President Bush announced air strikes against Afghanistan.
I remember being sixteen years old when the towers fell. I also remember, while already aware of how full of shit the Republican agenda is, being in complete agreement with the tone and tenor of the speech. It was no time for quarter: we had been attacked, we were going to retaliate and disrupt the base of operations of those who had attacked us (as opposed to, say, sending nuclear weapons or carpet-bombing the entire country), and anyone who got in our way was going to get some too.
Hell, I even agreed when Bush refused to negotiate with the Taliban to move bin Laden to a 'neutral' country for trial. Below the fold? My point.
As progressives, we like to pretend we're above anger. Outrage, sure, that fuels our engines, but not genuine seething anger. Well, I have genuine seething anger against those that perpetrated September 11th, and those who harbored them. We all did. Don't forget that feeling or chalk it up to Darwinism or primal urges or our lesser natures or any of that horseshit. We should hate those who are arrogant enough to believe a)there is a God, b)he condones mass murder, c)but only when I do it d) and in His name. We should and we do, even if we pretend it's all flowers and candy. Fuck the terrorists.
Righteous anger is a healthy, necessary emotion for any rational and sane human being - or political party - to allow when it is appropriate. Seven years to the day and I still support our mission in Afghanistan.
And taking the eye off the ball to go fuck around in Baghdad was unforgiveably short-sighted and stupid.