Re: The News I Knew I'd Be Hearing ...

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: : : An E-mail from one of my boyhood buds:

: : : "Rich, 

: : : No, I haven't been to the city.  The immediate area is closed off to pedestrians.  My brother, Brian, and sister, Karen, along with some firemen I work out with say that you cannot possibly understand the destruction and feeling of death via the TV.  They say the whole area reeks of death.  Did you know someone named Robert Caufield?  He was in the class of 70.  He was also unfortunately lost in one of the towers. 

: : : Let me know if you are going to make it.  See you soon. 

: : : j"

: : : Yes, I knew someone named Robert Caufield. We graduated from high school together ... Next weekend is to be our 30th High School Reunion (yes, a year late!) up in NY. Because of terrorism, Robert won't be there.

: : : We are witnessing one of the great events & wars of US history ... Take it in, folks. There will be more attacks to come, and they will come whether we were to fight or not. This is scary stuff, but, in the end, we will win. We have no choice.

: : : I've been following the "story" quite closely. Here's some recent highlights for those of you who cannot bear to watch:

: : : * On the terrorist hit list for Sept. 11, 2001 - The Sears Building in Chicago, The White House & Capitol in DC, plus other targets in Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. This according to the FBI investigative results.

: : : * Because of a courtesy extended by pilots to other pilots who may be passengers on their flight, hijackers, dressed AS pilots, were extended an invitation on September 11 to ride up front! They were in the cockpits from the beginning!

: : : * Only the quick order of the FAA, grounding all flights immediately, saved this country from even more devastation.

: : : * Right now, select Air Force Generals have the right to order commercial airliners shot from the sky if deemed necessary.

: : : * The Afghan ruling regime, The Taliban, have twice now spurned Pakistan delegations requesting the release of the Christian missionaries - arrested for preaching Christianity - now held in Afghanistan, as well as the turnover of Osama bin Laden.

: : : * It has been confirmed that both US & British Special Forces Units are on the ground inside of Afghanistan, and very possibly have been since within a few days of the terrorist attacks. There are reports today - unconfirmed - that 3 US soldiers have been captured.

: : : Bravo to NY's fire department, police department, EMS, and Mayor. Bravo, too, to our FBI & CIA ... and I never thought I'd be saying THAT!

: : : To classmate, Robert Caufield ... who would have thought it would end like this back in those happy-go-lucky high school days in the late 60s ... may you rest in peace, old friend, and know that your death will not be in vain!

: : Rich,

: : Losing a high school classmate is something we never get used to. I guess we seem to be in group that started life out of the same starting gate or something. The loss of one has a particular randomness about it that really hits home that it could just as well have been me. 

: : I too have a class reunion in a couple of weeks (my 25th) and among us is a survivor of terrorism. Tony Watson, was one of the eight navy seals that was held in the hijacked plane in Beirut - 1985?? I believe, in which an officer named Stedman lost his life. I still remember the video of his lifeless body being flung from the airplane door onto the tarmac. A huge cheer went up as Tony came through the door at our 10-year reunion the next fall.

: : I would imagine as time goes by, you will learn of others, either in your class, or acquaintances that have close ties to those lost in New York. That must be hard my friend, along with all the other "story" parts that have hit you and Elaine so close. After your story, and even though mine takes place in a little NC community instead of New York, I'll be especially thankful this year at my reunion to see each person that makes it through the door. I too, believe Robert's death will not be in vain. Americans like us and servicemen like Tony will see to it!!!

: : Di

: Yeah, this whole terrorism bit really stinks ... It is pissing me off to no end that there are some who protest our Country's actions on this. Yes, I acknowledge their right to their opinions & to peacefully assemble. For the life of me, though, I cannot understand their position. Pacifism, in this case, will not thwart death. What did we do to deserve having jets  ... our own jets ... flown into the World Trade Center & the Pentagon?? Ally ourselves with Israel?? For better or for worse, that relationship is our right. Turning commerical airliners into missiles bearing death & destruction is no one's right. We simply must retaliate. It is a matter of our National security, and nothing is more important than that, for if we cannot safeguard our borders, nothing else will matter. Unfortunately, this will be much more than simple retaliation. It must be. As we speak, the FBI is trying to avert a biological/chemical attack on us. This is scary stuff. This is stuff we don't deserve. This is stuff that I don't want our children subjected to.

: What has been fascinating to me, is watching our Nation's resources fly into coordinated action. From the State Department's diplomatic efforts, to the homeland defense, to the police work led by the FBI, to the gathering of International intelligence, to the military deployment ... and so much more ... like a powerful machine we rally to defend. And that's what this is all about ... defense.

: I thank God we have been blessed with the leadership we currently find ourselves with. It will get worse, I suspect, and there will be counter-retaliation attempts, I also suspect, but we will prevail. We have too much going for us, too grand a history, to succomb now.

: Whew ... thanks, Di!


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