Twin Towers; The Four Faces of Death

One thing that the Twin Towers tragedy taught us is that there is a weapon that is more powerful than an atomic bomb, more virulent than any disease and more devastating than any nerve toxin. It succeeded against the technological might of the leading superpower, a world-wide network of intelligence-gathering apparatus and without a massive infrastructure of support. In the final phase it utilised only a handful of people to massacre thousands.  
That weapon is the human mind.

The events of that day constitute the most spectacularly successful terrorist attack ever made.
It was this century’s Pearl Harbour and served as a wake-up call to those thousands of Americans who were indifferent, apathetic or unbelieving towards the wave of atrocities that have engulfed mankind since the middle of the last century. No longer was terror and devastation the province of the rest of the world. This made it up close, personal and in-your-face.

This was an attack, not upon Americans, but upon the symbols of America. The horrifying truth is that the casualties were just icing on the cake. One respectable author, in one of his books, characterises ordinary Iraqi’s as referring to citizens of the U.S.A. as Beni el Kalb, The Sons of Dogs. This is not an atypical attitude. America’s aggressive foreign policy and stance has alienated much of the world. In some parts of the world, America will use the overseas resources of other countries rather than risk an overtly American presence which would inflame the local situation. Her interference in areas that were mainly self-serving, rather than in the interests of the freedom they so readily claim to be arbiters of, only exacerbated the situation. The make and model of the liberty that America represents is not always either the best, or particularly, the most welcome in other countries and cultures. Retaliation was not only to be expected, but inevitable. The only real surprise was the format and ferocity.

Death, that day, presented three faces. One each to the unwitting, the unwilling and the uncaring. The first face is one that many of us see; the unseen and unsuspected tragedy that waits patiently around the corner. The second face is rarer; the foreknowledge of death is a terrifying thing. The final face is rarer still. This was the kamikaze, sacrifice, the actions of the martyr. Religious fervour and conviction underpinned the minds and attitudes of the terrorists. These men not only expected to die, they wanted to die, convinced that they would be martyred and welcomed to the next world in glory. This depth of dedication is almost impossible to stop.

During the first Gulf War, two groups of pilots were shown and interviewed on television, post mission. One was American, the other British. The American pilots disembarked from their aircraft with whoops, high fives and with much ebullience. This enthusiasm shone throughout the interview. The British pilots, however, were more subdued and reticent. When interviewed they admitted the stark reality of the situation had tightened sphincter muscles. This is an extreme example, but nothing typified more for me the attitude and manner in which the American conducts his life. Emotion, fervour and righteousness, all seem to be displayed publicly with more commitment and meaning than with any other caricature of nationality that I have met.

It is in this very lust for life that I fear lays the greatest danger. The picture of the Texan who claims to have, do and be bigger, better and longer than anyone else, whilst a gross exaggeration, has a flavour of the characteristic I am trying to portray. When America does something, she tries her hardest, especially when in public view. The ever present danger is not that America will react, but that she will, in giving it her all, over-react. However grievous and heinous the act was, it is not carte-blanche to rid the world of all wrong, nor is it justification for imposing America’s vision of liberty upon the world. None will misunderstand America’s need for justice, nor will they condemn acts which benefit mankind. America needs to act with tact, diplomacy and with great care, lest they intensify and prolong the antipathy that already exists in many of the world’s population. Act by all means, but let us hope that the actions taken are the start of an ending, not the start of THE ending. I fear the struggle will be long.