Who is to blame for 9/11?

HWS: The tragedy to see this author throws facts aside to honor fallen soldiers Posted by Christopher James Martin April 13, 2009 14:04PM Categories: Read & React On September 11, 2001, the reaction by those in charge of our nation's security to the terrorist attacks was to figuratively and literally pick up the phone and ask for instructions. All that kept the terrorists from achieving all of their objectives was a group of ordinary Americans on Flight 93 who gave their lives in the process. A post mortem done on the day's events showed that the terrorists spent years planning and training for the attack. It also showed that there were numerous warnings and red flags that our nation's law enforcement and intelligence agencies either ignored or discounted for the same number of years. This sort of institutional arteriosclerosis did not happen overnight, nor did it happen during a single administration. It started during the 1970s when our nation's intelligence gathering emphasis was switched from human intelligence to radio intercept intelligence. In the 1980s terrorism was switched from a national security threat to a law enforcement issue. In the 1990s it morphed into the cost of doing business in the post Cold War world. It became the third rail in intelligence and national security issues. Don't talk about it and pray there is no incident when you are in charge. There was a cost for this neglect by our nation's government concerning this threat. On September 11, 2001, the cost was paid for by the blood of innocent people. One observer wrote that those in charge of our nation's security refused to acknowledge terrorism as a threat until a hijacked aircraft hit the building they were occupying. Change the outcome of the Presidential election in 2000 and 9/11 would have still occurred. We would still be at war and Americans would still be dying. The only thing that would change would be the location. Those claiming they would have done things differently are looking at it in hindsight which is always 20/20. We now have a new administration in the White House. Al-Qaida's second in command responded to the election by stating that the jihad would continue. Remember that Osama bin Laden's fatwa about killing Americans has not been rescinded. How 9/11 happened is the real scandal. Worry less about placing the blame and worry about the fact that we are facing years of conflict with an enemy that has no moral inhibitions. This is dedicated to the memory of SFC James D. Priestap, SPC Brandon L. Stout, SGT Thomas G. Wright, 46th MP CO, Michigan Army National Guard Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2007. Rest in peace brothers. Christopher J. Martin resides in Kalamazoo. Tags: reasons behind 9/11, years of conflict ahead http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/04/who_is_to_blame_for_911.html