Where were you? along with a photo of a peaceful/standing twin towers.
My response:
With my GF in Kingston. Had already done some time in uniform. Took me several years to become skeptical and see that the federal government and the press had lost credibility.
Today:
My feeling is that a man on the moon in 1969 was a proud American moment. That was maybe the best of America in my lifetime.
“What I remember most about 9/11 is the way America was unified the day after. During uncontrollable times we controlled our response. Race, Gender and Political Party were equally irrelevant.”
“We focused on loving each other, how did we get so segregated? We never would have made it this far if we embraced division on September the 12th. We are where we are because we got here TOGETHER let’s embrace love yet again.”
“God Bless The USA.”
My response:
Good Stuff
Let’s keep that and add a free and independent press that will ask questions/rock the boat, no matter who is in office.
The mainstream press provides news coverage that favors government agencies, departments and policies.
We got our ass kicked on 911.The federal government has been squandering credibility ever since. If the US Armed Forces were keeping us safe– first responders would have had a routine day at work on 911. The giant government and “Dept of Defense” were nowhere to be found on 911. For federal government convenience, take the day, follow along, pledge your allegiance and behave as that government sees fit. Do as you are told. Fly your flag as you are told. Think and behave as that government tells you. Divert your attention away from federal government failure and stay busy with federal suggestions for the day.
Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we will observe the day by avoiding network TV. At the bottom of this page, we will offer up some readings featuring voices of dissent and alternative media.
Aftermath
Let’s say the federal government did everything right before and on the day of Sept. 11th, 2001. The uniparty press avoids questions on how things have come together since.
Big Homeland Security spending
The US Dept of Homeland Security was established on November 25, 2002. Plenty of time for lessons learned, and more cartel drugs entering Hometown, USA than ever before?
Lessons Learned?
Anytime there is a plane crash, a loss at sea, or an industrial accident, a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents. A major aircraft manufacturer grounds certain airplanes after mishaps. Time is required to investigate and find out what went wrong.
Any similar effort after a big cartel drug bust inside the US?
The folks who show up and investigate the plane crash don’t spend time congratulating each other. Their work is designed to try and prevent similar future incidents, not promote themselves.
Preventing drugs from entering local communities would kill the chance for various agencies to get publicity for the occasional big drug bust happening in those communities.
Wonder what was happening at border crossing/port of entry inspections during the 12 months Operation P-22 (to take down just one branch of the cartel activity) took place. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?
Did the cartel traffickers get fast track screening at the border so as not to disrupt this ongoing investigation?
If the drug traffickers were given a pass at the border- would that have tipped them off as to the investigation- or would that have been seen as standard protocol?
Imagine that LE authorities observe a shoplifter or bank robber in action. Instead of going in to make an arrest they back off and conduct an investigation that goes on for months. What if they applied the same tactic Re: crimes involving arson, terrorism, child abuse, DUI, etc.
This time next year- will there be any shortage of cartel product in the Puget Sound area? Has any city, county or state jurisdiction been able to cleanup their drug problem using these methods?
Snohomish 2015
Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US:
Newspeople are good about posting a drug bust press release. Newspeople remain silent when it comes to asking questions about Homeland Security funding and performance.
Big DOD spending on undeclared/unwon wars for our freedoms.
School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their lawn mower.
Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
Maybe a few more decades of undeclared/unwon wars and the freedoms will get better.
Why do we speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Both major parties are OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Both major parties are good with a land of the free holding pattern where alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18? Are The Joint Chiefs of Staff working to change any of this?
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Has it become harder to find blogs, videos and alternative media that ask questions or point to the failures of 911 and its aftermath? How about COVID? How about a giant US Dept. of Homeland Security?
“Nearly 1,800 victims’ relatives, first responders and survivors are calling on Biden to refrain from attending any memorials over his refusal to release Sept. 11 documents.”
“The administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also declined to declassify supporting documents, citing national security concerns.”
22 Years Later
Part of the reaction was to send The Troops into undeclared wars.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
Fake GWOT?
The US Dept. of Homeland Security was invented after the catastrophic military failure of 911. The idea was to keep bad people from coming to the US to do bad things/attempt another 911, etc.
Wouldn’t the giant War on Terror be a cartel drug trafficker’s worst nightmare?
If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?
The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has now been extended out more than 20 years past 911 – May 7, 2025
If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?
Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?
Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?
“What goes on at airports is not security. It is Security Theater. When the government’s own agents try to smuggle “weapons” aboard airliners to test the system, they succeed ninety-five percent of the time.”
