_A few random thoughts, one year after the dramatic terror attacks of New York and Washington._
It’s been one year since terrorists crashed four american jets – one into the Pentagon, one into a field, and two into the World Trade Center. On that day, more than three thousand people died – and the world changed.
At least, one year later, it still seems different. Naturally, things have calmed down a little, but the Americans are still war-mongering, countries all over the world use the terrorist label as an excuse for anything they want, and the events surrounding 9/11 and the Anthrax attacks have not been fully explained.
I still remember that day, I was on the way to Tokyo for my well-deserved vacation. When I arrived, my ex-girlfriend greeted me with the words "They blew up the World Trade Center". I had trouble to believe that the Twin Towers were gone. It was really incredible. Something that happens in a movie, or a Tom Clancy novel. Right from the moment I saw the photos it was clear to me that this would be one of these events still talked about decades later; something that made the world a more dangerous place. As the chinese would say, interesting times have begun. We’ll all hope that nothing worse will happen. That the war against terror will succeed and terrorist organizations find no refugee anymore. But of course, I know that this is a dream that is unlikely to come true. One of Nils’ Laws of Life is that things always get worse. After the horror of chemical warfare in WW1, we had WW2 with all the concentration camps, fire bombs, and the climax of two cities destroyed by nuclear weapons.
We’re in a lull of events right now. These periods have existed throughout the history of mankind, and always have they ended in times of chaos and violence; facism and war. I hope that I am wrong, but I don’t really see it. The USA will attack Iraq sooner or later, and the Mid East will flare up. And some day, someone will get their hands on a nuke and take out Manhatten entirely.
I hope there is a way to avoid this; but it doesn’t seem likely. You can’t un-do nuclear technology. The only way to avoid it would be for the USA to become less hated. Is this possible? I seriously doubt it. What would be needed is a big change in mindset for both Americans AND their enemies.
I’ll buy some skis and wait in Hell for it to freeze over, first.
