Where were you on........Sept 11th 2001

[NMH]

I don't usually wake as early as 6 in the morning (9 in New York) but I did that morning, turned on my bedside telly and got the news and footage hot from NYC that a "small plane has hit one of the WTCs", and an Italian-American who witnessed it said it was a 3-passenger Cessna-type plane. Then as the news gradually conflicted the size of the plane, the second one hit . It was appalling to watch it, and realise what people were going through in another place, and seeing them jump out of the flaming Towers to their inevitable deaths.

A few thoughts for 'Rob in NY' ('Ricky Marlowe's Hair Piece' on NSC), who used to be in the chatroom with us for almost every game. Even as a name on a chat-list his character was likeable and his input intelligent - a fine and true Seagull .

 

[NMH]

An added salute must go to the NY Firemen who rushed into the unknowable to try and rescue people and save lives. Many died for the cause that was 'part of the job' for them. They were also trying to save our friend Rob .

Also I'd agree that hurting civilians to punish politicians is so futile and cowardly - but politicians on every side insist on doing it all the same. I do NOT want to die to prove a point to some leader, especially not Bush . So many educated Americans are against the aggression in Iraq, and realise that their flag is no better waved by the likes of Bush - and intelligence has been ignored in favour of bullshit bravado for the sake of personal image .
'Our side' has become the same as the Germans in France in WWII, or Israel in Palestine right now. The Iraqi people are not my enemy, and neither are the Arab Nations.

 

[MRRF 10]

An added salute must go to the NY Firemen who rushed into the unknowable to try and rescue people and save lives. Many died for the cause that was 'part of the job' for them. They were also trying to save our friend Rob .

Also I'd agree that hurting civilians to punish politicians is so futile and cowardly - but politicians on every side insist on doing it all the same. I do NOT want to die to prove a point to some leader, especially not Bush . So many educated Americans are against the aggression in Iraq, and realise that their flag is no better waved by the likes of Bush - and intelligence has been ignored in favour of bullshit bravado for the sake of personal image .
'Our side' has become the same as the Germans in France in WWII, or Israel in Palestine right now. The Iraqi people are not my enemy, and neither are the Arab Nations.

well said

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

I'd just put my then girlfriend on the bus home when I saw all these people crowding around the tellys in the window of Dixons of Churchill Square. My initial thought was the Queen Mum had died, when I eventually got to the television screen and saw all these aeroplanes crashing into skyscrapers I thought it was the trailer for some new film. I texted the gf to let her know what had happened and the dim bint's astonishing reply was: "oh no. did you like shopping today, i really like my new top blahblahblah.........."

 

[Wilts]

Also I'd agree that hurting civilians to punish politicians is so futile and cowardly - but politicians on every side insist on doing it all the same. I do NOT want to die to prove a point to some leader, especially not Bush . So many educated Americans are against the aggression in Iraq, and realise that their flag is no better waved by the likes of Bush - and intelligence has been ignored in favour of bullshit bravado for the sake of personal image .
'Our side' has become the same as the Germans in France in WWII, or Israel in Palestine right now. The Iraqi people are not my enemy, and neither are the Arab Nations.

But you trying having someone out there in the British Army that you know... and your whole perspective will be turned on its head. I used to be "not in my name", and ever since Dad went out there my viewpoint has changed. But it is purely a British viewpoint and not an American one. I do however agree that there is plenty of bullshit bravado around (only the USA), but your likening of us to the Germans in France and Israel in Palestine is just... well, a bit "off". Sorry, just a point of view.

As soon as you come up with a better plan to rid the world of people like Saddam Hussein murdering scores of people to fund his own personal wealth (Dad has spoken to relatives of these people) and see a country with so much wealth have such a degree of poverty, then give me a call. In the meantime there is no perfect solution. The killing of innocent civilians happens with any war I'm afraid. War is not meant to be humane. What do you want, Iraq to go on as it has been for the last 30 years, or in the state it will be in a couple of years time?

I don't like the killing of innocent people more than anyone else, but I do recognise the job that we're out there to do. And for whatever "weapons of mass destruction" that may or may not exist, we are making the country a place for the freedom of Iraqi citizens, who as you say are NOT the enemy, they are the people we care about the most.

 

[Kent Seagull]

I was driving a train load of tourists to Bodiam Castle when a mate back in our office phoned my mobile and then updated me with text messages. I thought war was about to break out big time. Not far wrong I suppose.

I have a book written by a NY firefigfhter who was in one of the towers when it collapsed. Last Man Down by Richard Picciotto. The NY Firefighters were real heros, if you can find a copy it's worth a read.

