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Address by Prime Minister Jean Chrtien on the occasion of the National Day of Mourning in Canada in memory of the victims
of the terrorist attacks in the
United States
September 14, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario
Mr. Ambassador.
You
have assembled before you, here on Parliament Hill and right across Canada, a people united in outrage, in grief, in compassion,
and in resolve. A people of every faith and nationality to be found on earth. A people who, as a result of the atrocity committed
against the United States on September 11, 2001, feel not only like neighbours. But like family. At a time like this, words
fail us. We reel before the blunt and terrible reality of the evil we have just witnessed. We cannot stop the tears of grief.
We cannot bring back lost wives and husbands. Sons and daughters. American citizens, Canadian citizens, citizens from all
over the world. We cannot restore futures that have been cut terribly short. At a time like this, the only saving grace is
our common humanity and decency. At a time like this, it is our feelings, our prayers and our actions that count. By their
outpouring of concern, sympathy and help, the feelings and actions of Canadians have been clear. And, even as we grieve our
own losses, the message they send to the American people is equally clear. Do not despair. You are not alone. We are with
you. The whole world is with you. The great Martin Luther King, in describing times of trial and tribulation, once said that:
"In the end, it is not the words of your enemies that you remember, it is the silence of your friends." Mr. Ambassador, as
your fellow Americans grieve and rebuild, there will be no silence from Canada. Our friendship has no limit. Generation after
generation, we have travelled many difficult miles together. Side by side, we have lived through many dark times. Always firm
in our shared resolve to vanquish any threat to freedom and justice. And together, with our allies, we will defy and defeat
the threat that terrorism poses to all civilized nations. Mr. Ambassador, we will be with the United States every step of
the way. As friends. As neighbours. As family.
We'll go forward from this moment
by Leonard Pitts Jr. of the Miami Herald
"It's my job to have something
to say. They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of
airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must
be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering. "You monster. You beast. You unspeakable *******. "What lesson did you
hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn?
Whatever it was, please know that you failed. "Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause. "Did you
want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve. "Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together. "Let me
tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division,
but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae-a
singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability
of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement.
We are fundamentally decent, though-peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And
we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God. "Some people-you, perhaps-think
that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured
by arsenals." "Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of
the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster,
isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final
death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably,
the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before. "But there's a gulf of difference between
making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us
this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage,
terrible in
our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length,
in the pursuit of justice. "I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What
I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future. "In the days to come, there will be recrimination
and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from
happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this
moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined. "You see, the steel in us is not always readily
apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering
is put on hold. "As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that
we cherish. "So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the
depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You
don't
know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started. "But you're about to learn."
This is a summary of key responses so far:
STRONG OR SPECIFIC OFFERS OF SUPPORT
AUSTRALIA - Said 295 troops
stationed in United States had been given permission to deploy with U.S. forces if needed.
BELGIUM - Foreign Minister
Louis Michel said he would send troops to help in U.S. military retaliation.
BRITAIN - Closest U.S. ally. Prime Minister
Tony Blair pledged to stand ``shoulder to shoulder'' with Bush and has worked to bring less enthusiastic European states on
board.
CANADA - Foreign Minister John Manley said Canada would ``unambiguously'' join U.S. military action.
INDIA - Offered to allow U.S. military forces to use its facilities if needed. Has a big Muslim minority. Diplomats say
Washington is unlikely to need Indian bases.
ISRAEL - U.S. sources say Israel giving vital intelligence support on
Islamist militants. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the U.S. sees no role for Israel in any military response. Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat announced Tuesday that he is unilaterally enforcing a cease-fire, and Israel responded by ordering a
halt to offensive military operations.
ITALY - Said it would join a military response and was ready to deploy troops
and aircraft if asked.
KUWAIT - Freed from Iraqi occupation by a U.S.-led coalition in 1991, offered all possible
help.
SPAIN - Offered its air bases for any retaliatory strikes; promised to act ``without any reservations.''
QUALIFIED OR LIMITED SUPPORT
BANGLADESH - One of the most populous Muslim states, pledged support. Tuesday, U.S.
embassy sources said they were awaiting a response from caretaker government to a request for possible use of airspace and
port facilities. Bangladeshi officials said issue was too important to decide quickly.
FRANCE - President Jacques
Chirac said France would be ``totally supportive,'' but Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said it was up to Paris to decide how
to help retaliate and Defense Minister Alain Richard warned against provoking instability.
