{"id":63781,"date":"2015-09-14T14:48:46","date_gmt":"2015-09-14T13:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=63781"},"modified":"2015-09-14T14:51:14","modified_gmt":"2015-09-14T13:51:14","slug":"an-enormous-opportunity-a-short-awful-911-quiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2015\/09\/an-enormous-opportunity-a-short-awful-911-quiz\/","title":{"rendered":"An \u201cEnormous Opportunity\u201d: A Short, Awful 9\/11 Quiz"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_63782\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63782\" class=\"wp-image-63782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"PPhoto: Spencer Platt\/Getty Images\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-63782\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Spencer Platt\/Getty Images<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_63784\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center2.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63784\" class=\"wp-image-63784\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center2.jpg\" alt=\"Photo: Brad Rickerby\/Reuters \/Landov\" width=\"700\" height=\"454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center2-300x194.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-63784\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Brad Rickerby\/Reuters \/Landov &#8211; <em>Caption: Second World Trade Tower photo retouched for dust and scratches.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><em>\u00a0To mark\u00a0today, September 11, 2015,\u00a0I\u2019ve put together a short quiz. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is this?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A. The World Trade Center in flames on September 11, 2001.<br \/>\nB. A grotesque\u00a0act of mass murder.<br \/>\nC. The start\u00a0of a lifetime of suffering for everyone who loved someone who died at the World Trade Center.<br \/>\nD.\u00a0AN OPPORTUNITY, AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY!<\/p>\n<p>The correct answer, obviously, is D.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThrough my tears I see\u00a0<strong>opportunity<\/strong>.\u201d<br \/>\n<em>\u2014\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/wp-srv\/nation\/specials\/attacked\/transcripts\/bushtext1_091901.html\" >George W. Bush, September 20, 2001<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the collapse of the Soviet Union and 9\/11 bookend a major shift in international politics, then this is a period not just of grave danger, but of\u00a0<strong>enormous opportunity<\/strong>. Before the clay is dry again, America and our friends and our allies must move decisively to take advantage of these\u00a0<strong>new opportunities<\/strong>.\u201d<br \/>\n<em>\u2014\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20021017185941\/http:\/www.whitehouse.gov\/news\/releases\/2002\/04\/20020429-9.html\" >Condoleezza Rice, April 29, 2002<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_63783\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center3.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63783\" class=\"wp-image-63783\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center3.jpg\" alt=\"Photo: Pedro Ugarte\/AFP\/Getty Images\" width=\"700\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center3-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-63783\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Pedro Ugarte\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0What is this?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A. The al Qaeda bombing of a hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, on November 28, 2002.<br \/>\nB.\u00a0The place where terrorists murdered 13 people, including Israeli brothers Noy and Dvir Anter, ages 12 and 13.<br \/>\nC. The location where,\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20060829065915\/http:\/archives.cnn.com\/2002\/WORLD\/africa\/11\/28\/kenya.israel\/\" >CNN reported<\/a>, \u201cscreaming children covered in blood searched desperately for their parents amid the wreckage.\u201d<br \/>\nD.\u00a0A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!<\/p>\n<p>Again, of course, the answer is D.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIsraeli officials view last week\u2019s terrorist attacks \u2026\u00a0as reinforcing their argument that Israel and the West are battling a single enemy.\u00a0Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting with ministry staff in the aftermath of the Kenya attacks, said that the incidents had presented Israel with a \u2018<strong>golden opportunity\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0to strengthen its strategic ties with the United States and other Western countries.\u201d<br \/>\n\u2014 <em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20021220044626\/http:\/www.forward.com\/issues\/2002\/02.12.06\/news3.html\" >The Forward<\/a><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20021220044626\/http:\/www.forward.com\/issues\/2002\/02.12.06\/news3.html\" >, December 6, 2002<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_63785\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center4.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63785\" class=\"wp-image-63785\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center4.jpg\" alt=\"Photo: Chris Hondros\/Getty Images\" width=\"700\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center4.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/911-twin-towers-world-trade-center4-300x196.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-63785\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Chris Hondros\/Getty Images<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>What is this?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A. Five-year-old Iraqi Samar Hassan, covered in her parents\u2019 blood shortly after they were killed\u00a0by U.S. soldiers at a checkpoint in 2005.<br \/>\nB. The reason why Hassan <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/05\/07\/world\/middleeast\/07photo.html\" >now says<\/a>: \u201cI always dream about my father and mother.\u201d<br \/>\nC. Something every American should be atoning for until the day we\u00a0die.<br \/>\nD.\u00a0A GOLDEN AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY!<\/p>\n<p>The correct answer is D. Duh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTargeting America in Iraq in terms of economy and losses in life is a\u00a0<strong>golden and unique opportunity<\/strong>. Do not waste it only to regret it later.\u201d<br \/>\n<em>\u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/2\/hi\/middle_east\/4103137.stm\" >Osama bin Laden, December, 2004<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Probably my point here is clear. But I will go ahead and spell it out.<\/p>\n<p>For normal people, terrorism and wars are\u00a0purely and only tragedies.<\/p>\n<p>For our would-be \u201cleaders,\u201d however \u2014 in every country \u2014 the situation is different. Of course, they pretend to feel the same as normal people. They give teary-eyed speeches about sorrow and suffering.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, behind their tears, there seems to be something else. When they think no one is looking, you glimpse another expression flitting across their face. You think it couldn\u2019t be. But \u2014 yes, incredibly enough,\u00a0<em>they\u2019re smiling<\/em>. Because before the bodies are cold, before the mothers and fathers have stopped shrieking, our leaders are thinking:<\/p>\n<p><em>This is really a fantastic opportunity.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And for them, it is. It\u2019s an opportunity for them to do whatever they wanted to do before, but couldn\u2019t get away with. It\u2019s an opportunity for them to smear anyone who criticizes them as disloyal. It\u2019s an opportunity for them to become much more powerful than they ever could be in peacetime, to implement whatever their favorite\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.naomiklein.org\/shock-doctrine\" >shock doctrine<\/a>\u00a0is.\u00a0Leaders love war. That\u2019s why there\u2019s so much of it.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s understandably hard for most people to come to terms with this. It\u2019s terrifying to believe your leaders may secretly be, uh,\u00a0<em>not so sad<\/em>\u00a0if you die. But all you have to do is listen to them, and they\u2019ll tell you.<\/p>\n<p>Can we change this? Maybe. But the first step in changing reality is facing it, no matter how ugly and frightening it is.<\/p>\n<p>__________________________________<\/p>\n<p><em>Jon Schwarz: <a href=\"mailto:jon.schwarz@theintercept.com\">\u2709jon.schwarz@\u200btheintercept.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2015\/09\/11\/today-14th-anniversary-enormous-opportunity\/\" >Go to Original \u2013 theintercept.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For regular people, terrorism and wars are tragedies. For our leaders \u2014 in every country \u2014 they\u2019re something very different.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-focus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63781\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}