Valley Springs High School
Valley Springs, Arkansas
The Pain, the Reason, the War
By Lindsay Read
12th Grade
September 11 started as any other normal day in the life of American travelers. Some boarded planes for business, others for pleasure, and some were going to visit friends and family. Not one of them knew that this clear sunny day would be the last they would ever see. En route to their destinations, these planes were hijacked and sent on the most deadly and destructive act of terrorism the United States had ever seen. As the suicide plan unraveled, thousands of office workers and personnel began to fill the World Trade Centers and begin their day of work within. They too were oblivious to the terror flying their way in the shape of a Boeing 747. At about 8:47 a.m. the first of the two planes crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. Debris and fire erupted everywhere. Bystanders on the street stared in unrivaled awe at the destruction before them. It was a mere fifteen minutes later when another Boeing bombarded the second World Trade Center tower. Both planes struck the towers about two-thirds of the way up, trapping people on the topmost floors. Despite the enormous effort put forth by firefighters and rescue workers, thousands perished in this attack. These terrorists struck fear and pain into the hearts of millions of Americans, and that pain will not be forgotten soon. Many people wonder why such a horrible act would fall upon such a strong nation, what will be done to prevent further attacks, and if war is the answer, whether the United States is prepared to fight it.
The United States may have been attacked because of its superior economy. The United States has the most technologically powerful, diverse, advanced, and largest economy in the world. According to a report on the United States economy, American businesses enjoy greater flexibility in the workplace. While many countries have a problem with poverty, the United States has only 12.7 percent of its population below the poverty line. The U.S. also has one of the lowest unemployment rates at about 4.2 percent. U.S. firms are near or at the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical; aerospace, and military equipment. These achievements are said to have had a part in the motive for the attack on the World Trade Center towers. Many other countries still live without modern technology and conveniences. The Muslim extremists believe that the technology of the twenty-first century is sacrilegious and simply heretical. They want no part in our “heathen” ways. This is but one of many possible motives, which need to be explored so the United States can shield itself from another attack.
The United States is determined to prevent another terrorist attack of this magnitude from ever happening again. Airports around the world have already made efforts to increase security and to prevent another hijacking. Thorough baggage checks and more strict rules are being applied at all airports. Persons are now not even allowed to carry on everyday items such as nail clippers, nail files, and razors. These precautions are a start, but much more still must be done in order to keep America safe. The United States must also rely on informative services, intelligence sources, and the use of special forces to set up a clear defensive path. The United States has a special Marine Corps task force team called Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Teams (FAST). Although used in the late seventies and early eighties, FAST has been used little in the past decade. It now has become activated once again. The Marine Corps has run a thorough evaluation of security forces, and the current security procedures were found inadequate to properly handle the security threats being posed against the United States. FAST provides both the US Navy and Marine Corps with a dedicated force protection and anti-terrorism unit. This unit will help with security measures and will be very important if a war is genuinely started from these acts. An article posted by the US Marine Corps provided this information.
The United States has taken action. The United States is bombing Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attacks, and these counter attacks may have triggered a deadly war. America is not contemplating what kind of war it is getting into. The United States must be calm and collected in this battle. Rushing in with guns drawn will only serve as the country’s demise and all will be lost. The United States is used to bombs and gunfire, but how will it fare against chemicals and disease? A biological; war has already been waged with deadly anthrax. Government officials do not realize that terrorists do not fight according to the Geneva Convention, present their cases to the United Nations, or even want to negotiate. The United States must fight battles with cunning, not just brute force. The people the U.S. is fighting have little to no regard for their lives. They believe that if they die in a holy war they receive a one-way ticket to heaven. In the same sense these people have even less regard for the lives of Americans. To the Muslim extremists Americans are but infidels who are trying to take their land and religion away from them. These people sneaked in and caught the United States off guard. An unknown author once said, “Now that the nation’s military is preoccupied with going in and eradicating the terrorists of Afghanistan, new attacks will come. If we choose to fight them by traditional rules we will lose.”
The pain of September 11 will always be in the hearts and souls of all Americans. Even the strongest of nations can be taken by surprise and be crippled because of it. The United States will not be made an example of a crushed by violence. The nation is shouting out in protest and fighting back against its enemies. The United States mist fight back wisely, though. Wars are not won with power of destruction; they are won with the power of the mind.
