It seems hard to believe, but it was six years ago today that radical Islamic terrorists struck at the heart of our country, killing more Americans in a single day than at any time since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

All of us were affected by the events of that day but many wonder if the date itself was chosen for a reason or if it was simply a random date. Far from random, I thought you would appreciate the historical recap below.  

We are at war w/ an enemy that has stated repeatedly it will defeat us. In the age of nuclear terrorism, this enemy must be taken seriously and at it's own word. There are more than 50 wars being fought worldwide today and at the heart of every single one of them is radical Islam. These sober thoughts are worth keeping in mind as we honor the fallen men and women who went to work that morning, just as we do each day, having no idea it would be their last.

May their souls rest in peace and, in honor of them, may our nation comprehend what history teaches us.  These threats will not go away, no matter how much we may wish they would.  They will stand as a present challenge to our freedoms and our way of life until they are defeated.

Let us never forget that the first generation of Americans that fail to heed freedoms call will be the last generation of Americans to enjoy the benefits of that freedom.

September 11, 1683:

Over 138,000 Muslim Ottoman Turks surrounded Vienna, Austria. For two months they starved the 11,000 Hapsburg-Austrian defenders.

Sultan Mehmed IV sent a message to the Austrian King, Leopold I: "Await us in your residence...so we can decapitate you."

Secretly, the Polish King, Jan Sobieski, gathered 80,000 Polish, Austrian and German troops and on SEPTEMBER 11, 1683, led a surprise attack causing the Turks to flee in confusion.

Upon entering the abandoned Turkish tents, there were found bags of beans, coffee beans - revealing how the Turks could fight day and night. Shortly after was opened the first Vienna coffeehouse and coffee subsequently spread across Europe.

Whereas Jan Sobieski was looked upon as the "Savior of Western Civilization" from Muslim Turks, the humiliated Muslim army beheaded their general, Mustafa Pasha, and sent his head back to Sultan Mehmed IV in a velvet bag.

President Theodore Roosevelt wrote in his 1916 book, "Fear God and Take Your Own Part":

"From the hammer of Charles Martel to the sword of Jan Sobieski, Christianity owed its safety in Europe to the fact it...could and would fight as well as the Mohammedan aggressor."

Untill we have national service for every one , sadley most americans seem to be worried about how long they will have to get their latties in the morning or if Paris will mess up again and do more jail time . O , don't raise my taxes to pay for this thing .

Smarty,
I am really glad that you posted this, this is something dear to my heart.
I was in the Navy at a very young age,it was not during war time but I did serve my country. In serving your country you do have a new found respect for what freedom does mean to live in this country.
I have friends who are still serving and a very close nephew who is over in Iraq right now he is only 18 and I worry about him every day.
My heart goes out to all the families from 9/11,to all who have lost a loved one in this war and the families sitting at home wondering when there loved ones will return.
Even if we don't believe in what is going on in Iraq to be right, we must believe that the men and woman who serve are serving for us and we can only support them in every way we can.
God bless and be safe,
January

As a Viet Nam veteran of both the USMC and the USAF, I truly hope that we never forget the tragic event that occured 6 yrs ago today.  But some people, ie: politicans of both parties, are guilty of using this tradgedy to help further their agenda.  Granted there is a war on terrorism, but offically this country is not at war.  The Constitution states that only Congress can declare war, not anyone else, including the President or Vice-President.  All Congress has done in this is authorize the use of military forse in response to an attack, and that is all.  This may upset many of you, but I served two tours in various parts of SEA, known and unknown areas, for the right to have this opinion.  It is great to remember the victims and their families, but please stop the politicalization of this tragic event.  My 2 cents!!!

They have all those nice boats that take the real fighters where they can go kick butt.  Hey just kidding -- besides I think I stole the line from a movie..  It often surprises me on the number of ladies that I have met via this board that served in the military.   Well Said - Well Done, Carry on.

Semper Fi

MM

-- Modified on 9/11/2007 4:05:36 PM

... that on the 6th anniversary of 9/11, Americans of all political stripes are making it an excuse to advance various propaganda points.

January seems to have the best idea on how to broach a solemn subject WITHOUT having to cast it in terms that offend people of various political beliefs. Would that people could learn that.

Until Rupert Murdoch buys out TER Vegas, can we keep the politics out of here? Or were we out of jokes about fat providers advertising on Craiglist, so now we moved on to a new topic?

Politics may not play a part on this board....I tend to agree this is for fun, but once a year....maybe

I know that TER over in IRAN...ooops...middle east....oh wait...never mind...not so much over in the "unfree" world.

Pretty happy with the guys who are over there putting it out every day so I have this freedom.  People want us to die and take this away.

I wont forget 911 and I wont forget the 3,700+ men and women who have paid the price for  my right to partake in freedom.

Thats it, no more politics from me for 364 days.  See you on 9/12/08.

Now, whos turn is it to take one for the team.....