email835.xml
Title
email835.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
email
Date Entered
2002-09-12
September 11 Email: Body
From: Rich Kennedy
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001, 15:50:24
...A long, long way from NY and Washington, we watched events unfold here in Mongolia on CNN and other international news broadcasts. The first plane crash, which got someone's attention, was followed by calls through the small community of Americans here with the question "Are you watching TV?" I turned the TV on in time for footage of the second crash, then sat, entranced, as the Pentagon was struck and the Twin Towers crashed. The phone calls began at about 2 am and basically didn't stop.
At work, while NY city entered its first dust-covered, quiet night and the friends and familities of our colleagues entered their vigil in the dark, we got around to mission one. We set about checking the security arrangements of the Embassy compound, the security around our housing where our families are, the security of the school, security for the 30 Army guys deployed here for an exercise and ensconced in a local hotel, security for the 90 American Peace Corps volunteers spread across the country, most by themselves in small communities with little access to international news and no other Americans. We read the mail and message traffic and responded accordingly to the taskings from all angles. In the back of our minds the anger seethed, but was repressed by the business at hand. Somehow the distance, and the importance of taking care of each other, pushed the sense of grief back far enough that we could go about our work.
I returned home, exhausted, and watched more news, concerned that a new day would bring new horrible events. There were, but continuations of the first day's acts and not a new round of barbarism. This relief was dulled however, by the lack of news, especially from the Pentagon, where we could identify the office windows of fellow brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
At night, exhausted, I couldn't sleep. There was a cloudy, nagging sensation that wouldn't let my mind rest. In my bed my mind kept turning over the scenes: the plane crash at the South Tower; the Pentagon burning; an airliner spread across the Pennsylvania countryside. Then other scenes blended in: the LaBelle disco in Berlin; Khobar Towers; the Embassies in Dar es Salam and Tanzania; and the USS Cole. I realized then what was keeping me awake. It was a sense of insecurity. Even with the Mongolian SWAT team patrolling our housing area, I flinched at every sound from outside, suspect of a terrorist crawling over the fence. I felt beaten -- as if they had succeeded in instilling that terror right into me, and I was helpless, doomed to be looking over my shoulder and flinching far too often.
The next morning at the Embassy, after a fitful night of sleep, I was called upon for a particularly diplomatic duty. One that I had not been involved in yet in my three and a half years working in Embassies. I was to take my turn receiving guests offering their condolences and signing the "condolence book." I thought it odd at first. We had other things to do. We had to track down those responsible. We had to check our security. We had to answer the mail from various headquarters acknowledging Force Protection measures, and so on, and so on.
I was on duty for the arrival of the military delegation: the Deputy Minister of Defense, three of the four most senior generals on active duty, and a handful of colonels with whom we have frequent contact. It was the obligatory offers of condolence -- sincere, but to me at the time, somehow stunted. Not false, but I thought I sensed, more out of "diplomatic" duty.
Afterwards, the President, Prime Minister and cabinet showed up -- shortly after the press entourage -- for the ten minute signing and hand-shaking ceremony. Kind words, a few photos, then gone. Afterwards, the Russian Ambassador.
By this time, I was the senior American Embassy person waiting to receive. The others had gone off to discuss our security. The Ambassador, almost with a fervor, spoke of his country's sympathy. He advised me that President Putin had declared a day of national mourning. Russian flags were being flown at half-staff to honor the victims of this tragic event. Then, with a palpable sense of outrage and anger, he agreed that, although we have some differences, the Russian and American people must work together to combat global terrorism, for the sake of all free people.
It was another guest, however, who made me glad I was called upon to receive condolences. A retired Mongolian, perhaps 75 years old, with a Communist-era medal pinned to his chest, had arrived. He had already signed the book and was waiting to speak to an American, and I happened to be there. I listened quietly as he explained why he stopped by. He watched, he said, with horror, as the news of the events was broadcast on Mongolian TV. Stunned, he and his family watched for as long as the news was broadcast. He watched President Bush's address to the nation (broadcast via CNN over a local Mongolia-US TV channel and dubbed into Mongolian). He watched as our newly-elected President spoke with passion and grief about the human suffering and loss of lie. He watched as our newly-elected President spoke with passion and conviction about the coming retribution for those who were involved. With tears in his eyes, he informed me that the Mongolians look to America as a bigger, younger brother. He stated how such an attack on America seemed like an attack on Mongolia. He said that he was sure that America would lead the civilized world in ridding the earth of this scourge of terrorism. Then he stated that if in America, he himself would mount his horse and ride to fight the terrorists beside the American soldiers. With that, he quietly put on his hat and left.
