Letters on the New York attack

Readers share thoughts about the World Trade Center disaster and David Horowitz and Bruce Shapiro's takes on it.

Sept. 12, 2001 |

Would David Horowitz like to explain how a missile defense system could have prevented the hijacking of four civilian airliners and using them to destroy the terrorist targets? No? Didn't think so ...

-- Jane Carnall

Clearly yesterday was an opportunity for George W. Bush to rise to the occasion, and just as clearly, he failed to do so. His four-minute "address to the nation" was the most patently inadequate series of platitudes I have ever heard in all of my 44 years on this earth. He appeared nervous, unsure, and disconnected from the emotions and anger of the American people. Most folks I talked to, including some conservative Republicans, were at first stunned, and then angry and disgusted. I can't tell you the number of times I heard, "God, I wish we had Bill Clinton back again."

The news anchors are too polite to say this, but I believe there exists a serious undercurrent of discontent in this country right now.

-- Sheila Fyfe

David Horowitz is an idiot! Is he suggesting we place missile launchers around all our national monuments or landmarks? Is he suggesting shooting down any domestic commercial airliner that goes off course? Space based lasers to decimate foreigners? I would agree airport security needs to kick it up a notch, but should we live only in fear? If bin Laden is shown to be responsible, we should remember the CIA trained him in terrorist techniques. We should be working towards peace and prosperity for the entire world and not just grabbing it all for ourselves and to hell with the rest of the world.

-- John Corriveau

Forgive the fragmentary nature of my letter -- the day has been long, and David Horowitz's audacity leaves me nearly speechless.

"... the first duty of government is to provide for the common defense." If David is quoting the Constitution, there are a few things which come before it, not the least of which is "establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility."

"... missile defense system that will prevent even bigger terrorist disasters in the future." I guess we could shoot down planes with the satellites, since commercial airliners have GPS locators and other devices that would help our aim.

"... outweigh the objections of the ACLU ..." Which would include outweighing (dangerously close to "outlawing" don't you think?) civil liberties, the middle part of the ACLU's name.

David, don't worry -- your country will respond to this "act of war" with its very own war, though not soon enough for your bloodthirsty saber-rattling!

Does anyone other than me find it funny that David Horowitz was against war when he was young enough to be drafted, but is now in favor of it since he's too old to be of use in a battle?

-- Cal Godot

David Horowitz said this attack shows the US is 'soft," and says the US should build the missile defense boondoggle.

What planet is Horowitz on??!!??

Bush's fantasy "missile defense" would have done absolutely nothing to stop today's attack!

That money needs to be put into what could have helped, like better intelligence agencies.

Face it, Horowitz has shown over and over he is a right wing shill with no shame, and the same lack of logic and reason he had when he was a Marxist.

-- Ross Sauer

I'm sorry to see that the otherwise sober and informative collection, "What does it all mean?" was marred by the inclusion of more wild rantings by David Horowitz.

"How could obvious targets like ... the World Trade Center towers be so undefended?" he asks incredibly.

I can only guess that in Horowitz's perfect world, all skyscrapers would be fitted with gun turrets, manned 24 hours a day.

"America has ... stripped itself of even prudent defenses," he goes on ridiculously.

Which defenses does he have in mind? Did someone disband the Army, Air Force and Navy while I wasn't looking?

"America is in denial that much of the world hates us ... " he informs, shockingly.

Funny ... I'm 53. I've known all my life that much of the world hates us, and I've never met a single American who wasn't aware of this rather blatant fact. But thanks, David. I'd almost forgotten.

" ... it's time to spend the surplus on national security now," he suggests.

Too late, David. Your pal George W. already squandered it in a shameless attempt to pander to the voters -- and in record time, I might add.

"Beginning with a missile defense system that will prevent even bigger terrorist disasters in the future."

But of course! In response to an existing threat, we must bankrupt our country for a space-based Maginot line, which hasn't even demonstrated it can defend us from a theoretical threat. Brilliant.

But then, I've learned to expect no less from David Horowitz.

-- Wayne Smith

Next page: Three cheers for Bruce Shapiro!