QUESTIONS
1. Why, in your opinion, was the United States attacked?
ANSWER: In my opinion, the United States was attacked because of religious conflict. The Islamic extremists want their land free of all people other than themselves, and because of out lack of support for their cause they retaliated.
2. Why is the first question so important to resolve and agree upon?
ANSWER: If the United States knows the reason of the attack, the reason can be resolved to avoid future attacks.
3. What action or inaction by the United States and its allies, in the author’s opinion, increased the likelihood of chemical and biological attacks?
ANSWER: The inaction of the United States and its allies to inspect possible Iraqi weapon manufacturing facilities, leaves the country susceptible to the unknown.
4. Why does the Author believe the United States is a popular target for terrorists?
ANSWER: The author believes this is so because of the lack of airtime to people who hate the United States. This in turn leads to an uninformed and unready public.
5. What motivates terrorists, in the author’s opinion?
ANSWER: in the author’s opinion terrorists are motivated by a desire for a religious government.
6. What reasons does the author give for the intense hatred of the United States by people like Osama bin Laden?
ANSWER: The fact that we are the most prosperous country in the world and that we make this known is the author’s reason for the hatred of the United States.
7. How does the rule by divine right preclude the reasoned debate that occurs naturally in a democracy?
ANSWER: With rulers chosen by divine right there really is no reasoned debate because this gives people no choice of who they wish to lead them.
8. What evidence does the author offer that the terrorism visited upon the United States on September 11, 2001, was based on religious rather than political fanaticism?
ANSWER: The author writes about the Muslim belief that if they die in a holy war they are guaranteed a place in heaven. The author also writes that the people who attacked the World Trade Center believed that they were carrying out an act under the direction of Allah.
9. What is a Fatwah?
ANSWER: A fatwah is an explicit religious order.
10. Why does the author think new attacks are likely and how does he/she suggest we stop them?
ANSWER: The author believes this because of the success of the response to the attacks and the glory given to the perpetrators and their families. The author believes that furure attacks can be stopped by the execution of the conspirators, disrupt attacks, or if we can catch them in an attack and kill them.
11. Why does the author claim that declaring war is futile? What two historical examples does he/she give to back up this claim?
ANSWER: The author claims that war is futile because we do not know our enemy and are rushing these decisions to comfort ourselves. The two examples given are the War on Drugs and the Vietnam and Persian Gulf War.
12. Complete this sentence using the author’s words: “A declaration of war implies…
ANSWER: “A declaration of war implies a conflict of limited duration in which one side eventually surrenders of capitulates and the other side wins.”
13. What does the author suggest we do?
ANSWER: The author suggests that the United States not stereotype all Muslims as Anti-Americans, and not to run into war blind with anger.
14. Explain the significance of the Coventry story.
ANSWER: The story signifies the importance of thought before action. If Churchill had rushed his decision the war may have had a different outcome.
15. Suppose you were a general in a combat situation. Could you “consort with evil to prevent larger evil”? Why of why not?
ANSWER: I believe that the only way to prevent worse situations is to resolve the situation at hand. If my decision meant the death of innocent people I know it would be a hard choice. Yes I Would resolve the evil to my best abilities, because it is the right thing to do.
16. The author says something is un-American. What is it? Do you think the author is correct? Please write out your own definition of un-American.
ANSWER: The author says that turning our anger on innocents because of our frustration is un-American. Yes, I think this is correct. My definition of un-American is the readiness to destroy without knowing the facts.
17. Do you agree that terrorism must be defined adequately in order to be stopped?
ANSWER: Yes, I agree that we must know what we are fighting in order to successfully accomplish stopping it.
18. How important do you think it is for you to research, discuss and consider the definition of terrorism? Are you willing to spend the time it takes to give your definition your very best effort? Why or why not?
ANSWER: I think it is very important to define terrorism. I intend to spend much time defining terrorism, because the better it is defined the more chance we have at success in this war.
19. Were you able to define terrorism in your essay without admitting that the United States has been guilty of terrorist acts?
ANSWER: Yes.
10. Are you optimistic about the future? Will you pledge to do you part in pursuing mutual understanding?
ANSWER: Yes, I am optimistic. Yes, I will because I wish to have a safe and happy future for our posterity.