“Further, a terrorist doesn’t need to get aboard an airliner to blow up spectacularly. At many airports, hundreds of people line up at ticket counters during peak hours. A carry-on bag of explosive would easily create enough slaughter to shut down air travel and to make international headlines for weeks.”
Will sending the National Guard, active, reserve and IRR forces to support NATO/Ukraine stimulate new enlistments over at the recruiting office?
National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
These families have stories to tell and they’re not all positive. Will their stories support a draft?
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.
We haven’t won a war since.
Considering the aftermath of 911
Since 911, have people been at risk out at the airport because there has not been any requirement for REAL ID in order to fly within the United States?
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
People need to carry a special ID to go have lunch in Canada, then return home. Have these ID requirements helped to keep cartel product from entering the US?
Don’t look for the press to go and interview the US Dept. of Homeland Security and ask any questions on this.
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
I was thinking that 911 should have been a drug trafficker’s worst nightmare. The US Dept. of Homeland Security- a whole new federal department-was created to stop terrorists and prevent another 911.
Part of the article describes cartel product seized at the border. Part of the article talks about product that gets past federal agents at the border.
Federal agents swing into action after meth from Mexico moves past federal agents manning a $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security-then, on into New Mexico:
“Historically, crystal meth in its purest and most potent form came to the islands from markets in Asia and the Pacific as documented by the Hawaii’s Ice Age reporting series that Civil Beat and Hawaii Public Radio published five years ago.”
Newspeople avoid asking questions by going with a press release style of news reporting.
A statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest bust/federal grant money award, etc. Newspeople post this statement. No questions asked:
Does Port Angeles CBP play any role in keeping meth and heroin from entering the Olympic Peninsula?
If you run a government operation-these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
If a $51.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security was preventing cartel product from arriving in American communities, why would General Milley need to launch Operation Macho Swagger?
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger prevented cartel product from entering WA?
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger–a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions: Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Defending against the world’s most dangerous terrorist and criminal organizations results in no shortage of heroin, cocaine or meth anywhere in the US.
Michigan meth supply not yet cut off by National Guard troops, strict post 911 security protocols and a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security:
Crystal meth, marijuana seizures rising in Ottawa County
Thanks for your many years of service in Iraq & Afghanistan- working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Tried to have your back with strict post-911 security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, federal agents at border crossings & ports of entry & passports/enhanced & Real IDs to keep us all safe.
We’ll try harder next time.
Women hassled 30 miles from US/Canada border as heroin-trafficking cartels continue to move product over the real border- no questions asked.
Vast enforcement powers- applied nowhere near any border crossing or port of entry- are still no match for the heroin-trafficking cartels that continue to move product into US communities.
Wonder what was happening at border crossing inspections during the 3 years these folks were under investigation. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
Thanks for your many years of service in Iraq & Afghanistan- working to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things.
Tried to have your back with strict post-911 security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, federal agents at border crossings & ports of entry & passports/enhanced & Real IDs to keep us all safe.
We’ll try harder next time.
Heroin-trafficking cartel moves product into North Carolina:
Wonder what was happening at border crossing inspections during the 3 years these folks were under investigation. Do the good guys who made the local bust notify the good guys at the border about the weak links in their process?
Were federal authorities at the border notified of this ongoing investigation?
A $41.2 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep cargo trucks from moving large amounts of heroin and fentanyl from Central America into the Bronx:
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, airport & mall shootings, child abduction, etc.
“Clallam County’s death rate from prescription opioid and heroin overdose was 29 per 100,000 in 2013, nearly twice the state’s overdose death rate of 14.8 per 100,000, health officials have said.”
As much as possible- 911 observances will be about symbolism, heroes, victims, first responders, The Troops, giant flag rituals & B-2 bomber flyovers. Anything but- questions about a catastrophic military failure and the 15 years of undeclared/unwon wars that followed.
Random thoughts:
Never Forget-
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
Perhaps four handguns could have saved thousands on 911?
First responders question crime scene protocols:
Conspiracy Theory?
Asking for clarification/better info is not the same as offering up any sort of conspiracy theory.
More information is better- this is how science and medicine works. Over the years some people have been freed from prison based on new DNA evidence becoming available.
Are the people who took steps to discover that new evidence conspiracy theorists?
Apply this same curiosity and desire for knowledge to some controversial topics and you’ll be labeled a conspiracy theorist.
Operating a camera in a public place might be a sign of terrorist activity?
