- - - Posted 12.35am Sept 13, 2006 by T Hurley
People need to look at what causes terrorism. When a group of people are marginalised, have nothing to lose and are easily led, they become dangerous to society. 9/11, was a cowardly barbaric act, inexcusable but understandable if you ask yourself why? The subsequent war on terror has some merit in Afghanistan because of the Taliban, but Iraq? The more innocent people are killed in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, the more moderate peace loving Muslims will convert to extremist ideologies and more terrorist attacks will continue. I'm not saying this is right, I'm just saying this is the way it is and if there IS an answer, its not bombing thousands of innocent citizens on either side. Come on people, open your eyes and instead of blaming entire cultures and religions, do some research and look for the reasons why. Just as not all Americans are loud and obnoxious and not all Jews are rude and arrogant, not all Muslims are suicide bombing fanatics.
- - - Posted 11.12pm Sept 12, 2006 by Simon P
George Bush is a dangerous man to have in power. He is as bad as Osama and the other terrorists. All he wants is power. The "war on terrorism" was a mistake. Instead of declaring war on Iraq the US should have focused their resources on capturing the terrorists responsible for 9/11, not destroying the lives of thousands of innocent people! Look where that has got them...Five years on and bin Laden is still at large and acts of terrorism only seem to be increasing. It makes you wonder what would have happened if Bush had never started his war...
- - - Posted 2.14pm Sept 12, 2006 by Kylie
Hip Hooray to both George Bush and Tony Blair for having the guts to stand up to Terrorism! I take my hat off to the Service Men and Woman in Afghanistan, Iraq and anywhere else in the world for representing their Countries, trying to help. Some of you people should go into Google and look up White House in America, I came across a heart rendering speech by the Iraq President that thanks USA, Britain and the like for being in Iraq. Like in Israel - maybe it should be compulsory for all NZ Citizens to attend Army, see what hard work it is - good for all us armchair critics sitting on our butts pointing fingers, while we are warm, safe and protected in good ole NZ.
- - - Posted 12.55pm Sept 12, 2006 by Carolyn Sherwen
What we've learned is that the news media is very critical of George Bush and the United States now. They bay for peace but have no inkling about how it is supposed to be achieved. They somehow believe that if we all just leave everything alone it will magically happen without anyone getting their hands dirty. In doing this, we give no regard to those who are suffering in other countries under dictatorships. If there was nothing wrong with what Saddam was doing; if we should have left him alone and not gone into Iraq, then why is he up on war crimes charges now? Obviously he was doing something wrong, but the UN didn't have the guts to go in there and do something about it. "All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke.
- - - Posted 12.20pm Sept 12, 2006 by J Barnett
Lets just say that the US pulled out of the Middle East and Afghanistan, take it a step further and say Israel by some miracle satiated all of the demands by the various Islamic regions and organisations surrounding it. Can one say then that the threat of terrorism from this part of the world would truly disappear. Can there ever truly be peace with fundamentalism? I personally don't think it is possible and I believe to do so would be naive. So then for a nation like one the position the US is in to push forward and impose democratic values in these countries which are breeding grounds for fundamentalism, in the interests of countering future generations taking up arms against the West, albeit unsuccessfully, is it not a worthy cause? Can you honestly say there is any other way than the current heavy-handedness? Do you believe that peace will ever truly be a possibility?
- - - Posted 10.13am Sept 12, 2006, by Dinesh Kumar
What right do you have, sitting in your far-away- from-reality Island Paradise, to dishonour the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11? What have I learned since September 11? Sadly, that too many who have commented here are unaware of the bigger world and seem content to cast judgement and make uneducated statement.
- - - Posted 7.59 Sept 12, 2006 by Hans van Deventer
Reading some of these comments I almost feel ashamed to be a New Zealander. How safe you must feel so far away from 'over there', wrapped up in your naive ignorance, spouting anti-US, Oh! the big bad Western World attitudes. No one should have to live in fear and no one has the right to force their will on another. I, like my follow countryfolk, have the privilege of being from a country where my freedom is a given as is my right of free speech, opinion and thought... I was allowed the right to learn. Why waste such gifts on protecting the ignorance of a few who wish to harm it?
