14 Years Ago Tonight

[QueenBee]

[Carsman]

AMEN!

Today's the day, 14 years later, may it end without incident.

[Maggot]

Its been 16 years. Today is my anniversary.

[Duchess]

Ooohhhh Maggottyboo. Don't say that to the Professor.

[Maggot]

⁹⁄₁₁ was horrible I remember watching people jumping from the windows it was better than getting cooked and faster. That decision is heart wrenching. I just hope it doesn't happen again but I know it will. May they rest in peace.

[Duchess]

I cried every day for a week and yet I could not turn my eyes away from the coverage.

[Jimbone]

Since the internet was so unreliable that day, we listened to everything on the radio (WABC out of NYC - we had no TV's at work). It was gut wrenching listening to the descriptions of what was happening and the chaos that had gripped every minute of that early reporting.

I had a friend who was at a breakfast meeting in the Pentagon. When the second plane hit, their meeting was broken up and they hurried to leave the Pentagon and go back to their Congressional offices. While leaving, the plane struck the building. She said the concussion from the explosion bounced their car around as they were driving away.

[Carsman]

Sadly, Intelligence Officials say another ⁹⁄₁₁ could be likely!

The United States could be facing another similar ⁹⁄₁₁ attack as factions grow deeper among the Taliban, al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, especially with the recently confirmed death of the Taliban's one-eyed leader Mullah Omar.

The tensions between Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and the Taliban is as dangerous a national security threat to the United States as it was before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, said an official who spent two decades with the CIA and has testified before Congress on terrorism.

"Right now, al-Qaida, under Zawahiri, needs the Khorasan group or some affiliated group to attack the U.S. again like ⁹⁄₁₁ in order to lift up his stature and that of the organization," it was said. "He doesn't want something small but something big – a big-scale attack like ⁹⁄₁₁ to make him relevant again.

This is an extremely dangerous time as Islamic State, al-Qaida and the Taliban fight and compete for dominance."


Al-Qaida iissued two threatening communications in August calling on believers to take action in the U.S. through more lone-wolf attacks.

"Since the ⁹⁄₁₁ attacks we've seen the spread of jihadi ideology. "ISIS in Syria and Iraq is an example of that and the growth of the jihad movement has increased exponentially."

The threat, however, has changed, "Islamic State" has enormous reach through the Internet and its dark space that allows the group to conduct and plan operations.

"It is an area that leaves most of law enforcement and the intelligence community in the dark and its difficult, if not impossible, to combat.


Unfortunately, we have to be vigilante and thwart "them" each and every time, and "they" keep trying, and only have to be lucky once to succeed!

[QueenBee]

[sally]

Sadly, Intelligence Officials say another ⁹⁄₁₁ could be likely!

Hopefully it's at a Kim Davis and Huckabee rally.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sadly, Intelligence Officials say another ⁹⁄₁₁ could be likely!

Hopefully it's at a Kim Davis and Huckabee rally.

[HairOfTheDog]

Every year since 2002, New York City puts on a Tribute in Lights on 9 / 11. Laser lights are used to represent the Twin Towers.



This year's display involved reportedly the most powerful shafts of light ever projected from earth, using 88 high-powered bulbs working at 7,000 watts. I think it's beautiful.

The world has changed so much over the last 14 years; I'm always grateful that another mass terror attack hasn't been pulled off on our soil (and grateful for the individuals and agencies that help prevent such attacks).

[Carsman]

Every year since 2002, New York City puts on a Tribute in Lights on 9 / 11. Laser lights are used to represent the Twin Towers.



This year's display involved reportedly the most powerful shafts of light ever projected from earth, using 88 high-powered bulbs working at 7,000 watts. I think it's beautiful.

The world has changed so much over the last 14 years; I'm always grateful that another mass terror attack hasn't been pulled off on our soil (and grateful for the individuals and agencies that help prevent such attacks).

Yes grateful in deed, unfortunately over the last 14 years, the damn web is making it more & more difficult for those individuals & agencies to keep it that way!

Isis, is constantly on the web trying to convert/sway some of our own susceptible individuals here to attack from within! It's only a matter of time. Or has the several mass shootings/stabbings recently been some of their converts?

