by
Melinda Pillsbury-Foster
As
the memorials for September 11, 2001 end it is time to remember the
potential for peace which existed in the days following.
The
world grieved with us.
Ordinary
people around the globe reacted with outpourings of sympathy,
protesting these acts of terrorism. World leaders immediately
responded, condemning the murders and offering support. Among these
leaders was Vladimir Putin. Russia's president urged "the
entire international community should unite in the struggle against
terrorism," also saying the attacks were "a blatant
challenge to humanity."
Libyan
leader Muammar Qaddafi called the attacks "horrifying"
telling Muslims that "irrespective of the conflict with
America it is a human duty to show sympathy with the American
people." Mohammed Khatami,
president of Iran, expressed, "deep regret and
sympathy with the victims." Yasser Arafat, Palestinian
president, denounced the attacks. Appearing stunned, he repeated
how, "unbelievable" they were.
Saddam
Hussein expressed sympathy for those who died.
North
Korea also offered its sympathy to Americans.
Few
people demonstrated anything but sympathy for America. Prayers
and vigils by people of most faiths took place as across the world
tens of thousands came out to protest the attacks.
So,
who planned the attacks?
Osama
bin Laden adamantly denied
involvement in the 9/11 attacks in an interview by Ummat, a Pakistani
daily, published in Karachi on September 28, 2001 He expressed his
views on the loss of life, saying, “Islam
strictly forbids causing harm to innocent women, children, and other
people.”
Osama
went on to say,
“They
needed an enemy. So, they first started propaganda against Usamah and
Taleban and then this incident happened.” Speculating
who was to blame, he advised looking, “within
the US system,”
or for those responsible, or for persons who seeking conflict
between Islam and Christianity. Finally, he suggested involvement
by American intelligence agencies.
Terror,
Obama said,
“is the most dreaded weapon in modern age and the Western media is
mercilessly using it against its own people.”
According
to the CIA 15 of the 19 hijackers had Saudi citizenship, 2 United
Arab Emirates, 1, Egyptian and 1 Lebanese.
No
plan to invade Saudi Arabia was suggested by Bush.
Afghanistan
was not involved in 9/11, yet we invaded them. Iraq had no weapons
of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein expressed his willingness to
leave Iraq, if paid. But we invaded. Millions died.
These
wars were policy built on lies. Find those who benefited and you
have all the answers.