- - - Posted 7.45am Sept 12, 2006 by Annette McKenzie
I'm sorry if I'm going to sound like I'm arguing with all of you. If only you could understand what the real situation is in the lands in the Middle East - of how much they want to destroy America. Just because it's not NZ, doesn't mean it's not another good nation, who tries to defeat all the negative things that are in this world. These people give their children assault rifles at age 4 and train them to disrespect human life. Just because it's American human life doesn't mean that it's not anothers' human life. These same people raised up the arms and the man power to create such attacks as 9/11, but they also attack every day in Israel and surrounding countries, including Iraq and Iran. They have no dignity toward humanity, and no regard for their own life. Why should they feel anything toward killing others, when they don't have enough valuation of their own life? You cannot tell me that this is a serious problem. You cannot tell me that you agree with being tolerant of this kind of anti-life warfare. How many celebrations has the US had when other people were killed out of obvious acts of inhumane terrorism? How many children in America or NZ, or anywhere that doesn't allow this kind of terroristic mentality, fire automatic weapons in the air out of aggressive extremism against other humans on this planet? This isn't a game, and you're speaking of America like they're just playing politics. You obviously have not been affected by it.
- - - Posted 3.49am Sept 12, 2006 by AH
The attacks were horrible - the people who carried them out feel that their vision for the world is right and any way to get what they want is justified - the ends justify the means. The US should be better prepared to defend itself - and also attack them.
However, if the US is going to claim to fight evil - it should be bending over backwards to be Just and fair and democratic. Unfortunately, Bush has employed the same logic of the terrorists - that his vision for the world is right, and any way to get what he wants is justified - the ends justify the means.
9/11, along with many other terror attacks around the world was horrible - but responding with Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay and secret CIA prisons has only made it worse. So now the world is deep in a struggle with crazy jerks ready to do evil in the name of good - on both sides. If our poor miserable world is to survive this mess, peaceful reasonable open minded leaders need to come to power through fair democratic processes (not Bush’s democracy through aggression). These leaders would resist the urge towards war and revenge. In order to win the hearts and minds of the world a good leader needs to stop the non sense and lead by example. Unfortunately it can’t be a totally pacifist movement, but it can be a Just movement.
The majority of Jews Christians and Muslims are people with good intentions - but each religion has its crazy warmongering extremists - and the world is being shaped by those extremists. It seems like both Osama and Bush want a long war - where most of the world wants peace… The attacks on 9/11 along with all the other attacks by Muslim extremists have been very scary, but the response of the west has been just as frightening. At this point I don’t want to be a part of either side.
- - - Posted 2.50am Sept 12, 2006 by Bill USA
If you were American you would realise this was not the first time terrorists attacked the World Trade Center. After the first attack we were continually attacked overseas and did nothing until the 2nd attack on the Trade Center. Now I wonder if we would have sat back and done nothing how much safer would we be?
- - - Posted 11.40pm Sept 11, 2006 by C Stover
The only thing that's changed is my view of George Bush. He is somewhat crackers now, I feel sorry for the soldiers in Iraq.
- - - Posted 9.46pm Sept 11, 2006 by Kenneth Kwon
Five years on from 9/11 and still no end to the "war on terror." Why? well perhaps this is a war that cannot be won on the battlefield despite what the Bush administration may say . I don't mean to be another Bush Basher , but just because there hasn't been another attack on US soil since 9/11 doesn't mean much. I would like to see US intelligence estimates on the number of foreign terrorists considered a threat before 9/11 and that number today. I'm sure the war in Iraq alone has created more hostile Islamic, young men than Osama could have wished for. To win this so called war the root causes of extremism must be identified and solved. The money today that has been spent in Iraq could have been used on poverty reducing initiatives and that alone would reduce the number of people willing to blow themselves to pieces. Also the Palestinian issue, although unimportant to most Middle Eastern governments , is used to great effect by these governments and radicals as well, to stir up a lot of hatred towards Westerners. So , this is a war that will go on for decades unless the next white house changes the path of US foreign policy.