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah, that's true -- the homegrown lone-wolf attacks are definitely a growing threat, Cars. Moreso nowadays, in my opinion, than another foreign-based terrorist network pulling off something like 9 / 11 again.

With only a homemade pressure-cooker bomb, for example, two self-radicalized Islamic extremists (the Tsarnaev brothers) were able to kill several innocent people and maim hundreds of others.

I know the NSA and Department of Homeland Security are constantly trying to identify and quash terrorist individuals and small groups here before they strike, and several U.S. citizens/residents have been arrested for pledging allegiance to ISIS on-line. It's tricky to do that job successfully without compromising privacy rights in the process.

No doubt, national security agencies in the U.S. (and the rest of the world) really have their hands full with the new breed of terrorists hiding in plain sight within our own borders.

[Maggot]

If anyone remembers that day and the days after and remember how vigilant they were to extremists attacks for a long time, they will remember and try to remember that mindset. More attacks will then be stopped. Its when everyone drops their guard that things can go South fast. Thus the "never forget" motto.
I say do not let your government take away your right to defend yourself. When that happens we will all be targets.

[blueberryhill]

If anyone remembers that day and the days after and remember how vigilant they were to extremists attacks for a long time, they will remember and try to remember that mindset. More attacks will then be stopped. Its when everyone drops their guard that things can go South fast. Thus the "never forget" motto.
I say do not let your government take away your right to defend yourself. When that happens we will all be targets.

Are you serious, Mister? "Do not let your Gov't take away your right to defend yourself."
Why are you so worried about that here in the U.S. ..I am more worried about the anti-Government nutjobs running loose on the streets. Like the group defending nutjob #1 this week, Kim in Ky Clerk ...If she is jailed again, some guys with guns are vowing to protect her, e.g., by shooting Federal Marshals? She needs to stay in jail, resign, or whatever, until she can obey the laws like the rest of us....Her personal convictions have no place in a public job, elected or otherwise.

[Carsman]

Yeah, that's true -- the homegrown lone-wolf attacks are definitely a growing threat, Cars. Moreso nowadays, in my opinion, than another foreign-based terrorist network pulling off something like 9 / 11 again.

With only a homemade pressure-cooker bomb, for example, two self-radicalized Islamic extremists (the Tsarnaev brothers) were able to kill several innocent people and maim hundreds of others.

I know the NSA and Department of Homeland Security are constantly trying to identify and quash terrorist individuals and small groups here before they strike, and several U.S. citizens/residents have been arrested for pledging allegiance to ISIS on-line. It's tricky to do that job successfully without compromising privacy rights in the process.

No doubt, national security agencies in the U.S. (and the rest of the world) really have their hands full with the new breed of terrorists hiding in plain sight within our own borders.

Not only for lone wolf attacks, ISIS is also touting for "groups" to be formed here state side, so as to be able to pull off major assaults similar to the ⁹⁄₁₁ massacre!

God help us, and Allah stop them!

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah, I know the national security agencies are watching for potential terrorist plots by both individuals and small groups, Cars. And, those individuals and groups can, of course, join forces and form networks. But, in so doing, their risk of being detected and thwarted increases.

Fortunately, I think most members of the general public are a lot more aware and alert when it comes to all types of "terrorism" than we were 14 years ago, and suspicious activity is reported much more frequently.

But, in line with what blueberry mentioned and keeping it in perspective, the chances of getting killed by deranged and/or disgruntled Americans with guns (and much less often bombs and knives) are still far far greater than being a victim of Islamic extremists on American soil.

Anyway, as Maggot alluded, we need to stay alert and not get complacent about potential violence (from any type of domestic or foreign attacker). Panic or living in fear is not productive, in my view. And, I do believe that sometimes it is citizens legally bearing arms that can deter an attack altogether or minimize the number of victims if such an attack is attempted or launched.

[Duchess]

Fourteen years have passed with the speed of light.

[Carsman]

In today's news:


Al-Qaida's top chief called upon Muslim youth in the West on Sunday to use the men behind recent deadly U.S. bombings as their inspiration.