Was 911 really that bad?

Question

We've had hijackings before and we've had planes crashed after being hijacked. Could it be that our reaction to 911 was an overreaction? Would we have gone to war if the buildings had withstood the crashes? Going to war because a few planes get highjacked and get crashed into (I assume) poorly constructed buildings seems insane. A much saner reaction would have been special ops against the terrorists not invasion and occupation of a country which had nothing to do with the hijackings.

We've had hijackings before and we've had planes crashed after being hijacked. Could it be that our reaction to 911 was an overreaction? Would we have gone to war if the buildings had withstood the crashes? Going to war because a few planes get highjacked and get crashed into (I assume) poorly constructed buildings seems insane. A much saner reaction would have been special ops against the terrorists not invasion and occupation of a country which had nothing to do with the hijackings.
Of, course it was terrible but was it bad enough to go to war for? If only the passengers died for example, would you still want war?

Stalin killed 20 million - that's bad. Hitler -4-6 million and that's bad. I think we need to put things into perspective. For example, 900,000 Iraqis are now dead since our invasion - that's pretty bad too.

Please read the question. 911 was bad, terrible, we all agree. Is it justification for war in Iraq or any other nation? And why. It seems that hijacking is ok as long as people don't die - but once a plane is crashed...look out, we're going to war with somebody. Assanine thinking. War is not the answer to all your fears. I'll live with the fear while we hunt down terrorist with our special forces (oh wait, that makes too much sense and you wouldn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling you got when you watched Bagdad being bombed). Remember? You were eating popcorn with the family.

Answer 1

Go away.

Answer 2

When the same World Trade Center was attacked by the same Al Qaeda in 1993, we didn't go to war, maybe because the damage was much smaller.
The towers, by the way, were constructed very well; one proof of this is the way they collapsed straight down, and didn't fall on neighboring buildings, which would have multiplied the death count. Bin Laden has studied architecture, and knew how to demolish a building.
I don't know what you are talking about when you say we've had hijackings with crashes before. The ONLY reason the attacks succeeded as well as they did, is that in the past all hijackers released the majority of passengers alive and well after they were finished. That's why nobody fought back on the first 3 planes.
As soon as people realized that these were suicide flights, the passengers of the fourth plane fought back and saved many lives at the sacrifice of their own.
Since then, I think it's safe to say that no plane-full of passengers and crew will ever cooperate with hijackers in any way again. At least not in the US.
If the US had taken action after the 1993 attack, maybe the current war wouldn't have been necessary. But I wouldn't count on it. Radical Islamism is growing, and it isn't going to stop any time soon.
You mention that the US attacked a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. The fact is, no COUNTRY had anything to do with it; Al Qaeda is non-governmental.
The point was, that it became clear that terrorist groups had to be combated, and that some countries, like Iraq and Libya, support and shelter international terrorist organizations.

Answer 3

I assume you've been living in a cave, on a deserted island, and have no idea what really happened. Either that, or you think you're going to get somebody all riled up over an obviously ignorant question.
We've never had plane purposely crashed into buildings occupied by thousands of innocent civilian people before. Had the buildings withstood the crashes, there still would have been many killed. The buildings that were successfully crashed into were constructed properly for the circumstances in which they were projected to be involved in - nobody even dreamed of the scenario which occurred on 9/11. The Pentagon had, fortunately, been under reconstruction, and the section which was destroyed stayed in tact long enough to allow many to escape before it collapsed. The plane that didn't complete its' mission because of the brave, innocent passengers on board, would likely have destroyed the white house, or the capitol building, and left the government shaken, but not destroyed. All of these are sufficient reason to "go to war" with a nation that did have something to do with it - even though the hijackers were all citizens of another nation. Ask any of the soldiers in Iraq, why they're doing their job there - so they don't have to do it on American soil. Then, get down on your knees and thank heaven that we have brave, enlightened people willing to lay down their lives to keep your sorry ____ safe and free to ask these dumb questions.

Answer 4

You really are a naive little individual aren't you!

Rarely do hijacked planes crash - more often than not the hijackers want something out of it for themselves or a group - they wouldn't get it if they killed themselves.

9/11 showed us there were people out there that could inflict such power and emotion from their actions - that itself is frightening enough......but many people died - and it doesn't take a lot of guessing that some died in horrific circumstances......like a burning woman that travelled via elevator from floor to floor - screaming all the way to the ground floor where firefighters extinguished the flames but clearly could do nothing for her.

Thousands died that day - two buildings that represented world trade were destroyed - surely a symbol to demonstrate that this was not an American problem but a universal one.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of "going to war" - you can certainly understand the anger.

My effort in writing this in response to your question has been wasted already....that I have no doubt.

Answer 5

I understand where your coming from, but the point is that someone hijacked planes crashed them into buildings on american soil killing thousands of people from around the world. Going to war in Iraq and trying to blend that with this event was complete bullshit, Bush lied to get us to go to war in Iraq and for that he should be impeached and be thrown in prison for betraying the trust of every american. Do you expect us to tuck our tail between our legs after being attacked in our own country? Going after Al Qaeda was the right choice not Iraq, it just seems that you are a bit naive to the whole situation. I suggest that you research things a bit more before asking a question of this magnitude.

Answer 6

Was 911 really that bad??? You're kidding, right? I'm assuming that maybe you were in a coma when it happened and did not witness the worst terror attack on American soil in history. As for the reaction of the US, well, maybe we could have handled it better. But, this was worse than Pearl Harbor. At least Pearl Harbor was a military base. And look at how we reacted to that: twoA-Bombs which killed millions of Japanese. Ever heard of Hiroshima or Nagasaki?

Answer 7

I'm truly lost for words. 3,000 families were ripped apart that day, because of some abhorrent individuals. Regardless of whether the buildings stood or not, this was still a terror attack, with intent to kill as many innocent people as possible. I hope nobody who reads this question lost someone in 9/11, because this 'question' is an insult to not only the dead, but their families and friends too.

Answer 8

Well first, the reaction of the American public was that of anger, sadness, and the thirst of revenge, which we got kinda. Intelligence reported that the terrorists were hidding in Afghanistan not Iraq......logical that we go and in and try to get them..........but then intelligence screwed up and then you have the "oh bin laden is not really in afghanistan and well iraq has wmd's". And anyone would be really cheesed if their country was attacked by crazy terrorist bents on the western destruction.

Answer 9

sturdy coach, very humorous, makes use of a similar mock-documentary type it is used on the coach "The place of work". 911 predates the place of work and is a parody of the reality coach "law enforcement officers" which shows genuine policemen in action. Reno 911 is partly scripted with the traditional public of the verbal replace as libbed or made up as they circulate alongside. i admire he coach and that i've got been staring at it for years.

Answer 10

I see that you are making a pathetic attempt to defend the actions of terrorists. Why don't you make another pathetic attempt and defend the actions of Hitler, Stalin, Timothy McVay, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy or any other mass murderer.
Was anything they did really that bad? And remember, they didn't have weapons of mass destruction either.

Answer 11

Sorry. I can't be as calculating and uncaring as you. Two people I knew were on the plane which struck the Pentagon.
But, I will light a candle tonight and thank my God that you are not now, nor ever will be, in a position of political leadership anywhere on this planet.