76 Responses to:
FIVE YEARS AGO, THE ROAD TO VICTORY BEGAN

# 1. 9/11/06 12:19 AM by Brian
Thank you.

Only in the last few weeks have I heard politicians and talking heads start to name the enemy openly rather than refer to a war on one of their tactics, terrorism.

# 2. 9/11/06 12:40 AM by Pat who works with Bill - Rahchacha, Nueva York
Unfortunately the "drive by media" will not allow this to be called a "Holy War". They want to keep the sheep under its control and will continue to use "Political Correctness" as the means to keep that control. Until we as a nation see this conflict as you call it a "Holy War" the way of life taken for granted by the "drive by media" will remain under threat by those who are members of the "Religion of Peace". It is time for the leaders of Islam to publicly stand up and denounce these cowards who use terrorism as a way to obtain their goal. It is time for the people who clam to practice the "religion of Peace" to take away the cloak the terrorists hide behind. The Muslim community must show it backs the "War on Terror". But that would betray their own way of life. So forget about it Mr. and Mrs. America our wonderful way of life will always remain under attack by these cowards.We and our government must forever remain vigilant for the attacks to come. God Bless America, and President Bush.

# 3. 9/11/06 4:31 AM
In our decency and goodness, we have politely given them the benefit of the doubt (i.e. Islam is a "religion of peace") long enough. It is time we call it like it is. Thank you Bob for doing so.

You wrote: "Some Muslims use terrorism, others use different means to attain the same end."

Indeed. What's more, their men are not their only soldiers. A recent article in USA Today reported a new ovement in which Muslim women are having the temerity to come into our fair nation and demand that we make special accommodations for various tenets of their miserable, failed, 7th-century throwback culture. Among a few examples named in the article is that of the public swimming pool in North Seattle, Wash., which, having buckled under pressure from the female Muslim community there, instituted a swim time for Muslim women in which men, even lifeguards, are banned. Again, this is a public pool.

In this connection I do believe the words of Walid Phares, a professor of Middle East studies at Florida Atlantic University, who sees this as an early sign in the USA of a global Islamic movement to pressure Western society into abiding by Islamic laws. "These demands exist because there is an ideology of a militant movement to slowly but surely demand more," Phares says. "They will be building on it."

Yes, Islam, we are on to you.

# 4. 9/11/06 6:15 AM by David
Until our government takes off its PC blinders, we should be very concerned. Record numbers of Muslims have been flowing into our country since 911. Are they coming here to live or to conquer? Look towards France and the UK for the answer.

America will only prevail if we fight harder to save it. We've sent our fighting troops to distant places, while leaving our back door unattended.

It's time to take down the welcome sign. They declared war long before 911. It's time we get serious about fighting it.

# 5. 9/11/06 6:19 AM by PLM - Livonia
The Flag, red white and blue, waves in sight of all, right to sundown on our porch again today.

# 6. 9/11/06 7:14 AM by h
LET'S ROLL

-Todd Beamer

# 7. 9/11/06 7:18 AM
I'm so nauseous from reading the essays on this morning's letters to the editors page, I can hardly comment.

# 8. 9/11/06 7:22 AM by Doug
Their's is not of GOD but a cult of death and murder! It is a group of insane people that are headed by people that all think they are GOD and if you don't believe in them you must die. They hate freedom of any kind and want everyone to be dependant on them for all thoughts. And even if you are one of them and you smile at a soccer game they will beat or kill you. But I believe good and freedom will always beat evil and tyranny.

# 9. 9/11/06 7:26 AM by Mike Sr - Greece
Remember not all Muslims are terrorists, but all the terrorists have been Muslims. Yet far too few Muslims have condemned the terrorists.

# 10. 9/11/06 7:38 AM by GVI - Gates, NY
We shouldn't forget who our real enemies are - Russia, China, North Korea and Cuba. They have hardly lifted a finger to assist us in the war on terrorism, and in reality have helped to fan the flames...

# 11. 9/11/06 7:39 AM by Don - DFW
Right on the money, Bob. We can't just sit and watch these senseless things happen, and say, "Oh well, let's try to understand them", or try to analys them. I understand them all right. They're nothing but mindless organic robots, brainwashed by that culture of theirs. They're so rapped up in their "relegeon" that they're drivin insane. We need to wake up and stand up for ourselves.

# 12. 9/11/06 7:41 AM
"The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies--civilians and military--is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it.... We -- with God's help -- call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, and soldiers to launch the raid on Satan's U.S. troops and the devil's supporters allying with them, and to displace those who are behind them so that they may learn a lesson."

- partial text of Osama bin Laden's fatwa against the U.S.

NEVER FORGET.

