Thomas Friedman: 9/11 Is Over

Not long ago, the satirical newspaper The Onion ran a fake news story that began like this:


“At a well-attended rally in front of his new ground zero headquarters Monday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially announced his plan to run for president of 9/11. ‘My fellow citizens of 9/11, today I will make you a promise,’ said Giuliani during his 18-minute announcement speech in front of a charred and torn American flag. ‘As president of 9/11, I will usher in a bold new 9/11 for all.’ If elected, Giuliani would inherit the duties of current 9/11 President George W. Bush, including making grim facial expressions, seeing the world’s conflicts in terms of good and evil, and carrying a bullhorn at all state functions.”

Like all good satire, the story made me both laugh and cry, because it reflected something so true — how much, since 9/11, we’ve become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.” Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there’s no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don’t need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.


What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again.

(snip)
You may think Guantánamo Bay is a prison camp in Cuba for Al Qaeda terrorists. A lot of the world thinks it’s a place we send visitors who don’t give the right answers at immigration. I will not vote for any candidate who is not committed to dismantling Guantánamo Bay and replacing it with a free field hospital for poor Cubans. Guantánamo Bay is the anti-Statue of Liberty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/opinion/30friedman.html?ref=opinion

Sounds like The Father of The Friedman Unit has gotten his brain working again.

'bout fucking time, I say.

So you finally figured out which way the wind is sailing, and decided to abandon the S.S. Bush? Looks like a belated attempt of Friedman to recover respectability because everyone laughs at him now.

He knows the right thing to do but doesn't always do it. This distinguishes him from say Dick Cheney who wouldn't care to know the truth nor say if he did.

There will always be assholes like the Vice President. The greater harm is done not by him but by people like Thomas Friedman who ALLOW these cretins to do what they do without being exposed. You could even list Wolf Blitzer in with that crowd too.

They're chickenshits who won't do the right thing at the right time. instead they'll write memoirs after leaving their field. Just like Alan Greenspan or Colin Powell.

Not all of us, you jerk.

Most of the American people do. Including a lot of people who voted for Bush, who don't want to admit that they made a mistake or were deluded, but who don't like what's happened any more than progressives do. Some of these people realize that slamming Jane Fonda and Kerry won't do anything about the real problems, no matter what Rush and O'Reilly say.

Who wants 9/11 to continue as long as possible?

All of the Republican candidates, and one particular front-running Democrat. Those wonderful people at Halliburton. The wealthy and the powerful.

I'm no fan of Friedman's. This is a pleasant surprise, though, and I'm glad they published it.

Thanks for nothing, Tommy