GERMANY - Defense Minister
Rudolf Scharping suggested in vague terms Monday that Germany could participate in a military response. Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer earlier expressed caution and recalled that parliament has last word.
INDONESIA - Megawati Sukarnoputri,
president of world's biggest Muslim nation, offered unspecified help. Other top officials have warned U.S. not to make Islam
a scapegoat.
JAPAN - Struggling to reconcile its post-World War Two constitutional neutrality with loyalty to its
key American ally. Criticized in 1991 for supporting U.S.-led war to oust Iraq from Kuwait without committing even a token
force to the Gulf.
JORDAN - Said it would be at the forefront of countries ready to join a coalition. Largest opposition
party issued edict Sunday banning any Muslim participation in such a coalition.
NATO - Invoked mutual defense clause
for first time in its history, opening the way for a possible collective response. But individual members have expressed reservations.
PAKISTAN - Afghanistan's western neighbor, previously backed Taliban government. Offered full cooperation with U.S.
and sent delegates to Afghanistan to try to persuade Taliban to hand over bin Laden but yet to decide on specific help. A
Muslim nation. Fears Taliban attack or civil unrest if it helps U.S.
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - President Yasser Arafat
offered to place all his capabilities at the service of the U.S. and urged Arab states to join a coalition. On the defensive
after some Palestinians were shown on television welcoming the attacks. Arafat announced Tuesday that he is unilaterally enforcing
a cease-fire, and Israel responded by ordering a halt to offensive military operations.
RUSSIA - President Vladimir
Putin has pledged support but urged thorough investigation first. Defense officials have said Moscow will help with intelligence,
but military participation is unlikely. Security Council secretary Vladimir Rushailo said Tuesday it was too early to determine
whether ex-Soviet states could allow the use of bases and air space.
SAUDI ARABIA - King Fahd offered support and
cooperation to its key ally but stopped short of spelling out practical help on offer. Gulf source said country ready to share
intelligence.
SYRIA - Has expressed strong support but earlier this year failed to follow through on commitment to
United States.
TAJIKISTAN - Borders Afghanistan. Has offered unspecified help but says it has not yet received a
formal request.
TURKEY - Has said it is willing to support Washington. Not clear what role it would be asked to play
beyond intelligence gathering. Turkish air bases could be used.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Has said it was reviewing
its ties with the Taliban and would help in ``any possible way.'' Also called for immediate NATO move to fight terrorism and
stressed that success of such a move would hinge on a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
OTHER GULF
ARAB STATES are likely to link support for any U.S. military action to extent of U.S. pressure on Israel.
UZBEKISTAN
- Borders Afghanistan. Said it is ready to discuss cooperation but that it was too early to comment on possible use of its
bases.
NEUTRALITY
IRAN - Iran condemned the attacks but said punishing its neighbor Afghanistan might cause
a human catastrophe. Canadian newspaper said senior Iranian officials had asked Canada to tell Washington Iran would not condemn
targeted retaliation against those responsible.
SWEDEN - Foreign Minister Anna Lindh has said country does not want
to join NATO but is reviewing its neutrality.
UNITED NATIONS - Security Council has expressed ``readiness to take
all necessary steps to respond to the terrorist attacks'' but this falls far short of formally authorising any military response
which would require another resolution.
OPPOSITION
CHINA - Has said it is ready to join the U.S. superpower
in fighting ``terrorism'' but warned that military intervention would only ``aggravate terrorism and violence.''
EGYPT
- Key U.S. ally in Middle East. President Hosni Mubarak said Monday it was too early to talk of an alliance against ``terrorism''
and the United States should think twice before taking military action that would kill civilians.
IRAQ - A possible
target along with Afghanistan. Accused the United States of terrorism itself and said the attacks were carried out by American
dissidents.
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This is an open letter from a web site.
Osama bin Laden:
Congratulations. You've done what our best diplomacy
efforts have not been able to do. You've united the world. You've allowed the world to put aside its differences and instead
made every terrorist group, and anyone helping these groups, enemy number one. You struck us, you have wounded our country,
but all that did was strengthen our resolve for freedom. It united a country and a world to stand up to anyone who would challenge
that freedom. Instead of bringing out our worst, it brought out our best. Thousands giving blood, helping with the recovery,
and standing up to you. You launched an act of war. A war not against a country, but against any group that uses terrorism
as a mechanism for policy, who attacks thousands of civilians, and who threatens democracy, freedom, and the opportunity for
people to govern themselves. Be assured we will respond. We will be patient, prudent, and relentless in our pursuit. We will
not strike out at citizens as you have done. We will target the persons who commit these acts of terrors. You may think you
won yesterday, but you are so sadly mistaken. You can strike a people, but the idea of democracy is bigger than New York City
and the Pentagon. It is bigger than a country or a resident. Democracy is tougher than terrorism. If you want to see the best
of democracy than watch the people of New York. Watch the people of Washington DC. Watch America. Watch the world come together
as it never has before. All for one reason...to defeat you and every other terrorist who threatens that freedom. The only
one who should be afraid, Mr. bin Laden, is you.
