h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Umph. I don't even want to THINK about that!

Why is it such a big deal that there are 100 suspects? All it means is that they've got some vague connection with the hijackers and the FBI haven't yet figured out whether it means anything. Isn't this exactly how it's supposed to work?

What scares me is that they've already found a hundred people with possible connections. This tells me that there's plenty more that haven't been found yet. They're undoubtedly not *all* guilty, but certainly not all innocent, either.

My guess is they've actually found nearer a thousand, and have done a pretty decent job of eliminating most of them. In an investigation on this scale they'll be looking to find every single person who's had *any* sort of contact with any of the 17 hijackers, and every one of them will be a suspect at some point in the investigation.

Maybe the FBI are perusing Florida phone books?

With 7000 working on the case, don't think they haven't considered it.

I agree that it needs to be wiped out at the source.

The source being US global policy. As long as the US perpetrates aggression and human rights violations, there will be terrorism. as long as we are richer than the rest of the world, there will be terrorism. So the only way to save lives is to radically alter our way of life.

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The FBI could be on a wild goose chase. CNN have reported that bin Laden hasn't got access to a phone

I'm sure the CIA loaned him one when he got his training.

0800 Terrorist

Cooper, China perpetrates aggression and violates human rights, and the Monegasques are richer than Americans. Neither suffer terrorism.

The US is the symbol, though. Plus we're an easier target. The lax borders and loose security. . .

Then you've found another solution: tighten up the borders and security, and everyone gets to keep their Weber.

Two things

1: May suggest everyone posting here go read http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A224623 , It is principles such as these that set civil society apart from the barbarians who are responsible for terrorism. May I also say that I don't think these principles exclude the option of taking military action but what they do mean is the purpose of any such action should be place those responsible in custody. Terrorism is not war it is a crime. By referring to it as war you giving the terrorist an accolade they don't deserve, war is fought between soldiers not criminals.

2: (This is the reason I made the time to post here today).
In the UK the military has two types of reserve, the first is the Territorial Forces which are much like the USA's National Guard in that they are volunteer part time servicemen. The second is ex-servicemen who remain on the reserve list until they reach the age of 47, now one of these is a friend of mine who left the army a couple of years ago, on Friday he received a letter warning him that he might be called up to releave troops on peace-keeping & humanitarian duties. The warning also included details of where he was to report if/when he is called up.

My husband is in the National Guard here. He has been told not to leave the area without notifying his commanding officer. That is frightening. The idea that we are not going to strike quickly, but make this a slow, methodical wiping out of so many people, frightens me greatly.

Even more frightening was an online headline from Reuters which reports that China signed a memorandum of understanding of economic and technical co-operation with the Taliban on the same day as the World Trade Centre was hit.

I'm going to finish digging my bunker now.

I hope this posting doesn't appear too out of context, as I haven't had a chance to read all the messages of the last 12 hours or so.

I may not put this very well, and it may seem banal to some who are understandably in a state of emotional turmoil over recent events, but here is something that gives me hope for the future -

The fact that we are all here bashing away on our keyboards in our own homes thousands of miles away from each other, all trying to make some sense out of these hideous events. I feel bad for some Americans here who feel that the British are being very non-understanding and judgmental, and as a Brit I apologise. But I feel so much more aware of the American position and feelings than I did even 2 days ago. If we can all carry on with this communication and not give up posting and reading, maybe we can have some understanding of other races and cultures for the future. I hope this makes sense, and does not appear too trivial.

We are in a unique period in human history, and I think the use of the internet will prove to be one of the key ways people have dealt with this in terms of the passing on of information; logging on to news sites, message sites like this one and others, and of course the web sites devoted to trying to find missing people.

Jude

Agreed, Jude.

I feel deeply honoured to be able to talk with Americans on this subject, so soon after the events. I feel much less out of touch with the world than I did during the Gulf.

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a human-being called Ben

'..unique period in human history..', right, Jude !

I have a feeling that we are finally becoming Mankind after being divided into tribes, races, nationalities etc.

Amator