- - - Posted 9.16pm Sept 11, 2006 by Matt
"War total war" is this America's catch phrase? for the next hundred plus years? It seems so in my opinion. Let's look at the facts: The Cold War, done and dusted, the enemy of imperialism removed.
Sadam Insane, toppled after much grandiose sword waving, now Iraq lays as a barren wasteland and a practice ground for Americas military machine to practice their "training" in death and murder for the sake of what? our freedom… Or is it more like their (the USA's) version of ideological and physical facism and slavery. Albeit that 9/11 was a despicable act perpetrated more than likely by the hands of its own.. (watch this space on that) which killed thousands of innocent workers is immoral and evil. And now five years later here will still are, "war total war"... me thinks back to the prophetic words of George Orwell in 194, "war is peace" "freedom is slavery". I think its time for us, the people to rise up and denounce all that represents America's putrid imperialism.. Or is the lure of mind numbing television and consumer materialism too much for you.. Denounce Americas corrupt system, we in New Zealand need none of it.
- - - Posted 7.50pm Sept 11, 2006 by BPC
I still can't believe that 5 years on the mainstream media (including the Herald) has not published balanced reporting and true investigative journalism on the events both pre and post 9/11. Start searching World Trade Center 7 (WTC7) This building also collapsed on 9/11 yet there was no media coverage. Research 'Skull and Bones' and Bush's association with this 'Organisation'. The following extract is from: http://911research.wtc7.net/:" We all know the official story of September 11th: four jetliners were hijacked by groups of four and five Arabic men armed with box cutters, who proceeded to fly three of the four jets into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Subsequently the World Trade Center Towers, weakened by the impacts and fires, collapsed into piles of rubble. Later in the afternoon 47-story Building 7, also weakened by fire, collapsed (a fact that most people remain unaware of). The FBI had compiled a list of hijackers within three days, and it was so obvious that Osama bin Laden had masterminded the operation from caves in Afghanistan, that there was no need to seriously investigate the crime or produce evidence. The "retaliatory" attack on the Taliban would soon commence. Is this story true? Its central assumptions have never been tested by an official government body whose members lack obvious conflicts of interest. There are numerous red flags in the official story, which requires a long series of highly improbable coincidences. Questioning that story is an act of responsible citizenship."
- - - Posted 6.49pm Sept 11, 2006 by Rich M
I find it disturbing that people in their "reflections" largely blame the USA (and it some cases it also appears they blame Israel too) for 9/11. People every day have to make choices. The 9/11 hijackers and their backers made the choice to kill. What did those who died do that they deserved to die? Take a plane trip, go to work, try to save people in the towers?
- - - Posted 6.37pm Sept 11, 2006 by Andrew Williams
What have we learnt? We certainly have not learnt to ask 'why'? Why have these 'terrorist' attacks occurred? The answer is not simply to threaten the freedom of the west. Lets start talking about the real reasons for these attacks. Until all parties enter into dialogue and negotiation the attack and counter-attack will continue.
- - - Posted 5.38pm Sept 11, 2006 by Gavin Symons
As an American coming from a family with an extensive military background most of whom have been seen combat first-hand I can say that this 'war' if that's what you want to call it is the single biggest waste of resources and lives and intelligence. To anyone who's deceived themselves into thinking it's necessary needs to retake primary school.