Did anyone see the documentary on the telly by the French tv crew that were making a documentary at a nearby Fire House? There is a scene when they are in the lobby and every few seconds you can hear another body hitting the ground, bloody horrible but a real insight into what went on.

I'll never forget the news films of those poor people jumping to certain death. Horrible day.

 

[Wozza]

They told us something serious had happened but not what. after about 1 hour the captain told us that American airspace was closed due to 'an incident'. She had the option of Greenland, Canada or Bermuda and chose the latter. Once on the ground there was one person on board with a tri-band phone and gradually the news filtered round that the towers had been hit but it wasn't until we were off the plane that we found out they had collapsed.

OH MY GOD! That must have been absolutely terrifying! A female captain!?!?

Seriously, I'd come in from lunch, when someone in the office mentioned that a plane had hit the WTC. Went to Ananova, which had just put-up the first photo.

Spent the rest of the afternoon, with many others, watching events unfold on a giant TV in reception.

What others haven't commented on was the speculation all afternoon about possible targets in the UK and elsewhere in America - and the constant stream of misinformation as the TV networks battled to out do each other.

 

[Yorkie]

I have a book written by a NY firefigfhter who was in one of the towers when it collapsed. Last Man Down by Richard Picciotto. The NY Firefighters were real heros, if you can find a copy it's worth a read.

I have it and yes I agree

 

[CAFC Matt]

First day at College, firs I heard of it was walking past TV rental shop. Stopped and watched with about 30-40 other people. Very sad day indeed

 

[NMH]

But you trying having someone out there in the British Army that you know... and your whole perspective will be turned on its head. I used to be "not in my name", and ever since Dad went out there my viewpoint has changed. But it is purely a British viewpoint and not an American one. I do however agree that there is plenty of bullshit bravado around (only the USA), but your likening of us to the Germans in France and Israel in Palestine is just... well, a bit "off". Sorry, just a point of view.

As soon as you come up with a better plan to rid the world of people like Saddam Hussein murdering scores of people to fund his own personal wealth (Dad has spoken to relatives of these people) and see a country with so much wealth have such a degree of poverty, then give me a call. In the meantime there is no perfect solution. The killing of innocent civilians happens with any war I'm afraid. War is not meant to be humane. What do you want, Iraq to go on as it has been for the last 30 years, or in the state it will be in a couple of years time?

I don't like the killing of innocent people more than anyone else, but I do recognise the job that we're out there to do. And for whatever "weapons of mass destruction" that may or may not exist, we are making the country a place for the freedom of Iraqi citizens, who as you say are NOT the enemy, they are the people we care about the most.

I realise your sentiment toward a "friend in the army" might be one of regard, but they will have been sent there by a politician who may have NO effing CLUE what the feck they are doing! Experts predicted that Saddam cannot be replaced in Iraq with anything other than a similar regime. We found NO "weapons of mass destruction" (nice phrase) and the propaganda that preceded our invasion was (since proven) bolleaux. Are you going to sanction your pals being sent to foreign lands so we can tap their oil and subjugate the Arabs en masse (yet fail to do anything but stir the hornet's nest of terrorists for future atrocities)? Our side cannot withdraw from Iraq until there is civil obedience, and the assurance that a puppet-government set up by 'our side' will be strong enough to resist overthrow by factions that will WANT to overthrow it ONLY because it will play ball with 'the crusader' countries. That just isn't going to happen soon, and 'our boys' are going to be picked at by their underground for years until your mate/family member in the army is another digit on the dead roster.

What makes you think we "must go free the Iraqi people" anyway? There was Chile under Pinochet for decades and you were campaigning against him?? China proved their democracy in Tienamen Square ....should we relieve them of their goverment at cost of our boys' lives ? How much of the World shall we concern ourselves with ?

Saddam probably committed atrocities and was a nasty fellow, but ambition is made of stern stuff, and you have to question ANY leader as to "why they want to lead a country" in the first place!
Most of them are dodgy, and few stop at anything before rubbing out their opposition. We did the right thing to stop total genocide in Yugoslavia, that was out of hand on both sides. There will always be some faction in Africa killing people, and kids bullying in their playground with rifles sold to them..... often by 'our' politicians, our countrymen, our businessmen. Wasn't the Sheffield sunk by a French-sold rocket? One that Argentina had gained legally from France - and had to get the French to help them because they didn't quite know how to use it ?? A bit of a dodgy deal that, but international commerce is fair even in war isn't it ?

