[jwmacawful]

another year passes and the memory grows dimmer of the tragedy that happened 12 years ago today. it's a day to be thankful that none of my loved one's were lost and a day to be sad for the family's that did lose someone. 343 firemen and paramedics including the chief, commissioner and chaplain, 37 port authority policemen and 1400 people just in tower 1. the sheer numbers boggle the mind. i had the privilege to be part of the then governor's rescue attempt and was there 4 days after. there were no live victims to be found buried under the twisted steel beams and blocks of concrete but one thing that stuck in my mind was the number of odd shoes and remnants of clothing some with parts of their former owner's still inside. another group of victims that no one could have anticipated was to my fellow iron workers who while working to remove the huge pile of toxic waste sickened and died a slow death. god bless and keep them all!

[rake]

Amen

[noddybrian]

I have never been to the states & have no personal connection with anyone involved - but it remains as vivid in my mind now as the day I watched it on the news - I still find the scale of the destruction & loss of life hard to comprehend especially that of the emergency services - I think it will remain in the memory of a vast number of people globally as one of the worst tragedies in living memory as it was so un-necessary - they were just regular people trying to live a normal life - I doubt even those that survived will ever be the same - an earth quake or other act of nature / God is easier to come to terms with & many live in regions where there is always that possibility but they choose to do so - no one going to work that fateful day could have expected that - my sympathies go out to all affected.
I doubt this forum is the place to comment on those responsible - but if your government carpet bombed every " rag head " country that helped in this despicable act I would cheer you on.

[Otto Nobedder]

All the mid-east countries were drawn in the sand after WWI, with no regard for regional religions, regional tribal affiliations, regional allegiances. Then, after WWII, we through Isreal in the mix. Every aspect imposed by imperial powers.

I say, let them fight it out for two generations, let them draw their own lines.

Then, we'll have countries to establish reations with.

Steve S.