Do Americans share with "Bin Laden" some of the moral responsibility for the attack?

Question

"What is the difference between the horror and the violence created by suicide bombers and the horror and the violence created by bombs dropped from 30,000 feet by airplanes?"

Can suicide bombers ever be justified? Professor Honderich, Britain's leading moral philosopher, is unafraid to tell the truth as he sees it. Taking what he says is the betrayal of the Palestinian people as his starting point, Ted reveals who shares moral responsibility for recent acts of terrorism, and points a finger at the politicians. Video provided by "The Dossier"

09/24/06 Broadcast on Channel 5 UK - Runtime 40 Minutes

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15080.htm

Answer 1

Nope. Osama and his henchmen get the whole blame.

You people who are always trying to give madmen credibility!

I think there needs to be a new CNN report about how you American liberals are encouraging the terrorist attacks, since you are so eager to share in their blame.

Answer 2

Rubbish like this which seeks to vindicate, justify, or even glorify acts of pure evil are what encourage the bombers because they see Western socity as weak.
If we are to defeat terrorism we have to be strong and no doubt some bleeding hearts along the way will complain.
Until terror comes to their town, kills their kids.
And yes I do know what I'm on about I was in Birmingham November 1974 when the IRA bombed 2 pubs full of innocent people. I was lucky to survive.
Thanks NORAD - maybe you guys have a different view on supporting 'the owld sod' since 9/11?

Answer 3

All I can say to you is, stop taking notice of left wing TV channels. They are full of Anti-American bullshit. In fact, they are also anti-British and anti Capitalist. In short, they are a disgrace. Also, Left Wing Teachers/Lecturers play their part in this. You also need to stop being impressed by Professors of Moral Philosophy, they are nearly all left wingers who have no formal religion but their own man made set of morals, known as 'Philosophy'. You also come close to suggesting, that what he states, is the truth.

To come to your headline question, the difference, is that Terrorists DELIBERATELY target innocent civilians and, I would point out, that 9/11 and many other terrorist atrocities committed in the past, occurred long before the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

British and American troops have the devils own job trying to fight an enemy that insists in establishing its base camp in the middle of civilian areas; they even dress like civilians. You quite deviously don't state what attack you are talking about, nor where/when bombs are being dropped from 30,000 feet. Our Armed Forces do their level best to TARGET enemy positions. The enemy know that mistakes will be made, and they exploit this by inviting in our appalling TV media, often having prepared the site to give the impression that women/children have been killed. It is a disgrace that the armed forces have to fight in conditions like this, and then have our own media, who have their own agenda, try to indoctrinate the people back home. People like you soak it up, and then help them in their mission.

I am not an apologist for politicians, and that goes doubly for this appalling government, but you can't allow a situation to develop where Governments can't govern because of constant sniping by the media and every Tom Dick or Harry with an opinion. It is better to have a bad Government in control, than a good Government out of control. How can the Armed Forces fight in such circumstances, and how can Governments stay in control. Patriotism seems to be dead, whilst would be Anarchists ride the high ground.

I am a Brit. and I disown your question, God knows what Americans will think of it. Perhaps, if you had just escaped from the Twin Towers, you might have a less cosy and academic attitude.

PS. I will not be watching your channel 5 broadcast because I don't trust our TV media to be impartial.

Answer 4

Yes, but I doubt youll get many people to agree.

The reason being that no-one wants to think of themselves as bearing a part of the blame. That would be too complex. Its much easier for them to say something like "Youre with us or against us" or "Its all Bin Ladens fault" than for them to actually think about WHY 9-11 happened. Just look through the first few answers youve gotten so far and youll see what I mean.

But yes, I agree.

Answer 5

Well, i think America killed more civilians in Iraq the first day we were there than the total amount Osama has killed in total. Most of these fools just shout out GO AMERICA BIN LADEN IS EVIL SO HE IS ALOT DIFFERANT THAN AMERICA! Thats cause that is what the television tells them.

Bush kills for money... If he continues to say God bless America most of the fools answering this question will probably call you stupid. it's just some people can't see the obvious. Do you really think George Bush worships a god? HAHAHAHAHA!

Any rich or prosperous person in America will tell you that the news is just a hired community to keep poor people in line and in the military. Tell me a billionaires son/daughter who is in the military.

Answer 6

You are quite clearly a little misguided in the analagy (spelled right i hope)- But u do have the basis of a good point here. America is a great country run and occupied by simple people who are ruining the world with their junk food culture and movie based real life scenarios. I think that the US doesn't realise or doesn't care how hated it is and not by just the obvious Arab countries. It was a wake up call, but their reaction to it by not changing will lead to further wars etc.

Answer 7

No, for several reasons. Before we were attacked, we didn't drop bombs on bin Laden. He declared war on us, not the other way around.

9/11 had nothing to do with the "Palestinians." ObL couldn't care less about the "Palestinians" because if he did, he has more than enough money to create a homeland for them. No, ObL wants to recreate the Islamic empire of the 14th century, and three countries are keeping him from doing that: US, UK, and Israel.

BTW, being such a moral philosopher, Honderich should know that the UN has not tried to fight terrorism over they last three decades; if anything, it has rewarded terror groups like the PLO, Hamas, and Hezbollah in a variety of ways, from donating text books with Israel mysteriously missing from the maps, to running the refugee camps/terrorist training centers, to giving the PLO a voice at its General Assembly, to creating committees whose sole purpose is to kiss up to Arab terror groups.

Answer 8

Big assumption on your part that we care what a British philosopher has to say. We quit taking their advice in 1776. How would the UK feel if that was the Queens place or Big Ben or some of their beautiful museums. It is different when it is you
homeland & citizens attacked without provocation.

No, the terrorist bombing of the Twin Towers brought off the gloves & any bombings in Afghanistan can be traced to Bin Laden & his happy gang of terrorist. My son is in the 10th Mountain Division & Afghanistan is their watch. The US attack on Afghanistan occurred & there have been no more terrorist attacks on our homeland. All they had to do was STAY HOME where they belonged.

Answer 9

Yes,they do.America sh*ts on everyone's doorstep,but when someone sh*ts on theirs,they cannot understand why.On a human level,9/11 was a tragedy,those innocent people paid an awful price for American arrogance.On a political level,America deserved a kick up the a*s.There is no difference between Bush & Bin Laden,both are terrorists,they kill innocent people.

Answer 10

Obvously they do...! WHY...? - (as Professor Honderich makes clear) - for electing consecutive White House administrations eager to display US military might and bomb any nation on earth (that they can get away with...! - prefereably "back to the stone-age") daring to question the preferences of Washington...!
Brits too share much of that same moral responsibility...! - for tolerating Tony Blair's warmongering lies and relentless backing for the USA's morally crippled Foreign Policy.

Answer 11

Even if your question is relevant (it is), it is in poor taste.
3000 Americans murdered in plain sight on their home soil???!!!
Try to show some respect; aren't we SUPPOSED to be allies?
In fact more and more Americans question whether or not you are our allies all the time. With questions like this, who can blame them? When will you realize the simple fact that some people hate America no matter what we do. If we get involved in world affairs, people say "mind your own business". I f we don't get involved, they say "where were you when we needed you". Give us a break! To hell with the Palestinians; they don't like us, and we sure as hell don't like them. If you'd like to have them for allies instead of us, then go for it. One thing is certain, we're getting tired of your bitching.