At that point, tears welling up in my own eyes, I realized that I was not beaten. Yes, there are people in the world who hate Americans. There are fanatics in the world who will sacrifice their own life to take the lives of Americans solely for symbolic, political and fanatical reasons. But there are more people who think differently. There are others, who have lived with terrorism for years, who know what we are going through. There are others, who live in democracies based on law and logic and not on fanaticism. There are those, who wished they lived so. And there are 75-year-old men, who have spent all but the last 10 years in a communish state, who would rally forth at America's call.
I rethought my meetings of earlier. The generals and colonels were sincere, but somber, knowing that, eventually, the US military would be called upon to retaliate. The politicians, too, were sincere and somber, with an understanding that if such events can happen in America, they can happen in smaller states, less prepared to defend against them. The Mongolian workers at the Embassy haven't laughed in two days. They feel the sorrow, shock and anger of the Americans.
I'm glad I was called upon for this strange duty. My anger has been replaced. I know that we, the American people, have friends that, if called upon, will help us when the time comes. I know that America still serves as the shining beacon of democracy, despite the efforts of fanatics to tarnish that image. I now also know, that I needn't be afraid. I must be aware. I must be vigilent. But I needn't be afraid. I am an American, who chooses to serve abroad. I have chosen to do a job that helps me help others towards democracy and the American way. If I serve in places where I might be a target, I must serve in a manner representing the American people -- with courage, out front and not skulking behind walls and bulletproof glass.
I also know that I must be prepared for whatever role I might play in any response to these events. All Americans will have to be ready for that. We need to proceed and respond, not out of anger or grief, but with a sense of justice. We must all have the conviction to continue this process, no matter how long it takes. We must all have the courage to "get on our horse and ride." There is more at stake in this battle than simple American vengeance.
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001, 15:50:24
...A long, long way from NY and Washington, we watched events unfold here in Mongolia on CNN and other international news broadcasts. The first plane crash, which got someone's attention, was followed by calls through the small community of Americans here with the question "Are you watching TV?" I turned the TV on in time for footage of the second crash, then sat, entranced, as the Pentagon was struck and the Twin Towers crashed. The phone calls began at about 2 am and basically didn't stop.
At work, while NY city entered its first dust-covered, quiet night and the friends and familities of our colleagues entered their vigil in the dark, we got around to mission one. We set about checking the security arrangements of the Embassy compound, the security around our housing where our families are, the security of the school, security for the 30 Army guys deployed here for an exercise and ensconced in a local hotel, security for the 90 American Peace Corps volunteers spread across the country, most by themselves in small communities with little access to international news and no other Americans. We read the mail and message traffic and responded accordingly to the taskings from all angles. In the back of our minds the anger seethed, but was repressed by the business at hand. Somehow the distance, and the importance of taking care of each other, pushed the sense of grief back far enough that we could go about our work.
I returned home, exhausted, and watched more news, concerned that a new day would bring new horrible events. There were, but continuations of the first day's acts and not a new round of barbarism. This relief was dulled however, by the lack of news, especially from the Pentagon, where we could identify the office windows of fellow brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
At night, exhausted, I couldn't sleep. There was a cloudy, nagging sensation that wouldn't let my mind rest. In my bed my mind kept turning over the scenes: the plane crash at the South Tower; the Pentagon burning; an airliner spread across the Pennsylvania countryside. Then other scenes blended in: the LaBelle disco in Berlin; Khobar Towers; the Embassies in Dar es Salam and Tanzania; and the USS Cole. I realized then what was keeping me awake. It was a sense of insecurity. Even with the Mongolian SWAT team patrolling our housing area, I flinched at every sound from outside, suspect of a terrorist crawling over the fence. I felt beaten -- as if they had succeeded in instilling that terror right into me, and I was helpless, doomed to be looking over my shoulder and flinching far too often.