*Our Hearts are broken but our SPIRIT is not*
Also from the internet........
Dear **** and whoever else is on this email thread: I've been hearing a lot of
talk about 'bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age.' Ronn Owens,on KGO Talk Radio today, allowed that this would mean killing
innocent people, people who had nothing to do with this atrocity, but 'we're at war, we have to accept collateral damage.
What else can we do?' Minutes later I heard some TV pundit discussing whether we 'have the belly to do what must be done.'
And I thought about the issues being raised especially hard because I am from Afghanistan, and even though I've lived here
for 35 years I've never lost track of what's going on there. So I want to tell anyone who will listen how it all looks from
where I'm standing. I speak as one who hates the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. There is no doubt in my mind that these people
were responsible for the atrocity in New York. I agree that something must be done about those monsters. But the Taliban and
Ben Laden are not Afghanistan. They're not even the government of Afghanistan. The Taliban are a cult of ignorant psychotics
who took over Afghanistan in 1997. Bin Laden is a political criminal with a plan. When you think Taliban,think Nazis. When
you think Bin Laden, think Hitler. And when you think 'the people of Afghanistan' think 'the Jews in the concentration camps.'
It's not only that the Afghan people had nothing to do with this atrocity. They were the first victims of the perpetrators.
They would exult if someone would come in there, take out the Taliban and clear out the rats nest of international thugs holed
up in their country. Some say, why don't the Afghans rise up and overthrow the Taliban? The answer is, they're starved, exhausted,
hurt, incapacitated,suffering. A few years ago, the United Nations estimated that there are 500,000 disabled orphans in Afghanistan--a
country with no economy, no food. There are millions of widows. And the Taliban has been burying these widows alive in mass
graves. The soil is littered with land mines, the farms were all destroyed by the Soviets. These are a few of the reasons
why the Afghan people have not overthrown the Taliban. We come now to the question of bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone
Age. Trouble is, that's been done. The Soviets took care of it already.
Make the Afghans suffer? They're already suffering.
Level their houses? Done.
Turn their schools into piles of rubble? Done. Eradicate their hospitals? Done.
Destroy
their infrastructure? Cut them off from medicine and health care? Too late. Someone already did all that. New bombs would
only stir the rubble of earlier bombs. Would they at least get the Taliban? Not likely. In today's Afghanistan, only the Taliban
eat, only they have the means to move around. They'd slip away and hide. Maybe the bombs would get some of those disabled
orphans, they don't move too fast, they don't even have wheelchairs. But flying over Kabul and dropping bombs wouldn't really
be a strike against the criminals who did this horrific thing. Actually it would only be making common cause with the Taliban--by
raping once again the people they've
been raping all this time. So what else is there? What can be done, then? Let me
now speak with true fear and trembling. The only way to get Bin Laden is to go in there with ground troops. When people speak
of 'having the belly to do what needs to be done' they're thinking in terms of having the belly to kill as many as needed.
Having the belly to overcome any moral qualms about killing innocent people. Let's pull our heads out of the sand. What's
actually on the table is Americans dying. And not just because some Americans would die fighting their way through Afghanistan
to Bin Laden's hideout. It's much bigger than that folks. Because to get any troops to Afghanistan, we'd have to go through
Pakistan.Would they let us? Not likely. The conquest of Pakistan would have to be first. Will other Muslim nations just stand
by? You see where I'm going. We're flirting with a world war between Islam and the West. And guess what: that's Bin Laden's
program. That's exactly what he wants.That's why he did this. Read his speeches and statements. It's all right there. He really
believes Islam would beat the west. It might seem ridiculous, but he figures if he can polarize the world into Islam and the
West, he's got a billion soldiers. If the west wreaks a holocaust in those lands, that's a billion people with nothing left
to lose, that's even better from Bin Laden's point of view. He's probably wrong, in the end the west would win, whatever that
would mean, but the war would last for years and millions would die, not just theirs but ours. Who has the belly for that?
