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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cheryl williamson who wrote (45292)	9/15/2001 12:30:18 AM
From: Kevin Rose	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

I disagree with Cheryl that this is neither the time nor the place to consider such material. It is most important to consider and think clearly at the time of crisis. Losing one's head to emotions is occasionally ok in our daily lives; if a country loses its head, many could die; if America loses its head, civilization as we know it could die. With that in mind, I read the material presented, and could see some points, but could not digest the general thrust (i.e. I chewed a while, but could not swallow). I felt that some points showed the seeds of the current problems, but others were contrived and smelled of post-action rationalizations. However, my main point is, I now feel that the root causes do not matter, at least at this point in time. To me, it is as absurd as picturing FDR considering the roots of Nazism at the start of WWII. The first job is: stamp out the evil, and prevent its return. Leave the causes for historians and future prevention for reconstruction. Along with many Americans, I do not take this stance lightly. Although there seems to be a lot of bloodlust rhetoric right now, most Americans abhor violence and war. Given our fortunate position, we have the most to lose in war. As the beacon of world freedom, we are held up to the highest standards and scrutiny in the court of world opinion. America is somewhat unique in that we are a country of go-getters and problem-solvers. In short, a nation of action. Our nature is to examine a problem, and then attack it with gusto. The tougher the nut, the greater the determination. This trait is revealed in all aspects of American life; most tellingly, in our prowess for technological innovation. The mood in America is determined; the problem is apparent. The solution is being worked, and we will be determined to see the solution to its successful conclusion. This is not Vietnam, where the goals were murky and the public support shallow. This is a foreign state supported military strike at the heart of America. A word of warning. bin Ladens plan is to force a thoughtless response from the US, in order to unite the Muslim world in a holy war. I hope our leadership will take the time to formula first a strategy, and then the tactics, for this war. The key to that strategy is to first isolate the small numbers of extremists from the moderate majority, and then strike at that minority. As an engineer, I recognize that any set of solutions involves a number of variables: time, expense, correctness, completeness, etc. In formulating a solution, you consider different values for these variables. I believe that time is not the most important variable here, nor is expense. Let's do it right, and finish the job.