I get the memes and all that, but am I wrong in thinking it's a tad more complex? In any context, I can't help but regret such loss of life. As I think about it, though, I guess we wrought all manner of havoc in the Middle East, and we didn't spare civilians, so why should we expect any different. All the horrific things we did there... I see clearly why it happened. I just can't see myself supporting such an action. If they flew planes first into government buildings (which I know they tried) or military bases I could understand better. I just can't in good conscience support either what we did there or what happened here. I also won't say the US didn't deserve it; we totally did, but was actually doing it the correct move? How is it entirely different from going out and shooting random finance bros or billionaires. Sure they deserve it, sure it'll make us feel better, but I don't think it'd bring about real change. It's the argument against adventurism. And it helped fast-track surveillance fascism here, though I don't blame them for that, that was our own ghoul-ass politicians and scared people.
I guess this could be a common sentiment, and people just like memeing, which is all right, I suppose, so long as it doesn't get you in prison for making an ill-advised joke.
EDIT: I guess I still have some pacifist brainworms. I keep wanting our "good guys" not to use such violence, when comparably it is a drop in the bucket of the violence used against them. Also, of course, the responsibility for what happened to the US is lies within themselves. I do regret the loss of life, but I need to remember to keep in mind the many many many more lives lost due to US imperialism. Thanks for the replies!
I’m late but I will say this:
You mentioned you don’t think it could bring about real change, however right after you say it brought about a surveillance state.
That was the point, essentially. It created a scenario that pushed America into devaluing their dollar to fund a war that could never be won, to drive dollars towards things that didn’t help anyone, and to force them to print more. The devaluation of the dollar from that event (that long event) is now starting to show its head, and in my opinion, it was the killing blow that put America on a path towards destroying their own currency. Honestly an incredible long term strategy that America did not foresee because it didn’t exist in the next financial quarter
That makes a lot of sense! I guess I didn't see that connection either.
And just a follow up it’s important to devalue the dollar because it’s the most important step to removing it as the world reserve currency. If the dollar breaks in this regard, America’s debt finally matters and it would likely destroy the country because it would cause extreme inflation and eliminate most of their leverage over trade. It’s a situation the US cannot recover from if it’s lost, ever