- - - Posted 3.19pm Sept 11, 2006 by Sean Moore
I have learnt that it is better to sit down and take it "like a man" than it is to fight back, particularly if fighting back actually means fighting. I have learnt that it is far more acceptable to lose friends and family, to lose entire sections of Mankind, than it is to stop others from killing them. I have learnt that if you want everyone else to covert to your religion, when you want to slice up a sovereign nation so that you can create your own nation, it is very, very acceptable and encouraged to resort to violence to do so. But most of all, I have learnt that you can commit murder, rape, torture and other crimes against humanity with impunity if you couch it in terms of religion. Given that, would anyone be interested in my made-up-on-the-spur-of-the-moment religion of slavery, rape, murder and hedonistic revelry? Join up... please?
- - - posted 12.46pm Sept 11, 2006 by Adrian Wong
9/11 is a terrible act, a terrorist does not become a terrorist unless they were terrorised and the question 'why' never seem to be questioned or answered publicly, a few people/groups have profited from this, go to letsroll911.org and remember that ‘lack of knowledge is ones’ worst enemy’
- - - posted 10.59am Sept 11, 2006 by Jay H
So what happened 9/11. 3000 innocent people lost their lives after a direct "attack" on US soil. Prior to that incident how many innocents had we, the so called Free Western World, "taken out" in our striving to create a "democratic" World in other peoples lands. Hundreds? Thousands? Millions?. Was it "pay back time" for all the suffering we had and continue to inflict on "those" people - Remember Viet Nam, Cambodia, Chile. The African Continent and now Afghanistan, Iraq and possibly Iran. When will we ever learn?
- - - posted 10.41am Sept 11, 2006 by Gil
I find it perplexing and indeed alarming that most New Zealanders widely accept the predominant world media view (with the exception of a few journos with backbones who choose to seek the truth and not cower to political powers) that the "war on terror" is justified and will make democratic societies like ours safer. While I am sorry for those who lost their lives as a result of the September 11 attacks and their families it is a sad indictment of western media that this one event seems to be the only one that has a level of significance that deems it necessary to rehash stories, offer insights into who could have been responsible etc every year. I often wonder if it had been the same event, same amount of people dying in any other country but the almighty US would it still be newsworthy 5 years later? It's no coincidence that we don't hear too much about the 50,000 children that starved to death in Afghanistan due to US-lead sanctions or the countless families whose lives have been destroyed in the Middle East conflict by a US-lead offensive into a country that by all accounts had its fair share of problems but did not necessarily need a super power to intervene and dictate how they should govern their society. There will always be terror in the world - for goodness sake just look at our own back yard and the escalation in violent crime in New Zealand. While I'm not advocating the two things are comparable I think it's fair to say that unless you are willing to educate yourself about the war, the true spiritual and peaceful nature of Islam and the contributing factors behind why some choose to blow themselves up or kill others to make their point then I think you are only really ever going to see one side of a complex story.
- - - posted 10.02am Sept 11, 2006 by Jules Lotu-Iiga
There's the old saying: You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time. But you can't please all of the people all of the time. That's the position the US is in. Just reading the comments on this page you can see the diverse opinions people hold of the US. They've been criticised for not getting involved in WWII earlier, they've been criticised for being involved in the Middle East. It's impossible for the US to win with everyone. Whatever is done will be wrong in someone's eyes. What's my own opinion on the matter? As an American, I would like to see the US leave the Middle East. I agree with the person who said that further involvement simply fuels the hatred. Also, I would like to see the taxpayer dollars spent in a better way, to assist American people in the US instead of being spent on various causes around the world. I would like people to know that all Americans do not support the war or Bush. I would like people to know me personally rather than judge me by my nationality. I imagine people of the Middle East would like to be judged on their individual merits rather than on their nationality or religion as well. It's not easy being an American in a foreign country; I can only imagine what it must be like for someone from a so called terrorist country. It's easy to tell people to get over the loss of a loved one. I wonder how someone who says that would feel if one of their loved ones was killed in some way, regardless of the method. For many people, recalling September 11th 2001 isn't about terrorists and government ineptitude. It's about the people who actually died. Maybe the entire world hasn't or shouldn't change because of that event. But the world of all the friends and relatives of the people who have died most definitely has. The anniversary of the event should be about all those people.
