It’s taken a bit of doing. I flew into Chicago. Connecting flight to Cedar Rapids was cancelled. Told there were no more flights until tomorrow. Rented the last car they had available for a one-way trip to Iowa City. Drove four hours. Now United Airlines has lost my bags, and I’m pretty scuzzy looking as all my “gels” are packed in a bag that easily could have been carried on the plane.
But hey, it is the fifth anniversary of 9/11 and we must be vigilant against deoderants and toothpaste. That and some cruise missiles will keep us safe. You can probably tell that I’m not thrilled about the lost baggage thing.
In any case, I will be more reflective at noon at the Iowa City Public Library and at 2 p.m. at the Prairie Lights Bookstore.
For other locals, I’ll be at the Java House on Washington Street this morning, hammering out details on an Iran Conference this morning. I’ll be the scuzzy looking guy.
We’ve now been “at war” for longer than we were during World War II and are no closer to pulling the plug on bin Laden’s style of terrorism than we were on September 10, 2001. It’s connecting with the people, stupid. . .connecting with them and their aspirations for a better future.
To get to the reasons why this is the case, remind yourself of the answers implied in Donald Rumsfeld’s “Global War on Terrorism Memo.”
— Steve Clemons
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