I like the concept of 'our side' doing good and freeing the Iraqi people, but remember it was convenient for the US to sell them weaponry to use against Iran and the Kurds. It was convenient to let Saddam cowe the Amir of Kuwait, who were not particularly friendly toward the US until after they had been 'saved from their aggressive neighbor' (at cost of hundreds of thousands of those Iraqi lads who we are so concerned now about saving - but at least we got to test those sophisticated 'b.a.t.s' weaponry on real meat.... pawns of a politician )

Are we really 'making up for it' now by deposing the totalitarian government, and replacing it with another one (one that we must insist should be totalitarian) ?

To conclude; WHO sold Saddam weapons in the first place while it was convenient ? WHO then sold weapons to Iran, and why ?(my but that Oliver North was a good looking man in uniform) Ron Reagan was asleep?? Of course he was, so were most people in America when that deal was going down ! - I have a feeling he slept well enough, and knew just a bit about what was going on before he hit the sack.

To quote the Indians; "white man speak with forked tongue". Not much has changed there, and integrity of politicians is questionable as soon as one thinks "why do they want that power"
Sorry mate, but my perspective won't be any more jingo-istic, or any less cynical if I have a pal in the Army - if I thought enough of him/her, and he/she'd listen, I might try and get them to leave before they got wasted on foreign soil by foreign underground freedom fighters.

 

[jeremy beadles hand]

WORKING

 

[Lord Bracknell]

bounce

 

[Sam]

i was at school, went into the common room at break time an the news was on with an american teacher really worried, some dickheads were sayin "cool, serves the americans right" and the american teacher almost started crying! he is 6ft5 and used to play american football for harvard!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I was at work setting up a demo system with smartcards. Took me all day. Someone told me that the Towers were hit, and I have to be honest - my reaction was to say, "as long as they don't attack us". In my defence, I had no idea how serious it was, & having not been to New York had no idea what the Twin Towers were.

Soon realised when I got home though. Absolutely unbelievable really

 

[Yorkie]

Robert Eaton RIP

I didn't ever read what you typed or know you but you were one of us

 

[DTES]

I'd been working the night before, so got up just after the first plane had hit. Just sat in front of the TV pretty much all day until going to work again that night. As many have said, I just couldn't believe what I was watching.

I joined NSC just a few months after, so never knew of Robert myself, but still, may he Rest In Peace.

 

[watsongooal]

Had a half day and was catching a bus from T-Wells to Heathfield to catch my lift for the Southampton game when I heard some blokes talking about it on the bus. Then spent two hour watching uinfold on TV

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

I was at work when I heard the news breaking on GLR/BBC London. Watched everything unfold on a TV with the rest of the staff, including a woman of Iraqi descent who even then said that the US would invade Iraq because of this. I remember the feeling that we were entering into a new era, and that the world would never be the same again. It was my son's first birthday two days before and I wondered what kind of world he was being brought into.

As the boss I was then in charge of deciding the policy on the three minute silence a few days later. The staff were divided and some of them were saying that there should be a silence for the thousands of deaths inflicted by the Americans over the years in what they (the staff) termed as terrorism, and in my opinion they had a point. In the end I said that there would be a silence, including the phones being turned off, and that everyone should observe it in respect of those who died that day.

Many more have died since in Afghanistan and Iraq, but of course the impact of the events of September 11th 2001 will make it a very important day in history and more so given the closeness to our own personal lives and experiences. Every one of us could imagine the horror of being in the twin towers or on one of the planes.

RIP Robert Eaton.

 

[Goring Gull]

Los Gigantes, Tenerife. Sipping a cocktail by the swimming pool bar.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I was in our offices at Docklands, when we received an internal mail telling us there was a problem with our moitoring lines to New York. 5 minutes later, one of our clients in the rest room suddenly yelled "f*** ME LOOK AT THIS" We rushed into the room just to see the second plane hit the Tower on TV

Many of the companies who had offices in the WTC were our clients and we monitored their systems from the UK. The monitoring system shows green lights normally and it was just a bank of red lights.

Robert worked for a company we were heavily involved with and in fact one of our salesman is a very good friend of barbara eaton and the family.

We watched in amazement as the towers collapsed and honestly believed there were 10's of thousands of people under the rubble.

Whilst I appreciate all the " well it was a wake up call, and they had it coming " arguments, that still doesn't really justify such an act of gross barbarity. I am firmly of the opinion that whist the US continues to support the state of Israel, there will be Arabic led terrorism. After all, Al Qieda's main aim is to remove the Americans from Saudi Arabian soil ( which is the ultimate insult to fundamentalist Muslims). America will never abandon its ally, Israel due to the historical ties and the "jewish lobby" and neither should they.

The Jewish problem has been around for thousands of years, its just the weapons of destruction have become better and the media is better placed to report them, and of course terrorism is transportable.

RIP Robert