A Simple Truth
Christopher Hitchens wrote about 9/11 - with his customary style and verve - in The Sunday Times at the weekend.
Here's part of what he had to say:
"But what I learnt from the events of September 2001 was this: never, ever, ignore the obvious. To the government and most of the people of the United States, it seemed that country on 9/11 had been attacked in a particularly odious way by a particularly odious group (a secretive and homicidal gang: part multinational corporation, part crime family) that was sworn to a medieval cult of death, a racist hatred of Jews, a religious frenzy against Hindus, Christians, Shi'ite Muslims and unbelievers, and the restoration of a long-vanished and despotic empire'.
Now that hits the nail right on the head for me - and the only thing I would add is that this cruel Jihadist version of Islam also has a fundamentalist view of women - who have about the same status as cattle - in their joyless medieval world.
In all the words that have been written or spoken about 9/11 since 2001 - that is the essential truth about the 'hijackers' and their supporters - who were responsible for events on that terrible day.
Completely innocent people - of all faiths and no faith at all - Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Non-Believers - were murdered in cold blood by religious fanatics who would do it all over again - if they ever got the chance.
Here's part of what he had to say:
"But what I learnt from the events of September 2001 was this: never, ever, ignore the obvious. To the government and most of the people of the United States, it seemed that country on 9/11 had been attacked in a particularly odious way by a particularly odious group (a secretive and homicidal gang: part multinational corporation, part crime family) that was sworn to a medieval cult of death, a racist hatred of Jews, a religious frenzy against Hindus, Christians, Shi'ite Muslims and unbelievers, and the restoration of a long-vanished and despotic empire'.
Now that hits the nail right on the head for me - and the only thing I would add is that this cruel Jihadist version of Islam also has a fundamentalist view of women - who have about the same status as cattle - in their joyless medieval world.
In all the words that have been written or spoken about 9/11 since 2001 - that is the essential truth about the 'hijackers' and their supporters - who were responsible for events on that terrible day.
Completely innocent people - of all faiths and no faith at all - Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Non-Believers - were murdered in cold blood by religious fanatics who would do it all over again - if they ever got the chance.
