How could we be so unprepared?

Where was our world renowned, exemplary military as the hijacked commercial aircraft flew directly over America's most highly restricted airspace, and right into the very Pentagon itself? I am not alone in questioning America's entire national security system today. While most Americans think we have the best, strongest military in the civilized world, we could not even protect the most vital elements representing our democracy. How can this happen?

It seems to me that America's military was blatantly unprepared to defend it's crucial heartland. President Bush should issue an apology to the American people and vow to implement better military intervention technologies and strategies. The United States has been plagued with the fears and reality of global terrorism for many years (and for most of my life). Isn't is time to put an end to it once and for all?

Karyn Herrmann
Hawaii Kai

Justice was lost in terrorist acts

I can't make any sense of these terrorist acts. I doubt any sane person can. My usual tolerance is all but exhausted.

Today I'd gladly drop the bombs and pull the trigger myself if I was half certain I was killing someone responsible for this outrage. In my anger I even want to drop bombs on those dancing in the streets and "celebrating" this attack.

But my head tells me it wouldn't do any good. It wouldn't prevent future acts like these. If we kill the ringleaders, there will just be more ringleaders. If we kill the "soldiers of terror," there will be more ready to take their place.

I'm certain there is some clue in the bumper sticker I saw today that read "No Peace Without Justice," but I can't quite figure it out.

How does it work when countries with tanks and armies can't agree on what justice means? How does it work when a dozen terrorists who've practiced flying a 757 using a flight simulator and armed with knives, box cutters and airplane tickets can't agree with the rest of us on what justice means and make their point by killing thousands of office workers at their desks, children playing in day care and janitors emptying waste baskets?

Walt Barnes

Turn attack into a positive force

As with most Americans, I am angered by the brutality and cruelty of terrorism, appalled by the loss of life and amazed at the bravery and resiliency of New Yorkers, especially by the selfless actions of the police, firefighters, construction workers and medical personnel.

A wise person once told me that we must always look at misfortune as opportunity, that successful people will find the positive in a negative and move on. New Yorkers will have an opportunity to build an even bigger and better trade center, one that will provide the office space and infrastructure to meet the needs of our nation's financial sector for generations to come. Building it will create jobs, which, in turn, will stimulate their local economy.

Our transportation infrastructure will be overhauled, which has been needed for some time. Airport security will eliminate outdated procedures and upgrade technology.

In the process, citizens will gain a greater appreciation for what we have and the sacrifices made to get it.

Today, we grieve. Tomorrow we begin picking up the pieces and move forward to a better and brighter tomorrow.

Erik Abe

Act of violence taken by religious fanatics

Another attack on fellow human beings has been committed in the name of God. There is truly no comparing the scale and enormity of this latest act of violence.

These are religious fanatics who have twisted the word of God and are seeking power over others who have committed this despicable act. They will be held accountable for their actions in the divine law of karma.

But are we not all committing an act of violence every time we judge others and separate them from us? God does not do this. We are all his children. In the wake of this tragedy I think we need to re-examine our belief systems in order to evolve.

Christ said that the kingdom of heaven is within us. With unconditional love and compassion for others in each and every one of our hearts, would that not create a sort of heaven on Earth?

Take this opportunity to look inside yourselves and the way you feel about and treat others. Make it a personal point that something positive will come out of this horrendous tragedy and it will start with you and the way you interact with others in this world.

Craig Roberts

Hit Osama bin Laden in the pocketbook

I have read that the terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has a personal fortune of about $300 million. He has dedicated that fortune to destroying us.

Do you think he has that money buried in caves in Pakistan? Of course not. The money is in banks around the world. With the computer systems in our banks, we could locate where this madman has his funds and cut him off at the purse strings. It is hard to be a major terrorist without money for bombs, guns and airline tickets.

Bob Gaddis

[QUOTABLES] "I feel very isolated out here. My compadres caught the train, bus (to get to the disaster site), but I'm stuck here." Ken Lee Red Cross volunteer from Moanalua, on being unable to join other volunteers at the site of the World Trade Center collapse because the nation's airports were shut down. "It's major unusual, and it should be. I'm proud that people are buying flags." Terry Caplan Owner of Ace Hardware in Princeville, Kauai, on the brisk sale in American flags since the terrorist attack on New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Bush was clear, direct in address to nation

I'm like thousands of people who were disappointed when we read your Sept. 12 editorial ("President lacked the resolve he asked Americans to muster"). You said the president's address to the nation was "brief, bland and failed to reflect the dismay and anger seen arising everywhere in the American public."

I disagree. I thought President Bush's remarks were clear, controlled and to the point. More importantly, they set out a new and long overdue policy for our country's response to this and future acts of terrorism against Americans.

The president made it clear to the world that from now on, "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them." You called this new policy "one strong point." It is much more than that. It is a change from our nation's previously muted response to ongoing acts of terrorism against Americans, including the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Africa, and last year's bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen.

I strongly object to your call on the president to tell us "how he intended to find them or what would happen when -- or if -- he did." This statement shows a naiveté below the usual standard of your paper. Why not just send the terrorists and their host countries an email outlining our plans?

The public counts on you to provide perspective and context to the world's events, especially one that seems so unexplainable. You let us down.

Linda Lingle
Chairwoman
Hawaii Republican Party

Brevity was suited to horror aftermath

Your Wednesday editorial regarding the president's resolve was insensitive, to put it mildly.

The only description you gave correctly regarding his remarks to the nation, was that they were brief. They were appropriately brief. There was nothing more to say about the horror than what he said, and it was certainly not the time for lengthy discussion of any potential strategy. I felt reassured with the promise that the perpetrators and their supporters will be found and feel confident they will be dealt with swiftly.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

Editorial staff should be ashamed

You should be ashamed of yourselves for the Sept. 12 editorial. If the president was too "bland" for your tastes in his first speech, then the least you could have done was keep your pathetic whining to yourselves.

We need to stand together at this time. Unfortunately, your editorial staff has shown its true colors and has revealed itself to be part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Kent Fletcher

Editorial was offensive and inflammatory

The editorial was both offensive and inflammatory. What would you have the president do -- beat his shoe on the podium or rant and rave about the Arab influence?

I found his remarks measured and reflective, as the nation should expect of its leader. If you want all the "red necks" to start running amok and shoot or hang anyone with dark skin then your remarks were appropriate. I don't think that is the message you were trying to convey. However, that's the inference that I drew from it.

Dick Pickering
Kalihi

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