This is my favorite post-9/11 essay, by Colson Whitehead: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/11/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-11-11-01-lost-and-found.html

Thank you for posting this. Everything is still so clear and real...I guess it

will be forever in my mind. Saying a prayer for all who survived and for

those who lost so many loved ones.

(If the "flagger" is reading this and complaining about us showing our feelings...

please just scroll on by and leave this alone).

Never to be forgotten!

Never. Heartbreaking, soul crushing sadness.

America was attacked by Iraqui Muslims

Most of the hijackers were Saudis. To be exact: "Fifteen of them were citizens of Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one from Lebanon, and one from Egypt." They were all members of Al-Qaeda.

ETA (via Wikipedia): In Osama bin Laden's November 2002 "Letter to America", he explicitly stated al-Qaeda's motives for their attacks, blaming the "Zionist crusader alliance and their collaborators" for aggression against Muslims in many countries including Somalia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and the Qana massacre in Lebanon. He includes atrocities committed by Russian forces in Chechnya and Indian forces in Kashmir and Assam. Other grievances that were mentioned by bin Laden include the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, US support of Israel, and sanctions against Iraq.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motives_for_the_September_11_attacks

Thanks, Bookwoman. It's clear that 'they' didn't 'hate us for our freedoms', unless they were the freedoms to help drive Muslims out of their home countries, assisting the Saudis, Israel and (thanks to your link) Russia -- interfering and...'nation building'? *We* may not have seen it as a 'Holy War', but that was their experience. (Do we Americans ever think about the 'why' of this attack? How can we prevent future horrors if we don't?)

The Saudis and Israel and the U.S. were never, ever allied in attacking anybody, let alone a Muslim state. The primary war in the Middle East at the time was between Iraq and Iran. That was the war in which thousands died; neither we nor the Israelis participated in it. Osama Bin Laden's primary goal was always to knock out the reigning monarchy in Saudi Arabia (among other things it was too liberal for his taste). Unable to do that, he assembled a laundry list of grievances against everybody and hit us instead.

The irony is that OBL and his bunch of terrorist miscreants are dead; meanwhile peace has broken out between Israel and the Gulf States. First a treaty last week between Israel and the UAE and today one with Bahrain. More will follow, and the Middle East will breathe a lot easier.

9-11 will never be forgotten in our household. It completely altered DH's career. He began as a teacher and translation expert and almost immediately became a linguist supporting our troops in the war against terror. He worked with over 40 different languages, a fascinating job. Better, though, that 9-11 had never happened.

Sable

bookwoman, a lot of what you've quoted from Wiki is true and has certainly been fuel for flames used by extremists. Similar opinions in reverse have been expressed here by American extremists regarding the presence of foreigners of many kinds, including Muslims. Same thing.

Apologies. I am evidently *wrong* in my understanding of the background about why the attack was organized. Can anyone provide the WHY -- without working backward from the attack itself -- and setting aside religious slogans that were and are often used to rally support? Isn't there always a *reason* -- usually political?

Here are a couple of links to articles that seem on their face to be balanced. Another factor seemingly not mentioned in these is the effect of Wahhabism. Wahhabis are an extreme branch of Islam. In an effort to cool opposition to the absolute rule and control of the royals, the Saudi royal family made a deal with the Wahhab clergy - stop criticizing us and we'll let you take the lead religious role in Saudi Arabia and we'll let you preach your extreme dogma without challenging it publicly. This is my summary, no promise for its absolute accuracy. It would be as if evangelical extremists or the Opus Dei Catholic faction were given an absolute franchise on most religion in the US.

The spread of Wahhab dogma has radicalized and made extremists of many Muslims. At the same time, there are many liberal and moderate Muslems around the world who reject its principles. A problem is, the moderates haven't been outspoken enough. There are signs the Saudis, who themselves have been targeted by extremists, are tiring of it and are trying to dial back and away from some of the most extreme, conservative practices.

Explanation from Brittanica

Explanation from an Ohio State prof

ABC ran a great special on 9/11 tonight. It was six years old when Obama was president and it took place in the museum dedication. Obama's speech was eloquent as usual telling the story of a 22-year-old kid who saved multiple people and died when the building collapsed. He had a red bandana around his mouth and that's how his mother later found out what a hero he was because he always had a red bandana in his pocket. They had the mother and one of the persons rescued. My daughter and I went thru the museum the week after it opened. I'll never forget the experience. I've been to the other outside memorial many times. So perfect .

We shouldn't have to apologize for our opinions,on the subject at hand or any other topic. Just another sign of some raring & roaring to correct,or belittle,in any way possible in hopes of making themselves look like their so inteligent and educated in every subject or topic.There's an old saying that comes to mind about this and it is "Its much better to keep your mouth shut making some think you dont know anything rather than opening it and proving you dont really know anything".

I agree with that. It should have been sent to the White House 3 years ago and embossed cards with that message to every other identified leader who ignores or tries to hide facts and replaces them with lies.