The next morning at the Embassy, after a fitful night of sleep, I was called upon for a particularly diplomatic duty. One that I had not been involved in yet in my three and a half years working in Embassies. I was to take my turn receiving guests offering their condolences and signing the "condolence book." I thought it odd at first. We had other things to do. We had to track down those responsible. We had to check our security. We had to answer the mail from various headquarters acknowledging Force Protection measures, and so on, and so on.
I was on duty for the arrival of the military delegation: the Deputy Minister of Defense, three of the four most senior generals on active duty, and a handful of colonels with whom we have frequent contact. It was the obligatory offers of condolence -- sincere, but to me at the time, somehow stunted. Not false, but I thought I sensed, more out of "diplomatic" duty.
Afterwards, the President, Prime Minister and cabinet showed up -- shortly after the press entourage -- for the ten minute signing and hand-shaking ceremony. Kind words, a few photos, then gone. Afterwards, the Russian Ambassador.
By this time, I was the senior American Embassy person waiting to receive. The others had gone off to discuss our security. The Ambassador, almost with a fervor, spoke of his country's sympathy. He advised me that President Putin had declared a day of national mourning. Russian flags were being flown at half-staff to honor the victims of this tragic event. Then, with a palpable sense of outrage and anger, he agreed that, although we have some differences, the Russian and American people must work together to combat global terrorism, for the sake of all free people.
It was another guest, however, who made me glad I was called upon to receive condolences. A retired Mongolian, perhaps 75 years old, with a Communist-era medal pinned to his chest, had arrived. He had already signed the book and was waiting to speak to an American, and I happened to be there. I listened quietly as he explained why he stopped by. He watched, he said, with horror, as the news of the events was broadcast on Mongolian TV. Stunned, he and his family watched for as long as the news was broadcast. He watched President Bush's address to the nation (broadcast via CNN over a local Mongolia-US TV channel and dubbed into Mongolian). He watched as our newly-elected President spoke with passion and grief about the human suffering and loss of lie. He watched as our newly-elected President spoke with passion and conviction about the coming retribution for those who were involved. With tears in his eyes, he informed me that the Mongolians look to America as a bigger, younger brother. He stated how such an attack on America seemed like an attack on Mongolia. He said that he was sure that America would lead the civilized world in ridding the earth of this scourge of terrorism. Then he stated that if in America, he himself would mount his horse and ride to fight the terrorists beside the American soldiers. With that, he quietly put on his hat and left.
At that point, tears welling up in my own eyes, I realized that I was not beaten. Yes, there are people in the world who hate Americans. There are fanatics in the world who will sacrifice their own life to take the lives of Americans solely for symbolic, political and fanatical reasons. But there are more people who think differently. There are others, who have lived with terrorism for years, who know what we are going through. There are others, who live in democracies based on law and logic and not on fanaticism. There are those, who wished they lived so. And there are 75-year-old men, who have spent all but the last 10 years in a communish state, who would rally forth at America's call.
I rethought my meetings of earlier. The generals and colonels were sincere, but somber, knowing that, eventually, the US military would be called upon to retaliate. The politicians, too, were sincere and somber, with an understanding that if such events can happen in America, they can happen in smaller states, less prepared to defend against them. The Mongolian workers at the Embassy haven't laughed in two days. They feel the sorrow, shock and anger of the Americans.
I'm glad I was called upon for this strange duty. My anger has been replaced. I know that we, the American people, have friends that, if called upon, will help us when the time comes. I know that America still serves as the shining beacon of democracy, despite the efforts of fanatics to tarnish that image. I now also know, that I needn't be afraid. I must be aware. I must be vigilent. But I needn't be afraid. I am an American, who chooses to serve abroad. I have chosen to do a job that helps me help others towards democracy and the American way. If I serve in places where I might be a target, I must serve in a manner representing the American people -- with courage, out front and not skulking behind walls and bulletproof glass.
I also know that I must be prepared for whatever role I might play in any response to these events. All Americans will have to be ready for that. We need to proceed and respond, not out of anger or grief, but with a sense of justice. We must all have the conviction to continue this process, no matter how long it takes. We must all have the courage to "get on our horse and ride." There is more at stake in this battle than simple American vengeance.
September 11 Email: Date
13 Sep 2001
September 11 Email: Subject
Letter from Mongolia
Collection
Citation
“email835.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 6, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/37661.