# 13. 9/11/06 7:55 AM by Leon - Muncie, In
Sorry to say it. There were many people awake on the morning of 9/11, most were asleep. I knew these killers were at work long before 9/11. Those who were awakened have now returned to their sleep. When the Liberals take control of congress next year all of the accomplishment of the brave men and women will be squandered in the name of "can't we all just get along" Makes me sick, but what can I do about it except one vote.

# 14. 9/11/06 8:13 AM
The whole concept of doing evil in the name of God is just plain sickening...the terrorist's true god is Satan.

# 15. 9/11/06 8:16 AM by PHIL - SOUTH WEDGE NY
AMEN BOB! RIGHT ON BUDDY! THIS IS THE FINAL WAR TO END ALL WARS! RADICAL MUSLIM FANATICS & THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN REST OF THE WORLD. THIS IS WWIII. WE MUST WIN & THIS IS A LONG WAR! 121

# 16. 9/11/06 8:29 AM by rjs - Rochester, NY
I don't consider any war, a holy war. I realize that the people we are fighting do consider it a "Holy War". They have been fighting this same war since the crusades. Every time they start losing they quit and re-arm then start again. History is full of facts about muslim invasions of christian countries. This is just another battle. It will never end until one side or the other totally eliminates the other. Even if we both declare peace, it will only start again, a year, a hundred years, but it will start again.

# 17. 9/11/06 8:35 AM by John Russo - Limerick, PA
Amen!!!

Now if we can only get beyond the American Criminal Liberties Union and the other politically correct groups that protect these people under the guise of civil rights.

# 18. 9/11/06 8:46 AM by LKB - Richmond, VA
RE: #9

"Remember not all Muslims are terrorists, but all the terrorists have been Muslims. Yet far too few Muslims have condemned the terrorists."

That's because a very basic, underlying belief of Islam is that Allah wants all the infidels (non-Muslims) to either die or be enslaved. Islam must ultimately reign supreme. And even though the vast majority of Muslims wouldn't resort to violence to further this end (figuring to let Allah take up his own sword)they can hardly fault those who do.

# 19. 9/11/06 8:49 AM by hunter - e. bethany, ny
Can't wait until we turn ubl into a pile of bul....fried bovine feces.

# 20. 9/11/06 8:51 AM by Jim & Joan
Great column - wish you could get wide national and regional circulation with this column. Prime time news. Do circulate it.

# 21. 9/11/06 9:08 AM
As I sit here watching the live tribute in NYC it makes me sad and somber. I want to to turn off the TV and go back to bed. I don't feel very victorious. I know you're right though. We'll never forget.

# 22. 9/11/06 9:09 AM by Joe
Our troops and the war on terrorism require equal support.

God bless our troops. God bless their mission. God bless our leaders with resolve.

# 23. 9/11/06 9:18 AM by Kevin - Rochester
Damn near vommited last night as I watched John Kerry explain how Islam was a religion of 'Peace not Terror'.

# 24. 9/11/06 9:28 AM by Fred
And it is time that we took a no-nonsense approach towards our enemy - Islam!

Let's stop with the notion that implementing a voting process will end our problems.

What good does it do us when they vote in a guy like the leader in Iran??

We need to win the war by taking the fight to them. Sorry, sitting in the middle of a civil war (Iraq) and playing policemen, is a total waste of our resources.

5 years later and the Taliban still rule the country side of Afganistan.

# 25. 9/11/06 9:36 AM by Dominic - Spencerport, NY
We can not let up in this war.

Keep the battle overseas in some crummy desert locale I can not pronounce. Let them blow each other up in Allah's name. Whatever - we ARE on to these people and can contain the problem offshore... as long as we never forget.

The final victory will be when the people in these middle eastern states decide to rise up and join the rest of the free and peaceful world.

# 26. 9/11/06 9:59 AM by Mr. Buzzcut
Mohammed or Jesus.

Choose wisely.

# 27. 9/11/06 10:04 AM by Lacy
Thanks for writing of strength instead of weakness today.

# 28. 9/11/06 10:21 AM by JoeV - Highland, NY
#13 - your vote, my vote and those of others will hopefully keep the liberal minded "can't we just get along" pacifiers out of office. God Bless America and those that put their lives on the line to protect our freedom! I, for one, will never forget 9/11.

# 29. 9/11/06 10:43 AM by Jen - Rochester
Great column. On to the poll: I am wondering if the fundamentalist muslims want us to think that this is a holy war. But I think there religion provides a convenient and unifying excuse to terrorize the West.

