Rescue of Journalist Stephen Farrell by NATO Special Forces On 9/9/09

That this rescue mission was even necessary angers me. These troops were not sent into this war zone so that they could protect journalists who choose to go into a hostile area alongside the military forces. Troops are sent there to fight a war on terrorism. Journalists choose to accompany them to report the events of these conflicts, as they happen. They should never BECOME the story, and they should not knowingly endanger the lives of their translators, coalition troops, or innocent civilians.

When this story is told, the same effort must be given to the many ‘angles’ of this event: The poor judgment of a journalist hungry for a story; the heroism of those troops who risked their lives and rescued him; the horrific actions of the Taliban kidnappers and murderers; the sacrifice of human life -- all for a story that was probably intended to undermine the very forces who saved his life. All of this must be reported to give a true picture of what really happened. 

You can find a pretty fair assessment of this story here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/11/stephen-farrell-ignored-advice-taliban

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September 11

Where were you on September 11, 2001? That question seems to have replaced the question “Where were you when Jack Kennedy was shot” for my generation. I was a tiny girl, and don’t really have a clear recollection of the Kennedy assassination, but my memory of 9/11/01 is as vivid – probably more due to terror – as it was on that day.

This day began as the “International Day of Peace” proclaimed by the United Nations to occur on the opening day of the regular session of the UN General Assembly. (http://www.un.org/events/ref40.htm) A day intended by the United Nations to be devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples" went so far to the opposite extreme that it is simply unfathomable.

On the eighth anniversary of the terror attacks on United States soil, I’ve been glued to the television. Although I work at home, these days I rarely turn on the set over my computer until evening. Today, I’ve watched the memorial services, and the “replays” of the event, as seen through many eyes and cameras. Although I can’t seem to switch stations, The History Channel’s “102 minutes that changed America” is particularly difficult to watch, as it shows not only the professional views of the attacks, but also the views from amateur video recordings. More emotions from people in the streets of New York than I’ve ever seen from that day. The video testimony assaults me both mentally and physically, much as the live coverage did on that significant day in our nation’s history.