Talk about Newsnight

Yes, I think there is a danger in endlessly regurgitating unpleasant memories. We have to learn from the past but not live in it.

The 9/11 attacks were more than the Twin Towers. The successful attack on the Pentagon and unsuccesful attack on the White House have been overshadowed by the deaths of thousands in the Twin Towers. Most of whom died because of architectural design flaws not Al Queda planning. The consequences of these design flaws have since resulted in delayed death and suffering of many New Yorkers due to the dust that was created. If the Twin Towers are to serve as an icon for the future then they should be remembered for two things: The madness of fundemental religious belief and the arrogance of dehumanising architecture.

If this programme will end up blaming 'foreign policy' as the root of all probelms, as many do nowadays, I will switch it off and will not watch it.

Last night's wonderful programme on the eight year prior to 9/11/2001 illustrated it extremely well what is the root of the problems:

The main, talented engineer who turned into a major terrorist, got angry in 1993 because he could not find a job in America!

He then went on telephoning his 'grievancies' as the Palestine cause! Well, sounds 'sexier' than: 'I did not get the job and wealth I was dreaming about!' - doesn't it!

Then happily escaped to Manila where he womanised and drunk alcohol, while claiming to be a true Muslim. Incosistancies?

Exactly!

Then he tried to blow up Pakistan's only important FEMALE politician; a few muslims who are of a different trend of his; a Japanese person, jsut for practice, you name it!

Foreign policy? Couldn't be a more simplified explanation!

AS I say, if that is what Newsnight comes up with, my reaction is: "SWITCH"

Try to analyse! Note to simplify, please!

It's dangerous to legitimate 9/11 as a terrorist attack, when in fact it was a conpiracy created and put forward by the United States government, led George W. Bush.
This rehashing serves him well, as it obfuscates the TRUTH and validates the LIE.

No, there is no such danger. Terrorism does not feed on Newsnight. It feeds on American and British foreign policy. If a just solution is found for the Palaistinian problem (while maintaining Israeli pre-1967 borders) and occupation forces pull out of Iraq (and leave the wealth of the country to its people) then terrorists will immediately lose 90% of their recruitment base. The remaining terrorists can then be apprehended by the police (both domestic and international) like every other common criminal.

The media keeps taking the establishment view about terrorism without noticibly addressing the reasons why the 'terrorists' do what they do. Let's all remember that the Israel was born out of terrorism and let's also not forget that because the US supported the IRA terrorists we now have to look upon them as our friends too.

Yes I agree. I've felt for a long time that the 'feel' of reporting when looking back on terrorist attacks is doing little more than glorify the perpetrators. Why do we have to see their faces so often ? Aren't we all victims of the oversimplified 'debate' that the americans on one side and alqaeda on the other are happy keep alive?

it seems to me that the so called war on terror will never end whilst it remains a military style conflict. Surely at some point we have to better understand the drivers behind the terrorists positions and secure a peaceful outcome through shared dialogue and diplomacy.

By commemmorating this day ( 9/11 ) in a big way every year must put a smile on the face of whoever was responsible (there are many theories as to who did it).I think on this day the world leadres should take account of their deeds and the public should make them accountable for the mess these overpaid and underworked politicians have got us all into but conveniently shift the blame else where. I strongly believe that the ordinary people in this world want to live peacefully but the politicians are taking undue advantage.

Nothing can be done about these terrorist attacks until both Bush and Blair have left the political stage and someone who really wants to bring Israel and the Palestinians together, comes along. We may have a long wait.

Ignoring the bizarre rants about foreign policy and coverage and returning to the original question: There’s little new to be learned from re-watching the images of terrorism and war, particularly that covered by the mass media in the last ten years or so. The replaying of such footage is used solely for the purposes of emotional manipulation, something frequently practised by the media to force a point home or wake people up from their jaded, over-exposed somnambulism.

What repeating these images does succeed in doing is polarising the viewers and making the necessary debate even harder to have. Many will be sickened and angered by seeing these things, whilst others will consider it a call to arms. Neither is a rational, productive reaction. Quite the opposite, it will only serve to exacerbate the alienation and misunderstanding.

Leave the Hollywood-style slow-motion replays of bombs and planes to channel Five and Sky News. Newsnight should be trying to advance the debate, not increase its audience share.