They want power, and cannot get power unless they unite. The hate for the West, specifically America is the one thing to which many fundamentalist sects can agree. The boon for these groups are, quite frankly, those who want "peace" - AKA Hollywood and the elitists (in mostly the media and democrat party). These folks bolster the appearance that America is a ever fracturing and declining society.

I sincerely hope that the old days of shameless patriotic pride can come back. That is the sort of thing that will defeat the fundamentalist muslims.

thank you bob for penning this frank column. you are saying what needs to be said.

# 30. 9/11/06 10:50 AM by Elle
Thank you, Bob. This column was sorely needed. I sent you an email today, expressing my disgust with today's D&C Speaking Out page. I watched the 9/11 ceremonies today and shed many tears. Then I got to read the "equal opportunity" D&C and became angry and disgusted. What an insult to anyone who lost a loved one in 9/11 and anyone who has lost someone in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like we really need to read what the Imam has to say. Your column is a keeper and I've sent it to my son in Boston and my brother in South Carolina. Thanks again!

# 31. 9/11/06 10:58 AM by Thomas Hunter - Tigard, Or
However, we need to be alert to the fact that all muslims do not look like muslims.so cannot be profiled. Many are converts from many countries including the USA.and may have american names. So just forget the liquids in your carry-on and put them in your ship thru luggage. This is already being done by a lot of people. A good thing too because it speeds loading to embark and disbark from planes, since fewer people are carring on luggage to store in the cabin.

# 32. 9/11/06 11:02 AM by Marc Ryan - Traverse City Michigan
THANK YOU:

# 33. 9/11/06 11:10 AM by Dennis - Webster, NY
It's not PC to say so, but you nailed the heart of the matter:

"We failed to see the moral superiority of the Judeo-Christian ethic with its commandments to love your neighbor and do unto others as you would have others do unto you. We failed to see the moral inferiority of a religion whose message to the world is: Convert or die."

# 34. 9/11/06 11:33 AM by Pete - Layton
Excellent! May God bless those who fight for freedom, and damn those who won't.

# 35. 9/11/06 11:52 AM by Patriot
"...from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Editor's Note: amen

# 36. 9/11/06 12:00 PM by Tim - Rochester, NY
I know we will win, but so many are in a dangerous mindset that Tony Blair has stated IS the problem in the West: that is failing to admit that the problem IS Islam not tolerating us and not the other way around.

Bill Clinton cares more about his ego than the story of 9/11 being told; including the missteps of his administration over the eight years leading to the day.

# 37. 9/11/06 12:29 PM by carole - greenwood,ny
I do not think this is a Holy War. Because in our system we allow anyone to worship as they please. And so We are not fighting a Holy War. Their religion is sacred to them and that is fine and if immigrants from there wish to follow their religion here that is their choice and basically we have no fight with that. But we have the same right and there is only one God whom we all worship in our own ways. In the case of the terrorists they are a faction that is not normal in the religion. They read into their koran things that are not there. And they are the ones to be sought because they are killing people. I know that no matter what Bible or Koran you read says that killing is a SIN. And so they are the sinners.

Editor's Note: i'm not sure i'm going to trust someone named "carole" to tell us what the koran does or does not say or mean

# 38. 9/11/06 1:14 PM by Mike Rosenhan - Kearns, UT
As I keep saying, Islam is the church of the devil.

#37- Great job quoting from the Gettysburg Address. Very applicable.

# 39. 9/11/06 1:17 PM by Charlie
Your opening monologue this morning spoke rang eloquently and articulately regarding today's editorial by one of the local so-called spokesmen for the muslim religion. I have been irritated and occasionally enraged at the refusal of this man - or any other spokesperson for that religion - to respond to the violent actions done in the name of their religion. There was, again, no acknowledgement, let alone criticism (God forbid), of the unjustifiable and unspeakable crimes committed by their co-religionists against others, often of the same religion. You'd think there was a complete disconnect between Islam and the violence and hatred attendant to its practice everywhere in the world, when in fact it is a cause. I have written the D&C, but they haven't printed any of my letters criticizing the spokesman, so I thank you for the opportunity to get this off my chest.

# 40. 9/11/06 1:25 PM by Carrie
After watching last nights part one, it was no surprise this happened. Unfortunately we weren't on top of things to stop this. We have to learn and be smarter than our enemies. Shame on Clinton for not taking the responsibility and wiping this guy out when we had the chance. No wonder he complained about it. His mind was on Lewinsky and his immoral mess. This shows it is true America is more concerned with its immorality than to pay attention to what is truly going on. What is going to happen next? We have to be alert and not worry about civil rights. We have to be concerned about the rest of us. Why are we letting all these Muslims in. Are we nuts??? They don't need to invade us, we have already let them all in!! Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on us.