Bin Laden does. Anyone else?
Name of writer in our possession.
The Number 11
The date of the attack: 9/11 - 9 + 1 + 1 = 11
September 11th is the 254th day of the year:
2+ 5 + 4 = 11
After September 11th there are 111 days left to the end of the year.
119 is the area code to
Iraq/Iran. 1 + 1 + 9 =11
Twin Towers - standing side by side,looks like the number 11
The first plane to hit
the towers was Flight 11
State of New York - The 11 State added to the Union
New York City - 11 Letters
Afghanistan
- 11 Letters
The Pentagon - 11 Letters
Ramzi Yousef - 11 Letters (convicted of orchestrating the attack on
the WTC in 1993)
Flight 11 - 92 on board - 9 + 2 = 11
Flight 77 - 65 on board - 6 + 5 = 11
Dear friends and fellow Americans, Like everyone else in this great country, I am reeling from last week's attack on our sovereignty.
But unlike some, I am not reeling from surprise.
As a career soldier and a student and teacher of military history,
I have a different perspective and I think you should hear it. This war will be won or lost by the American citizens, not
diplomats, politicians or soldiers.
Let me briefly explain.
In spite of what the media, and even our own
government is telling us, this act was not committed by a group of mentally deranged fanatics. To dismiss them as such would
be among the gravest of mistakes. This attack was committed by a ferocious, intelligent and dedicated adversary. Don't take
this the wrong way. I don't admire these men and I deplore their tactics, but I respect their capabilities. The many parallels
that have been made with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are apropos. Not only because it was a brilliant sneak attack
against a complacent America, but also because we may well be pulling our new adversaries out of caves 30 years after we think
this war is over, just like my father's generation had to do with the formidable Japanese in the years following WW II.
These men hate the United States with all of their being, and we must not underestimate the power of their moral commitment.
Napoleon, perhaps the world's greatest combination of soldier and statesman, stated "the moral is to the physical as
three is to one." Patton thought the Frenchman underestimated its importance and said moral conviction was five times
more important in battle than physical strength. Our enemies are willing - better said anxious -- to give their lives for
their cause.
How committed are we America? And for how long?
In addition to demonstrating great moral
conviction, the recent attack demonstrated a mastery of some of the basic fundamentals of warfare taught to most military
officers worldwide, namely simplicity, security and surprise. When I first heard rumors that some of these men may have been
trained at our own Air War College, it made perfect sense to me. This was not a random act of violence, and we can expect
the same sort of military competence to be displayed in the battle to come.
This war will escalate, with a good
portion of it happening right here in the good ol' US of A.
These men will not go easily into the night. They do
not fear us. We must not fear them. In spite of our overwhelming conventional strength as the world's only superpower"
(a truly silly term), we are the underdog in this fight. As you listen to the carefully scripted rhetoric designed to prepare
us for the march for war, please realize that America is not equipped or seriously trained for the battle ahead. To be certain,
our soldiers are much better than the enemy, and we have some excellent "counter-terrorist" organizations, but they
are mostly trained for hostage rescues, airfield seizures, or the occasional "body snatch," (which may come in handy).
We will be fighting a war of annihilation, because if their early efforts are any indication, our enemy is ready and willing
to die to the last man. Era dicating the enemy will be costly and time consuming. They have already deployed their forces
in as many as 20 countries, and are likely living the lives of everyday citizens. Simply put, our soldiers will be tasked
with a search and destroy mission on multiple foreign landscapes, and the public must be patient and supportive until the
strategy and tactics can be worked out.
For the most part, our military is still in the process of redefining itself
and presided over by men and women who grew up with - and were promoted because they excelled in - Cold War doctrine, strategy
and tactics. This will not be linear warfare, there will be no clear "centers of gravity" to strike with high technology
weapons. Our vast technological edge will certainly be helpful, but it will not be decisive. Perhaps the perfect metaphor
for the coming battle was introduced by the terrorists themselves aboard the hijacked aircraft -- this will be a knife fight,
and it will be won or lost by the ingenuity and will of citizens and soldiers, not by software or smart bombs. We must also
be patient with our military leaders.
