Remembrance

I remember the day nearly ten years ago.. It was breezy but warm, and promised to be another late Summer scorcher from what it felt like. I was running late getting to work, having spent a little extra time at home with the girlfriend before I had to go in. With no radio or television on in the house, and the radio in the van not working, I was oblivious to the life-changing events which were already in motion that morning.

The first clue that something was wrong was when I got to work. One of the engineers from my company was outside the office on a smoke break and asked me if I had any news about the terrorists. I shrugged and laughed it off, thinking it was another of his little chuckles as he sometimes liked to joke about, never stopping to chat with him as I headed through the doors.

Then I got into my office area, and realized what was really happening.

Jo Price, one of the analysts I worked with, and our manager Mark, were just turning on a television they managed to get into our conference room. The picture snapped into place and the scene was horrific - both towers were billowing smoke from their upper floors and the people in the streets were near panic as they ran from the scene. In moments, the first tower was collapsing. Between shots from New York, the news cur back to their studio and to DC to show the Pentagon, and each of us sucked in a breath - we knew people working in the building with the spare wall.

It was the quietest day in our office, followed by one of the busiest nights.

Our system was still new, just coming online with the Air Force and portions of the other Armed Services. Everyone was starting to panic, wondering if the global network would support the requirements of our messaging system. But the panic of the moment subsided and everything continued on, working smoothly.

Although I left government contract work and moved to other areas and jobs, that pivotal moment remains with me as deeply as my motorcycle accident and the loss of the space shuttles while in flight.

And now, we should have some closure. The alleged mastermind of the attacks - and countless others - has been found and dealt with as only the Navy SEALs can do. There will surely be doubters - conspiracy theorists who just won't let go of it. But now is the moment of truth for the American people. With the head of the snake cut off, how quickly can our troops clean up and pack up? Or will they stay there still, much longer than many feel necessary, just like Bush did with Iraq?

I am not saying we shouldn't have gone to both countries. But there seems to be a lack of exit strategy; the mission is accomplished, so what are our troops going to do next? If we remain in Afghanistan, will our men and women continue to rout out the terror cells which remain, or are we really destined to repeat history? The Russians pulled out of there after failing to suppress the local population, and now we are in there - much like Vietnam in the 60's where the French failed to bring their peace to that country, and then we were left holding the bag in the end. I can only feel there are too many parallels between that failed "police action" nearly 50 years ago and what we are going through now.

As for the man, Osama bin Laden received his Karma. It is a sad thing that anyone must lose a life, but for the countless numbers of dead and injured caused by him or others following his orders, it was time for him to pay the "butcher's bill". I must say I am proud to have once served the Navy, and once been employed as a civilian in support of the SEAL teams at their base on the East Coast. And I have no remorse over the death of who has been "Public Enemy Number 1" for all these years.

... but now we wait for the other shoe to drop, the next "mastermind" to step up and try to hold together - or reform - the Al Qaida terrorist group. Where do we go from here? Can we really expect any true Peace from this action? Or have we just managed to postpone the next major catastrophe while "the enemy" regroups...