# 41. 9/11/06 1:28 PM by Dave H - Rochester, NY
Bob: Freedom of religion is a right that we, in this country, are only now coming to terms with.The various Christian sects that warred with one another in Europe learned to get along reasonable well here in America, from the get go. The reason is that the Christian theology demands it. The Jews do not believe Christ was the messiah, but their covenant with God was not amended to correct, through persecution, those diessenters who chose Christ.The religous respect that Christians and Jews have for one another is partly the result of our United States of America. Muslims will not merge with any society built on tolerance, since they are always praying for a victory, rather than the salvation of their souls.Eternal damnation to a Muslim is unthinkable-that only happens to non-Muslims,or as they like to call us, Pigs and Dogs.Muslims are both a latent, and very active threat to our nation.They should be made to take a loyalty oath, and if they refuse, deported to Mecca. That includes all Muslims-black and white. Dave

# 42. 9/11/06 1:41 PM by Wade - Sandy, UT
From what I understand, it's estimated that somewhere around 300 million Muslims subscribe to the al Qaeda school of thought. 300 million certainly is a minority of Muslims, but it isn't some tiny faction of extremists either. 300 million Muslims is about 25% of all Muslims on Earth. When a quarter of all Muslims believe it is right and good to murder all those who don't share their beliefs, that means there is something wrong with Islam itself.

# 43. 9/11/06 1:59 PM by miss k - wotl land
Sometimes I've heard people complain about other's peoples children. It was never the children, it was the children's parents that didn't take control. You DO not negotiate with bullies, four year old's throwing temper tantrums or anyone who wants to blow you up.

A few pet peeves: 1. Where is the outcry of injustice againstthe suicide bombers who purposely target innocent civillians?

2. Does anyone recognize our nation declared itself independent from England 11 years before we had a ratified constitution? It takes time to win wars and to change the world.

3. Our impatience can cost us more than Iraq, it can cost our children's future. We don't leave until the job is done, we stick it OUT! We are Americans! Land of the Free, and Home of the BRAVE!

# 44. 9/11/06 1:59 PM by Darren - Irondequoit
Overall I agree with you, but it isn't the religion that is to blame.

Make no mistake Christianity has had it's perverse twisting of the teachings of Christ through the generations. Only in our lifetimes those perversions are squashed by our more educated and opinionated society. Helpful is the fact that our opinions will not be met with torture and death.

But if the Crusaders finished their job we might not be having this discussion today.

The problem is that the masses in the Islamic nations fall into two categories. The weak and the weak minded.

The weak will not stand up for peace and for what is right, from fear of repercussions. The weak minded fall for the lies and the promises from those in the halls of wealth and power.

For now destruction of the threat is necessary. I still look at the following quote from one of your 9-11 essays everyday, and draw strength and pride at how we ALL stood together on the days that followed this heinous attack.

"You don't know my people. You don't know what we are capable of. You don't know what you just started. But you are about to learn."

God Bless America, today and everyday.

# 45. 9/11/06 2:37 PM by Tom - Rochester NY
Way to go Bob. It's about time someone stepped up ans spoke the truth, and not this PC bull. The liberals of this country sure do have a short memory. The terrorist that attacked must love hearing them speak. The terroist would love to see these people win the next election.I'm sure they would love to sit down and talk thing over with the terrorist, and give them what they want.(that way they will like us. BS) They will never like us because we are free, and if we give up this fight now we will only inpower them even more. And we will be attacked again. As Pearl Harbor serviors always say never forget, we must do the same for 9/11. If we don't rember and learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it. That would be a real crime and a disgrace on all of the American's that died that day. The only thing that Radical Islam understands is firepower. Well we have it so lets give them somthing they understand

# 46. 9/11/06 2:48 PM by Mario - Brockport
Add my vote to #13 and #28. And I have a feeling that most people who responded today will be voting with us.

We need to send the "Blame America First" crowd home.

# 47. 9/11/06 3:21 PM by wayne - salt lake city
I agree and thank you for your column.

Why do we persist on calling them "suicide" bombers? We ought to call them what they are: "homicide bombers." As long as we buy it to their view, that suicide in the name of religion is acceptable, they will continue doing what they're doing.

Calling them what they are won't change their actions but it would put those actions in the proper light.

# 48. 9/11/06 3:32 PM by Bob
You really believe all of Bush's propaganda, don't you? You are a sad, sad sheep.

# 49. 9/11/06 3:32 PM by jim - bethlehem pa
yes they played their hand and now they have to pay

# 50. 9/11/06 3:32 PM
Osama Bin Laden should not have survived the Clinton Administration.

Would you like to:
add your own comment? or send this story to a friend?