Terror threat dismissed by citizen at 6:04
US troops to Iraq & Afghanistan ($4 trillion) & the creation of the US Dept. of Homeland Security ($791 billion)- still unable to keep US communities safe.
15 years past 911- what part of the War on Terror is working?
“The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) published the list days ago, a report that contained names, photos, and home addresses of U.S. Armed Forces personnel, causing alarm in cities potentially at high-risk.”
Pentagon victim/statistic medal to be awarded to personnel not involved in military operations:
Vast crime-fighting resources are available to the folks who tell us there is “no credible threat.”
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, school & church shootings, child abduction, etc.
The post-911 surveillance state (fusion centers, war on terror crime fighting tactics, license plate scanners, Homeland Security grant money, monitoring of e-mails, text messages, and social media sites, no fly/terror watch lists, Real ID, tracking of cell phones, use of drones, etc.) appears to have played no role in preventing the crimes Re: Purple Heart Medals described above.
Perhaps four handguns could have saved thousands on 911?
– And prevented the next 15 years of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
14 years past 911- heroin trafficking cartels move product into the US free of screening, scanning, pat downs, special IDs, inspection of personal items, etc.
Discussions on news sites seem to be more about group identities and less about issues. I am not anti-government, anti-military or anti-law enforcement. My concerns are not specific to any political party, personality or group identity.
After years of reading comments posted to news articles, here’s my take-
“The Troops are keeping us safe.”
Except on 911. Except when heroin-trafficking cartels want to move product into the Seattle area:
The Troops are keeping us safe- except when violent offenders are on the loose.
After spending huge amounts of cash on these programs:
The post-911 surveillance state (fusion centers, war on terror crime fighting tactics, license plate scanners, Homeland Security grant money, monitoring of e-mails, text messages, and social media sites, no fly/terror watch lists, Real ID, tracking of cell phones, use of drones, etc.) the system needs your help in locating the whereabouts of these folks:
Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
“We would all be speaking German today if it weren’t for those amazing individuals back then.”
The free and well armed people who populate the North American continent could be forced to speak a language not of their choosing?
Please see Operation Sea Lion.
The world’s most modern & powerful military force has had their hands full for years now trying to pacify the locals in the Greater Middle East.
We’ve got such a good handle on the situation- National Guard units are doing multiple tours in distant lands– absent any military emergency, draft, or declaration of war:
“The Troops are fighting to protect our rights and freedoms.”
As if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
US foreign policy goals and objectives are mapped out at the very highest levels of government.
Ask yourself- is there someone at the table- in those high level planning sessions- who makes sure that military operations overseas include a mission to protect American rights and freedoms?
Does someone make sure the mission is to defend the constitution?
Is there anyone who verifies that the mission is to protect our physical security?
How does the executive branch of government defend the constitution via US foreign policy?
How are decades of undeclared/unwon wars protecting our freedoms? People are quick to pass the buck & blame politicians when The Troops return home without a victory. When The Troops are defending freedom house of cards collapses- politicians are to blame? Is it politicians that defend rights & freedoms?
Does all this freedom mean it would be OK to grow a marijuana plant in the back yard?
A few months back there was a discussion about NAS Whidbey jets training over the Olympic Peninsula.
A question came up:
Why are NAS Whidbey jets not doing their training over a military reservation in Eastern WA, California, Nevada, etc. The federal government has set aside huge amounts of land for this purpose.
Answer:
It would take too much jet fuel to move aircraft back & forth over a long distance. Discussion in comments here.
New info:
Whidbey jets recently preformed a public relations flyover at the Indy 500. Is NAS Whidbey the closest military installation capable of performing a flyover in Indiana?
Looks like jet fuel may not be an issue here. Hometown pride means not asking questions.
The US should maintain a strong & ready military to be used for defensive purposes in wars declared by congress. People should find honest ways to honor the military. Stop with the nonsense about freedom & free speech rights.
Recommendation: phase out decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas.
“Clallam County’s death rate from prescription opioid and heroin overdose was 29 per 100,000 in 2013, nearly twice the state’s overdose death rate of 14.8 per 100,000, health officials have said.”
“U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent Jeff Picinich (kneeling), who is stationed in Port Angeles, smiles as he inspects the new coastal interceptor vessel with agent Jesse Wozniak, of southern Florida, at Thursday’s ceremony for the boat at SAFE Boats International.”
Newspeople didn’t show up to ask any questions, so I’ll ask a few. My questions appear in bold type.
