The Independent: Robert Fisk: Bush is walking into a trap.

The NYTimes: The Phantom Towers.

Excite poll for Wednesday, September 12, 2001: Which freedoms would you be willing to compromise in order to wipe out the threat of terrorism?

 
This will be a day long remembered. Terrorism has claimed its bloodiest toll in the States ’til date. Living in a country that has had to deal with terrorism for almost two decades now, I am shocked by these events, but not surprised. For far too long, US state policy — at least to us mere mortals — has seemed to follow the notion of ‘one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’, and the US’ own record in exporting terror is not exactly spotless (you will notice that terrorist groups, whomsoever they are sponsored by, have a way of biting the hand that fed them). Just as it was not possible for the US to insulate itself from WWII, it will find it difficult to insulate itself from terrorist acts — and lord knows that they have plenty of enemies ready to commit these acts given half a chance. Sixty years ago, a sleeping giant was awakened, and though we do not have a president of FDR’s calibre at the helm today, if the giant even half-awakens today, something good will have come out of the all the mayhem and destruction of yesterday.

From the Washington Post/ABC Poll the night after the bombing:

Would you be willing to give up some of the
liberties we have in this country in order
for the government to crack down on terrorism,
or not?

           Would be    Would not       No
           willing     be willing    opinion
9/11/01      66           24           10
5/14/95      52           41            7
4/20/95      59           35            7

Of course, as the Post says, “Results of overnight polls that attempt to measure opinions about fast-changing news events should be interpreted with extra caution”.

The Scobleizer: My letter to President Bush (written before the address). And Our Disaster Experience Has Changed.