In preparing to write today’s editorial commemorating the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks that killed 2, 973 people five years ago, The Daily Free Press editorial board looked back to the editorial originally published Sept. 12, 2001. The eight current editors re-evaluated the state of the nation, the world and democracy in relation to the original editorial’s points and predictions.
“Though a landmark of one of the greatest cities in our country is now gone, we must remember that the United States is infallible in its unyielding adherence to democracy. The rest of the country is still standing. Though stricken with billions of dollars of damage, the stock market and financial institutions are safe. They will open later in the week. We have the greatest military force in the world, and, if need be, we will use it to punish those who think they can intimidate us through violence … The Daily Free Press strongly supports those ideals, and more significantly, extends its deepest condolences and prayers to those affected by this tragedy.”
– Staff Editorial, September 12, 2001
Just hours after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the The Daily Free Press editorial board authored a thoughtful response reflecting the sentiments of a university and a nation. A faceless enemy threatened our sense of freedom and safety, and the editorial board members, like many other Americans, vowed vengeance on those who had hurt us so profoundly. They had faith in our national leadership to steer the United States on a course of action to defeat terrorism and prevent another 9/11. With five years of retrospect, we can now say the chosen course was wrong. As of Sept. 3, 2006, at least 2,974 American soldiers had died in Iraq — one more than died in the World Trade Center attack five years ago.
What have these nearly 3,000 deaths accomplished? Osama bin Laden is still alive and terrorists continue to perpetrate acts of violence around the globe. Five years ago, we had no choice but to put our faith in the government and its ability to protect us from harm — it is what Americans do in times of crisis. But our government fed on that faith, and used it to send an army of young men and women to Iraq to weed out a supposed terrorist threat that later proved nonexistent.
Five years later, we continue to see our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the globe die needlessly fighting a war against an intangible: terror.
In reality, the world is no safer in 2006 than it was in 2001. In fact, 52 percent of Americans polled for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review by Susquehanna Polling and Research in August, 2006 said they feel less safe after the war in Iraq began. Iraq has gone from an isolated, though brutal, dictatorship to a terrorist mill, churning out freshly minted Jihadists daily. Sectarian violence in Iraq threatens the lives of innocent Iraqis. This month alone, 3,240 Iraqi civilians have been killed, according to the Associated Press.
Today, we see the seeds of democracy — initially sown by the United States to protect us — dying under the weight of global hatred against our offensive military tactics. The world no longer sees an immediate benefit to our crusade for democracy and our international allies against terror are dwindling. Much has changed since Le Monde Editor Jean-Marie Columbani wrote, “That is why today we are all Americans,” on Sept. 12, 2001.
While American soldiers fight, suffer and die on foreign soil, our politicians exploit the events of September 11 in speeches, evoking the images of that fateful morning to legitimize their professional agendas. Now each time the terrorist attacks are mentioned as justification for wars in foreign lands or the events of that day are commercialized in movies for profit, the honorable memories of those who died loses resonance.
The government’s excuse — that we must fight the world to protect ourselves — is becoming tired and overplayed. In 2001, the editorial board members emotionally implored the government to seek and punish those responsible for the September 11 attacks. Ultimately, we have learned that war might not be the best way to deal with groups whose ideologies differs so greatly from our own. It seems that the only way to truly prevent another 9/11 from taking place is to reach out to countries using diplomacy instead of violence.
We must begin reaching out to other countries in peace and unity. The recent terrorist plans in London were not thwarted because of military action, but because of cooperation with Britain and Pakistan, two of our few remaining true allies.
“Pakistan played a very important role in uncovering and breaking this international terrorist network,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tasnim Aslam told MSNBC after officials captured alleged terrorist planning to blow up U.S.-bound airliners.
BU students can also aid in changing the hearts and minds of those who want to destroy our way of life. While we initially studied abroad to spend weekend nights on the beach or drink underage, we now must go abroad to positively represent United States and prove that we are still a beacon of hope and inspiration to the rest of the world.
Like in 2001, The Daily Free Press supports the ideals of freedom and democracy — but not the methods that have been utilized to obtain them — and extends its deepest condolences and prayers to those affected by this tragedy, here and abroad.