- - - posted 9.57am Sept 11, 2006 by SV
What I want to know is why the same amount of coverage that is spent on 9/11 is not spent on the women and children died due to the occupation by the West in the Middle East, the slaughter of women and children by Israel in Jenin, Palestine, the women and children that died in the genocide of Rwanda, the women and children in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon???.Is it because the media is controlled by the west and work in their favour?
- - - posted 8.19am Sept 11, 2006 by Gabieb
It truly is a scary world we're living in. I just want to stay home and cuddle up with my family.
- - - Posted 4.18am Sept 11, 2006 by Robyn
After 5 years, the one question that most supporters of the Bush Administration fail to ask (with sincerity) is "Why did this happen?". Of course, Bush wants us to think the 19 Arabs did the deed because they "Hate our freedom". And amazingly, millions of Americans actually believe him. These are the same Americans who STILL think Saddam Hussein had connections to 9/11, and that Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction. This isnt going to end until the USA pulls out of Iraq (let them have their civil war, thanks), stops supporting Israel, and ends the hegemonic control as spelled out in the Project for the New American Century. Hey, we can always hope. Cheers.
- - - posted 11.25pm Sept 10, 2006 by BC
I feel truly sick reading the comments of some of your readers. What those thugs did on September 11 was inexcusable and all those 'bush haters' out there would do well to think of "what if my loved ones were killed on that day in such a horrible manner?" Grow up and get real, not everyone in the world is so naive and shares your "Abandon Israel, be nice to the terrorists and they'll leave us alone worldview." From one who has lived in the middle east I've met people who wish to see all Westerners (yourselves included) either dead or "embracing Islam"
- - - posted 11.18pm Sept 10, 2006 by Stephen Morris
one thing I would really like to hear more of is World Trade Center 7. what happenend to it? why did it collapse that day?
- - - posted 2.26pm Sept 10, 2006 by Alex Keenan
On Sept 11th our world changed for ever. We witnessed the true paradigm shift away from a true democracy, and into a state where big business will determine our direction, whether here in New Zealand or in America or the UK. 9/11 was an inside job, no doubt about it, and subsequent law changes in America have obliterated the constitution. Tony Blair and George Bush have warned us of a war that could last 100 years. Lets hope they're wrong.
- - - posted 2.24pm Sept 10, 2006 by Alex Sibley
There are two victims, the western community and the Muslim community, and there are two terrorists, the western 'Bush' following leaders and the blinded Muslim leaders, not much difference from thousands of years ago, the Romans vs Persians regardless what religions or followers were involved at the time, until half the planet blows up! Maybe we can start from scratch again, if there is anything else is left.
- - - posted 1.50pm Sept 10, 2006 by Jay
A terrorist is a person or organisation that uses violence and fear to further their political aims. The biggest terrorist is undoubtedly the US (democracy for Iraq, Vietnam earlier - there is no difference). After the Soviet Union fell the US had no enemy to justify the massive arms expenditure so they had to make one. The truth is out there but you will not find it in the Herald.
- - - posted 1.07pm Sept 10, 2006 by Tony Wilson
We truly live in troubled, and confusing times. In most major "Terrorist" attacks since September 11th we have been told the perpetrators were either Saudi or Pakistani. The west has since invaded Afghanistan, and Iraq, with an Iranian invasion imminent. As more and more evidence emerges to not only show the USA government missing in action on 9/11, but directly involved more people are waking up to the grim realities we face. There is a lot of information out there, but a very good starting point, largely ignored is that WTC7, a 47 storey steel framed building came down Sept 11th. It was not hit by a plane, and if fire was to blame, it was the FIRST EVER steel framed high rise to come down from fire.