Port Angeles heroin-
Question for newspeople:
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?
“Clallam County’s death rate from prescription opioid and heroin overdose was 29 per 100,000 in 2013, nearly twice the state’s overdose death rate of 14.8 per 100,000, health officials have said.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
As always- the big story comes with zero reporting or questions from newspeople about why the US Dept. of Homeland Security is unable to keep heroin out of the US.
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for your service
Love to see newspeople schedule an interview with the US Dept. of Homeland Security & ask:
Are passports/enhanced/Real IDs effective in keeping heroin out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
Was sending US troops to Iraq & Afghanistan meant to keep bad people from coming here & doing bad things?
Local law enforcement agencies may benefit when the US Dept. of Homeland Security fails to keep heroin out of the US-
Newspeople didn’t show up at the base to ask any questions during this report, so I’ll ask a few. My questions appear in bold type.
From what we can tell here- 25 years of war in Iraq results in a situation where terror strikes may happen in the US at any time. What was the purpose of sending troops to Iraq & Afghanistan? What was the payoff in creating the US Dept. of Homeland Security?
“Even though Brussels and Paris are both thousands of miles from the Ozarks, in our society, experts say we all are susceptible to terrorism. ”
“Those kinds of things could happen any day, any place in the United States.”
Welcome Home Troops- thanks for your service.
“While citizens keep a lookout, thousands of soldiers train to keep us safe at Fort Leonard Wood.”
“Murphy said we cannot forget what we learned from September 11th.”
Never Forget-
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
“We can’t allow safe harbors in Iraq and Afghanistan from happening again. We can’t allow ISIS to hurt our families.”
“Murphy believes America faces challenges ahead to keep families safe.”
“We need these young Americans to raise their right hand to support and defend the Constitution,” said Murphy.
Secretary Murphy,
How are wars in Iraq & Afghanistan keeping us safe while heroin-trafficking cartels are able to move product into the Seattle area?
How do decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas relate to defending the Constitution?
US foreign policy goals and objectives are mapped out at the very highest levels of government.
Ask yourself- is there someone at the table- in those high level planning sessions- who makes sure that military operations overseas include a mission to protect American rights and freedoms?
Does someone make sure the mission is to defend the constitution?
Is there anyone who verifies that the mission is to protect our physical security?
How does the executive branch of government defend the constitution via US foreign policy?
Flight attendant flees screening, abandons 70 pounds of cocaine
As always- the story comes with zero reporting or questions from newspeople about how the 70 pounds of cocaine got past the US Dept. of Homeland Security and into Los Angeles International Airport.
Welcome Home Troops.
Thanks for your service.
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009. How are heroin-trafficking cartels moving product into the Seattle area in 2015?
Vast crime-fighting resources are available to the folks who tell us there is “no credible threat.”
The post-911 surveillance state (fusion centers, war on terror crime fighting tactics, license plate scanners, Homeland Security grant money, monitoring of e-mails, text messages, and social media sites, no fly/terror watch lists, tracking of cell phones, use of drones, etc.) appears to have played no role in preventing the crimes described here.
Unlike bad guys everywhere- he went to purchase illegal firearms from an undercover FBI confidential informant.
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, school & church shootings, child abduction, etc.
Post-911 security protocols, sentries & watchstanders unable to prevent lone bumbler from penetrating US Coast Guard base- then smoking marijuana in the CO’s quarters aboard 210-foot cutter Active- not to be discovered until hours later at morning colors:
This is one of the very few articles I have seen that says the reason we aren’t seeing more terror strikes inside the US- is because the terrorists aren’t trying very hard.
I have wondered for years-
What prevents the badass terrorists we are supposed to stay scared of from blowing themselves up in a crowded airport just short of the screening checkpoint?
“Although the bureau said it is aware of no current credible threat in South Florida, it follows countless leads and tips, and monitors a variety of people and groups.”
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, child abduction, etc.
If it is essential to bring a bag, it must be in compliance with the clear bag policy which requires that it be made of clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12.”
“The NFL said it had been in contact with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI and planned increased security inside and outside stadiums on Sunday. League officials discouraged fans from bringing bags.”
No credible threats- because- in the War on Terror- the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it?
If the good guys can tell what the bad guys will do before they do it- surely, these powerful crime fighting tools will be used to shut down gang and cartel activity, heroin trafficking, bank robberies, child abduction, etc.
Has the War on Terror kept the US or Europe more safe?
Yesterday, somebody posted:
