The Bitter Legacy Of 9/11

Mean Gene wrote a moving and powerful piece reflecting his thoughts on 9/11 and events since.

I'm reluctant to write too much on what I think of the Bush administration, since I figure that US governments should be chosen by US citizens.

However, another interesting item caught my eye in news today. It seems the Palestinians are now bowing to international pressure and are likely to agree a 'unity government' to replace the democratically elected Hamas government which has been attacked by the Israelis and embargoed by the west since it came to power.

Now, I don't happen to have any time at all for Hamas policies, but it seems to me to be a very destabilising message to send out to the entire Middle East.

"We are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring freedom and democracy to your region. Unless, that is, you choose to elect a government we don't like, in which case you are screwed."

Hmmm, not likely to win many friends, is it?

The Independent newspaper ran a very interesting front page story today entitled The Bitter Legacy Of 9/11.

It's 'just' a collection of statistics. Also known as facts. Which are often in short supply when it comes to 'The War on Terror'.

You can click through to the full story, but a few snippets caught my eye...

2,973 Total number of people killed (excluding the 19 hijackers) in the September 11, 2001 attacks

72,000 Estimated number of civilians killed worldwide since September 11, 2001 as a result of the war on terror

2 Number of years since US intelligence had any credible lead to Osama bin Laden's whereabouts

2,932 Total number of US servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan and Iraq since September 2001

117 Number of UK service personnel killed in Iraq since invasion

40 Number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since invasion