story5989.xml

story5989.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

As a member of the US Army Airforce during World War II,watching an airplane crash into the World Trade Center while watching my tv at home was an unbelievable sight. I thought I was looking at a scene from a Hollywood movie.The pandemonium my tv screen so vividly portrayed with men and women running wildly down smoke filled streets,while debris was crashing down from above and people could be seen jumping from upper floors of the burning building to a certain death below made me realize I was witnessing a horrible tragedy unlike any I had ever seen before, including the devatation at Okinawa...but why? Having done some flying, I couldn't understand how a pilot could intentionally an airplane into abuilding accupied by innocent working people of many nationalities, religions and ethnic backgrounds. When I learned the people responsible for the murderous and cowardly diseaster were terrorists trained in the United States I found the news absolutely inconcievable. How could anyone teach obviosly foreign students how to navigate a plane without any instruction in takeoff or landing procedure? In my opinion anyone teaaching someone to fly an airplane who disregards takeoff or landing procedure without becoming suspicious of his student is not merely stupid he is an idiot. In view of all that has occured since 9/11 I have an open letter I would like to address to Osama bin Laden and the members of al Qaeda throughout the world. Your group has successfully compled an act of terror resulting in the horrible deaths of several thousand innocent people from all walks of life representing many nations.The destruction resulted in catastrophic pain and suffering and a loss n human life that cannot be measured.In addition the destruction caused an economic loss estimated to be in the billions. So what did you accomplish? We will reconstruct new buildings, our financial circumstances are improving,but the grieving will long endure.
what did you accomplish with your plan resulting in the death of many of your own people from whom you will never hear again?
For Americans and people throughout the world 9/11 will be recognized as "a day in infamy" and American history books will equate it with the attack on Pearl Harbor.Your Arab friends and associates many of whom have sought residence in the United States are now looked upon with suspicion and distrust >Your religion often misunderstood by less informed people is now associated with terrorism death and destruction.To those countries where you have lived and enjoyed freedom and the luxuries of your position of leadership, United States is bringing retribution while searching for you and your confedertes.Your life will never be the same bin Laden. Every day you will have to concern yourself with the possibility of an unexpected bomb or a traitor in your midst, anxious to turn you over to the authorities in exchange for the opportinity to become a iving millionaire with enough money to live like a king with his family for an eternity. Mr Laden you have created a situation throughout the world which has resulted in the degradation of your people and your religion.Your death would not resolve the problem, but it is within the power of you and the al Qaeda to create peace by eliminating terrorism...the choice is yours.