As you can see, the war talk is dying down, though slowly. Americans simply lose interest in any problem that can't be solved with a few mouse clicks. The mall cows have already started to grumble about cancelled episodes of Jerry and Oprah, and when the NFL games don't come on on Sunday, you'll be surprised at how many people weren't even aware that there has been a terrorist act. The opening of the markets Monday will chase most of this off the message boards, and allow TV to start getting back to normal. Two planes were called down today, for example, and ABC reported the pilots denying any knowledge of this week's events. (No, I don't believe them either.)
We have here, in all it's grotesqueness, basically an airport security problem. Our intelligence people MAY find someone worth killing, and they will be killed in spectacular fashion. Bin Laden should probably be assassinated whether he really had anything to do with it or not. And I didn't need this to hold the opinion that we should encourage the Israelis to run roughshod over the Palestinians. That's in the bank, and you can watch 'em go soon.
But that's it for the so-called war. It'll just be a beefed up exercise in intelligence and police work. That's all that's possible, and (fortunately) that's all that's needed.
Sorry if this fizzle disappoints a lot of people, but I've seen it before, and that's just how it is. We are better off for it, also. America's most dangerous enemy remains the American left, and this would simply have distracted from and distorted that fight.
As for me. I support the renewed efforts in intelligence and tracking international criminals, the wake-up call for diligence to prevent the NEXT act, as well as any retaliatory actions Washington can come up with. But I also support the new peace that is gradually emerging, even if it is mostly due to the lack of instant gratification here.
It's time to get back to work: Monday morning at 9:30EDT... |