Unlike Americans who are eager to put this messy time behind us, our adversaries
have time on their side, and they will use it. They plan to fight a battle of attrition, hoping to drag the battle out until
the American public loses its will to fight. This might be difficult to believe in this euphoric time of flag waving and
patriotism, but it is generally acknowledged that America lacks the stomach for a long fight. We need only look as far back
as Vietnam, when North Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap (also a military history teacher) defeated the United States of America
without ever winning a major tactical battle. American soldiers who marched to war cheered on by flag waving Americans in
1965 were reviled and spat upon less than three years later when they returned. Although we hope that Osama Bin Laden is
no Giap, he is certain to understand and employ the concept. We can expect not only large doses of pain like the recent attacks,
but also less audacious "sand in the gears" tactics, ranging from livestock infestations to attacks at water supplies
and power distribution facilities.
These attacks are designed to hit us in our "comfort zone" forcing
the average American to "pay more and play less" and eventually eroding our resolve. But it can only work if we
let it. It is clear to me that the will of the American citizenry - you and I - is the center of gravity the enemy has targeted.
It will be the fulcrum upon which victory or defeat will turn. He believes us to be soft, impatient, and self-centered.
He may be right, but if so, we must change. The Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, (the most often quoted and least read
military theorist in history), says that there is a "remarkable trinity of war" that is composed of (1) the will
of the people, (2) the political leadership of the government, and (3) the chance and probability that plays out on the field
of battle, in that order. Every American citizen was in the crosshairs of last Tuesday's attack, not just those that were
unfortunate enough to be in the World Trade Center or Pentagon. The will of the American people will decide this war. If
we are to win, it will be because we have what it takes to persevere through a few more hits, learn from our mistakes, improvise,
and adapt. If we can do that, we will eventually prevail.
Everyone I've talked to In the past few days has shared
a common frustration, saying in one form or another "I just wish I could do something!" You are already doing it.
Just keep faith in America, and continue to support your President and military, and the outcome is certain.
If
we fail to do so, the outcome is equally certain.
God Bless America
Dr. Tony Kern, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
Former
Director of Military History, USAF Academy
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Subject: A privilege to share this with you...
I just wanted to drop you all a note and let you know that I arrived
safe and sound into Dulles Airport tonight at about 6:00. It was an interesting flight. The airport in Denver was almost spooky,
it was so empty and quiet.
No one was in line for the security check point when I got there so that went fairly quickly,
just x-ray of my bags and then a chemical test to be sure nothing explosive was on them. Then I waited 2 1/2 hours to board
the plane. What happened after we boarded was interesting and thought I would share it with you.
The pilot/captain
came on the loudspeaker after the doors were closed. His speech went like this:
First I want to thank you for being
brave enough to fly today. The doors are now closed and we have no help from the outside for any problems that might occur
inside this plane. As you could tell when you checked in, the government has made some changes to increase security in the
airports. They have not, however, made any rules about what happens after those doors close. Until they do that, we have made
our own rules and I want to share them with you. Once those doors close, we only have each other. The security has taken care
of a threat like guns with all of the increased scanning, etc. Then we have the supposed bomb. If you have a bomb, there is
no need to tell me about it, or anyone else on this plane; you are already in control.
So, for this flight, there
are no bombs that exist on this plane. Now, the threats that are left are things like plastics, wood, knives, and other weapons
that can be made or things like that which can be used as weapons.
Here is our plan and our rules. If someone or
several people stand up and say they are hijacking this plane, I want you all to stand up together. Then take whatever you
have available to you and throw it at them. Throw it at their faces and heads so they will have to raise their hands to protect
themselves. The very best protection you have against knives are the pillows and blankets. Whoever is close to these people
should then try to get a blanket over their head--then they won't be able to see. Once that is done, get them down and keep
them there. Do not let them up. I will then land the plane at the closest place and we WILL take care of them. After all,
there are usually only a few of them and we are 200+ strong! We will not allow them to take over this plane. I find it interesting
that the US Constitution begins with the words "We, the people"--that's who we are, THE people and we will not be
defeated.
With that, the passengers on the plane all began to applaud, people had tears in their eyes, and we began
the trip toward the runway. The flight attendant then began the safety speech. One of the things she said is that we are all
so busy and live our lives at such a fast pace. She asked that everyone turn to their neighbors on either side and introduce
themselves, tell each other something about your families and children, show pictures, whatever. She said "for today,
we consider you family. We will treat you as such and ask that you do the same with us."
Throughout the flight
we learned that for the crew, this was their first flight since Tuesday's tragedies. It was a day that everyone leaned on
each other and together everyone was stronger than any one person alone. It was quite an experience.
You can imagine
the feeling when that plane touched down at Dulles and we heard welcome to Washington Dulles Airport, where the local time
is 5:40. Again, the cabin was filled with applause.
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