I can understand this point but here in Canada we had several programs aired last night by CBC showing the erroneous investigations, cover-ups and sickness/death resulting from the WTC Disaster...to both those working in the bldg and the firemen who are now ill and dying from what was at ground zero.
I fail to see how this being aired in America will be helpful as those involved with the airing of this are on the side of the cover-ups.
I think it should not be aired also as it is not an objective approach.

As a pure observer, I think that the 911 scholars for truth movement is gaining more credibility as the fundamental questions it asks continue unanswered.
For example, I simply cannot get my mind around a boeing 757 hitting the Pentagon at 400(?) m.p.h. and making a 16 foot hole on the ground floor, leaving adjacent windows intact and pc screens visble in the offices- and I remember those images on live TV.
We are advised that the heat from two similar plane crashes caused the twin towers to collapse - structural steel melted in less than an hour!
Most people in this country do not seem to realise that three towers collapsed on 9/11 -the third being 47 stories high (not at all insignificant in UK terms) and a block away.
There are many entirely valid questions that any intelligent person might reasonably ask, and the lack of equally intelligent answers/debate does little to comfort those that would generally prefer to believe those in a position of power.
Will you be posing any of those questions?

I have no problem with the rememberence of an awful atrocity - providing the sensitivities of survivors and victims of relatives are taken into account. Given the technology available to modern news media, we should be unsuprised if some of the images are distressing. What would be inappropriate would be to use the anniversary to promote the idea that events that followed were inevitable or justified. There are those who believe that that 9/11 gave precisely the excuse that was needed to drive an existing agenda. Those of us who were heartbroken for the good people of New York on that day will remember with them - and that, on this day, should be enough.

you cannot keep blaming this person until you get to the bottom of the situation we have all got to get together and listen to evry body answer all we are doing is going around as headless chicken maybe we never willl or we will.this situation we find ouself in was our own doing until we find out our true Population we can never get to the answer I;m not saying I.D. cards for evrybody is the answer but it would help our hospitals etc and maybe us what else is there left to do

Why do we have to be reminded of it and more importantly, why do you have to remind us?
We cannot do anything it is history, why keep repeating the misery?

9/11 was without doubt an horrific act. However, I would still like to hear the truth about the invasion of Iraq. Even the American CIA stated that there was no link between Al Queda and Saddam. Bush is on record as saying that a link must be found to give him the excuse to go to war, it was never found. There is little doubt that Saddam was a tyrant, just as so many in power are. But Israel saw Iraq as a threat, just as they see Iran and the Lebanon. Will these countries be Bushes next target for 'democracy'.
Will Blair follow again like a good poodle.

Yes, I think there is that danger. But we shouldn't let it deter us from responding - as we see it. It would be even worse if they shut us up! Barry Childers, Geneva

The images are sickening. They affect the heart - the people in the planes, the towers and the 'jumpers' were all real, had families and are no longer with us. The constant re-hashing of these images (tv in particular) seems only to serve the culture of fear that has controlled the international agenda for years. It also hardens the heart to the reality and horror of the event. I can't watch it any more, and would advise others not to. I know it happened. I'm not in denial. I have been affected directly since, like many others - increased racial abuse, my wife and daughters having half eaten burgers thrown at them out of moving cars - and that is mild in comparison to hundreds being locked up with no charge and being released with no apology... or shot... or blamelessly killed due to flawed intelligence. And all of that is in the UK.

The effect of these images is subtle, but measurable in language, perception and reactions, especially when it comes to interacting with people from 'popularly screened' backgrounds.

Question: How are the repeating of these images aiding/hindering current crucial dialogue?

Hi

Why on earth choose a novelist, particularly one who comes from such a priviledged and enclosed world? If you wanted a writer, why not choose journalists who have some specialist knowledge of the region, like Robert Fisk? Christopher Hitchens might be good choice to put a case for the war in Iraq.

Hello
Lack of talking is the problem.
The attitude of I am right and you are wrong will always create death and destruction.
My god is correct or my atheism is correct means death to a lot of people who all they want to do is live with peace.
What is the answer, certainly not what you think is right.
Sit down and talk whatever you think, do not have any pre you must do this or that.
Remember it is and say it to yourself I am at fault.
Ignore history.

The puppet of the permanent government walked slowly down the slope with his wife Laura Bush towards ground zero, evil beyond belief.

This was not just terrorism, this was terrorism carried out by the American Government for a much greater goal.

The TRUTH will come out!