From an email to someotherguy this morning

[serene]

If a person were a conspiracy theorist, a person might think that the
people who blow people up these days are all friends of W, because who
benefits more these days from the deaths of innocents at the hands of
"terrorists"?

My president is a terrorist. He has killed far more people than died in
the Twin Towers. He is a disgrace to what I was taught that this country
stands for. He should not be let off the hook for all of that because
dozens of innocents were killed. In fact, their deaths should be laid at
his doorstep, and that of his cronies. It is to puke.

Comments

[redandfiery.livejournal.com]

A couple of days ago, I was spitting blood when I heard him tell my nation that he didn't think the American people owed us any "quid pro quo" for pitching in and supporting his war in Iraq.

Then I calmed down enough to think, and remembered that the war in Iraq is all about oil, not terror; and it would be pretty stupid of me to expect that a man prepared to go to war to ensure his future oil supply would give a flying fuck about climate change. I mean, he's just got his hands on all that lovely oil, he's hardly going to let *anyone* tell him that he shouldn't *use* it, is he? And like you say, who benefits but him and his mates?

I feel sorry for you guys. Tony can make some fairly brainless decisions... but mostly he really does think he's doing the right thing for the country, and at least we don't have to wonder which of his political decisions have been made to protect his family's private wealth.

[polydad.livejournal.com]

I about 90% agree with you. Problem is, boosh is a figurehead, and he knows it as well as we do. His immediate cabal of about two dozen are owned lock stock and barrel by a few subsets of american industry and the evangelical christians. He couldn't get off the tiger if he wanted to. Granted, he doesn't want to; he'd rather ride it through downtown and see how many other people he can get it to bite. But he's *not* in control.

best,

Joel. Who'd like to see an Administration barbecue; the whole lot of 'em over hot coals.

[wild-irises.livejournal.com]

Fox News, (W's own channel, more or less), is talking about how these bombings "work to the Western world's advantage." I kid you not. (http://mediamatters.org/items/200507070005) I wonder what they'd say if it was their own nearest and dearest.

I love my country; I hate my government.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Along those lines, I nearly gagged when I heard W saying that in addition to winning the war on terrorism, we would "spread an ideology of hope."

[baerana.livejournal.com]

It's sad that that's right where my mind goes when these things happen. Clinton, Gore, even Reagen or the previous Pres. Bush, my mind wouldn't immediately move in that direction.

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

It's always been the case that the hawks on the two sides of a war have more in common with each other than with their own doves.

But if you're saying that the attack was carried out by the CIA, then I don't buy it. If the Coalition were to plot out a terrorist attack, they would cast themselves in the role of preventing the attack, which makes the terrorists seem just as scary but makes the Administration seem clever instead of dorky. Also, check out the President's speech -- it was unrehearsed even by his standards.

[jenhowell.livejournal.com]

I agree. I can't be angry at the terrorists. I don't think it is possible for us in the West to understand what it must be like to have your country constantly bombed and gutted, to have "First World" nations constantly targeting you, and if they play nice at all, it's only for your natural resources, which they so desperately need.

I don't condone any terrorist action, and I am very sad for the people killed and hurt in London, most of whom were probably peace-loving individuals. But I don't think we in our sheltered existences can understand what it's like to be so frustrated, so desperate that killing yourself and others seems like the best thing to do.

Ach.

[vvvexation.livejournal.com]

I think this is what I've felt for a long while and not had the words for. Thank you.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I cannot imagine not being angry with the terrorists -- they're killing innocent people -- but neither can I imagine putting all of the blame for the despair they must feel onto them.

[horis.livejournal.com]

My thoughts, dont like the heat get your ass out of the fire.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Meaning what? Meaning love everything about my government, or leave my country? What kind of logic is that? One of the things I love about my country is that I'm (currently) free to disagree with the people in power, and to try to change the guard with the power of my voice and my vote.

[horis.livejournal.com]

No voice whatever you want...I'll even listen with a open mind...but if ALL your going to do is complain then you are lending to the problem and not helping it. People who only voice there oppinions and never get up off the couch or sofa to do it are as worse as the people cuasing a war...simply becuase of negligence.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

So basically you're talking to people who aren't me, then? Gotcha.

[artemii.livejournal.com]

this post perfectly illustrates the problem with dividing terrorism up into "terrorism" (by which americans, and possibly other westerners, almost always mean non-state groups) vs. state-sponsored.