It is not merely that bin Laden has not been captured or killed and that videotapes keep coming out of his hideout like taunts. It is, rather, that his initial strategy has borne fruit. It was always his intention to draw the Americans into Afghanistan, where, as had been done to the Soviets, they could be mauled by the fierce mujaheddin. He tried and failed when he blew up the USS Cole off Aden at 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2000, killing 17 sailors and crippling the ship. But he succeeded beyond his wildest expectations when the United States responded to the Sept. 11 attacks by invading Afghanistan and, in a beat, then going to war in Iraq. It remains mired in both countries to this day.
I was also relatively appalled by our country yesterday when I turned on USA and there was, what seemed, a huge 9/11 memorial taking place. People were holding "God Bless America" signs and waving flags, and a woman in a red, white and blue, rather skimpily clad, outfit was belting out the National Anthem as parents with little kids swayed in response. Immediately upon the end of the slutty-looking blonde's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," two men in spandex outfits, one in a pink feather boa, jumped into a ring and started beating the holy crap out of each other: knocking their faces into the bars, hitting each other over the head with folding chairs, slamming their combat boots into the neck of their opponent. All while these kids in their American Flag shirts and 9/11 Memorial Signs looked on and cheered.
No wonder our country is so utterly messed up; is so clearly devoid of proper priorities.
I am appalled, once again.
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