- - - posted 10.58am Sept 10, 2006 by Alex Jones
Western governments have learnt little from the September 11 atrocities. With an event on the scale of 9/11 it is easy to focus on intelligence failures and things that could have been done to stop it occurring but you are missing the bigger point, that is continued western intervention in the Middle East will continue to grow resentment and anger from this region. While I believe the September 11 attacks were an absolute outrage I think the United States has made some pretty big foreign policy blunders throughout its past and could have done a lot more to enhance their relationship with Islamic nations.
- - - posted 9.00am Sept 10, 2006 by Grant
The smart ones have definitely learnt that there is no way that Muslim fanatics will ever be at peace with the rest of us, they have no tolerance, especially for Jews. We all know they would finish off Hitler's work if they could. Diplomacy wont work in this situation because we are not allowed our own faith and beliefs, it is all or nothing for them. We must believe like them or else... Unfortunately brute force seems to be the only way to minimalise their murder and destruction. Thank goodness for those prepared to stand up to them. Imagine if we were attacked. Because face it, no matter how isolated we are, all it needs is some perceived slight against them and we will be in their sights. We cannot sit with our eyes closed and be foolish in thinking it won't happen. They are not rational people, they are not religious people, they are fanatics trying to hide behind a religion that doesn't in any way condone mass murder. Good on you George!!!
- - - posted 8.28am Sept 10, 2006 by Caryn
Nothing has been learnt except fear itself. Are we safer post 911? Not a chance in hell. What have we to show for all the so called measures taken? One dead Brazilian electrician shot five times in the head in London by crazed police, he was innocent and still no explanation as to why his summary execution took place. Pathetic security measures brought in to make us feel safer such as one inch tweezers and any other 'sharp objects' confiscated on check in and through customs, yet 6 inch serrated stainless steel knives still served inflight. What have we learnt? We have all learnt to be paranoid and fearful and in the case of the above example utterly hypocritical!
- - - posted 12.50am Sept 9, 2006 by Vinko
Wasn't it Osama Bin Laden who said of the West "They love life. We love death". If that is true, his friends and supporters will always win. How has the world changed? Every one knows Bin Laden's name. How many people had heard of him prior? Iraq has been shattered. "They came to Baghdad" is no longer just an Agatha Christie novel. Every Muslim in the world is considered probable terrorists. Every act of terrorism is that individual country's "9/11". And all of a sudden the American date style of month/day is fashionable. Tony Blair declared after 9/11 that no country in the world had been as staunch an ally to Britain as the US had. Did Mr Blair learn much history at school? Does he not remember how long it took America to support the UK in WW 1 or 2? And now Mr Blair has lost so much credibility within the UK that his demise is almost certain, even though he has been an otherwise successful PM. Countless civilians have been killed by American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan - much more so than on 9/11 - but their deaths are not "glamorous" - no one caught them on camera. Has the world changed? Yes, but that's because 9/11 happened in America. Had it happened in Russia, or the Middle East, or NZ, it would have been newsworthy for about five minutes, and for sure the anniversary would have been forgotten by 2003.
- - - posted 11.19pm Sept 9, 2006 by Jo Cameron
I think the current East (Islam) vs West (America/Europe) situation is a calculated continuation of the "crusader" mentality prevalent in the Middle Ages. War is always big business and what better way to keep the arms manufacturers in champagne and caviar than to refuel age old religious and cultural paranoia and fears. Regrettably there are innocent victims on all sides as a result of mutual acts of intolerance and pre-meditated violence which are politically motivated to secure votes and maintain the status quo.
- - - posted 5.28pm Sept 9, 2006 by Gregory
For anyone who still believes the official Government conspiracy theory surrounding 911 I stongly urge you to download and watch "Loose Change". Then look at how the world has changed and ask yourself, who gains from these changes.
- - - posted 3.21pm Sept 9, 2006 by Bill
Very little has been learnt by New Zealand. Muslim migrants, of dubious benefit to the country (outside of the taxi driving and downmarket retail sectors) are still flooding into NZ as can be seen by their seemingly monthly protes
