the Gulf War, but has kept reminding him how vulnerable he is, and how important air superiority is. If he had been killed or captured the conflict would be over. By allowing him to live, revenge has to be his greatest motivator.

Thinking of how spoiled kids can act in a family, getting other siblings to provoke or do dastardly deeds, I can't help but think that Saddam would be the instigator of such an attack against Uncle Sam (especially with the son of his old foe at the helm), using extremists as his foil, to avoid the immediate swift retribution he would otherwise get. Saddam has also been willing to try and use oddball tactics in his wars, which fits this scenario.

During all the time he has been denied air power over his own country, it has surely occurred to him how sweet it would be if he had air power over his tormentor, and his dreams of revenge have had ample time to develop. If I had to guess what his best wet dream was, this attack would come pretty darned close.

On a slightly different subject, I'm concerned how ponderous the political machanations are, trying to get everyone aligned before making a strike. Winning forces are able to make lightning decisions and lightning fast strikes. By being the big guy, and being worried about cries of "bully" in situations like this, we seem to put ourselves at a disadvantage. Here's hoping that what is being planned in retaliation is good.

Remember that during the Gulf War, the reason that saddam was not completely finished off was because of concern that the Alliance would fall apart--it was politics. During the war, yes, there were many--including Stormin' Norman--who wanted to finish off saddam but good!