Battle of the Bilge

A Battle of the Bilge Editorial

“America now has a moral imperative to remain the same: a land of personal freedom, a place of diversity and a dream for millions of a bright future.” – Sulaiman Al-Hattlan, Saudi journalist and political analyst

Eight Years, A New World

Exactly eight years ago, Muslim terrorists delivered a destructive and epoch changing attack on the United States. As we honor our fallen citizens of that day, and our fallen warriors that have given their lives to help ensure an attack like 9/11 will never happen again, let us also reflect on the fight still to come. In this long war against radical Islamic elements, there are no grand battlefield maneuvers or great victories to encourage us back home. There are only small engagements, targeted air assaults and long term rebuilding and modernization programs. While the casualties get the headlines, few take the time to report on the successes on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a world suddenly faced with a new paradigm in which challengers to the established order of things are making power moves and manipulations, we should never forget what caused it all and why.

The Attacks & Aftermath

This article is not going to go on a quest to debunk the claims that have been put forward by the 9/11 ‘Truthers’ cottage industry. Their arguments are not worthy of discussing on this day, and far too many groups that promote 9/11 conspiracies just want to pin the attacks on Jewish parties. The plain truth is that Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network planned, executed and celebrated the deepest cut our nation had received since Pearl Harbor. They attacked us because we are the dominant power in the Middle East and because we support Israel. They attacked us because they saw us as occupiers of important Muslim lands and because our social structure of equality, tolerance and freedom are a direct threat to their patriarchal, oppressive dreams of an Islam dominated empire. They attacked the symbols of our financial and military supremacy, believing that this would cause our fear and grief to cause our retreat.

The radical Muslims that attacked us on that day were not uneducated commoners. Some were scholars, some were engineers. But they were indoctrinated enough by the jihadist movement and their beliefs of an afterlife of glory that they considered killing civilians, regardless of race, religion or nationality, morally justified. They considered life in this realm less sacred than what awaited them in the next. And America took a devastating loss on that day.

Whatever their justifications and expectations were, America did not retreat. The attacks galvanized the nation towards defeating this new enemy we were facing. A new kind of war, based at its heart ideological differences that made the emerging Muslim world in opposition to western democracies and those who feel life is more sacred than political, religious or economic differences.

The Heaviest Burden

While the nation has been dealing with the pain of loss and the fear of further attacks, the heaviest burden brought on by the 9/11 attacks have been placed on the shoulders of the military families. Nearly 5,000 military deaths and tens of thousands of debilitating injuries have been the most visceral signs of this sacrifice. But the sacrifices are not limited to battlefield losses.

Our Veterans Affairs medical facilities and claims processing systems are overloaded. Our men and women in uniform are serving for far too long away from their families on extended tours and repeated deployments. Our National Guard and Reserve forces are now an integral part of the overseas operations, turning their lives upside down. While their discipline and commitment ensure that we rarely hear complaints from our troops, they are stretched and need more home time to keep their lives in order.

Yesterday, MOAA hosted the first meeting of our new Spouse Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors. Twelve spouses, each incredibly strong, rational and intelligent, formed to help MOAA leadership understand the problems military families face and help drive our advocacy efforts to improve their situations. As I listened to each of the advisers give their personal stories of life after 9/11, it hit home just how devastating the wars have become. And although their strength and determination held them back from letting it show, I could feel the pain of families that have gone through hell and continue to face adversity with a resolute attitude, determined not to let their family’s sacrifices tear apart their worlds. The heaviest burden has been carried by the wives and husbands of deployed troops, of the children that barely know or have never bet their fathers or mothers.

Never Forget, Never Relent

Today, we reflect on the worst terrorist attack in human history. Let us remember somberly the lives that were extinguished on that day. Let us never forget the ideology that drove the unthinkably and unequivocally evil actions that brought war to our homeland. And let us understand and help in any way we can, the burden that has fallen on the shoulders of our military, at home and abroad.

Discussion

Posts are not held for moderation so your comment will appear immediately, but may be modified if it violates our Community Standards.

Comments RSS