Hijack instructions found in luggage

The first time in history an airline's luggage screwup has been a good thing.

Well, it looks like the New York trip is still on. MBV finally checked her e-mail from Europe, and said she still wanted LS and me to come. Let's hope my flight plans haven't been completely screwed up. As much as I'm trying to avoid letting terrorists alter my way of life, I can't get around how much the context of this visit has changed in the last three weeks. Not only am I nervous to fly for the first time in my life, a certain sense of solemnity and even gloom has replaced the excitement I felt before. Funny how a terrorist plot can ruin a good trip.

The funny thing is, MBV didn't seem at all fazed by the fact her hometown has been attacked by terrorists. I guess there really is something different about New Yorkers.

The Bush Sr. Apologizes To Son For Funding Bin Laden In '80s

Near the bottom of the page. Funny and more than a little insightful...

TNR Online | No Choice by Lawrence Kaplan (1 of 2)

Just when you think The New Rupublic is moving too far to the left. A nicely argued essay.

Bush issues ultimatum to Taliban

Finally, a Bush speech with actual content. It sounds like we're doing all the right things. If I were a terrorist, I'd have to be a little nervous right now. I like that Bush made it clear that terrorist governments will pay a high price for harboring terrorists. Let's face it, the Taliban is a "government" that should have been taken out a long time ago.

I attended an industry dinner last night purportedly on the riveting topic of real-time computing. But of course, everyone ended up talking about the terrorist attacks. Over and over again, we asked ourselves how such a small and unsophiticated group could cause such severe damage on the most powerful nation in history. I think Taliban officials answered that best earlier this year when they blew up priceless Buddhist artifacts: "It is easier to destroy than to build."

Truth or Consequences by William Saletan

This is an excellent response to those who who suggest that the United States alter its foriegn policy to mollify terrorsts.

God Gave U.S. 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says (washingtonpost.com)

"I put all the blame legally and morally on the actions of the terrorist," [Falwell] said. But he said America's "secular and anti-Christian environment left us open to our Lord's [decision] not to protect. When a nation deserts God and expels God from the culture . . . the result is not good."

Because, as we all know, radical Muslims love Christianity. God bless the Religious Right.

I'll put this in a more permanent position on this site this weekend, but for now, here's a way to contribute in the wake of this week's horrendous act of terrorism.

Well, I'm trying to scrounge up story ideas for this week and can't get past the feeling that, in the wake of this week's tragedy, anything I do will be laughably insignificant. I don't think even I would read a regular tech story this week.

How Missile Defense Would Help Terrorists, by Robert Wright

An excellent argument that this Bush's missle defense whould spur, not dampen, future terrorist attacks.

"The more nuclear materials there are floating around beyond American control, the worse things look. And missile defense would probably raise that amount."

Salon.com Politics | "We predicted it"

Even more interesting:

They went to great pains not to sound as though they were telling the president "We told you so."

But on Wednesday, two former senators, the bipartisan co-chairs of a Defense Department-chartered commission on national security, spoke with something between frustration and regret about how White House officials failed to embrace any of the recommendations to prevent acts of domestic terrorism delivered earlier this year.

Another good one, from the same center-left magazine...

TNR Online | Fighting Fire by Eliot A. Cohen

Here's a thought-provoking essay on how we should respond to the recent terrorist attack. I have to say I mostly agree...

TNR Online | Above the Law by Lawrence F. Kaplan

OK, one more thought, an excerpt from an article that echoes my thoughts exactly...

"As If Someone Had Blown a Hole in the Sky Itself" by Jacob Weisberg
"The only official I saw who failed to create some sense of reassurance was the president. All he knew how to do was read his statement and offer a prayer. My honest, churlish reaction: I wish Bill Clinton were still the president. We all felt better when Mayor Giuliani came on. Giuliani is a man who knows how to deal with an emergency."

Just one more thought. I think the United States should:

1) Invade Afghanistan, and extract Osama bin Laden, based simply on his previous actions. We'd be completely justified, and we need to take tangible action.

2) Declare formal war on any countries involved in this act and beat the hell out of them.

Nation Plunges Into Fight With Enemy Hard to Identify and Punish

"Disappointing some of his political advisers and allies, who felt he should have returned to Washington at once from a trip to Florida to symbolize that the government was functioning, President Bush headed instead to Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, where a more secure command post was available. At the height of the Cuban missile crisis, when the sense of danger was just as palpable, John F. Kennedy stayed in Washington."

Interesting...

A telling photo...

Crap. Because of the World Trade Center bombing, we're going to press at midnight tomorrow, meaning that's how long we reporters will have to stay at work tomorrow night. I'd better get a full night's sleep tonight.

In case anyone was wondering what difference it makes to have a president wih intellectual depth...

U.S. pondering its response

Here's a problem W. won't be able to B.S. his way through.

Terrorists strike World Trade Center

There's not much I can add about this horrifying, sickening attack. I got the news this morning from Sarah Sun, who left a message of the attack on my voicemail. I thought she had fallen victim to an e-mail hoax, but sure enough, it was true.

What surprises me is that, unlike the bombings of Oklahoma City bombing or U.S.S. Cole, this attack was so well coordinated. Terrorists hijacked four separate planes, meaning our security system failed four separate time in the span of less than an hour. That's a scary realization.

I have a feeling that we're going to invade Afghanistan and extract Osama bin Laden -- even if he's not responsible for this particular attack -- as a show of force.

What a sad day for the United States.