X-Message-Number: 17611
From: 
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 21:18:21 EDT
Subject: Dan Rather on Letterman Show Monday Night

I do not know if this will be a second posting.  I anticipated seeing it this 
morning on CryoNet, but it did not appear so it may or may not have been lost 
in cyberspace.  (You now know what I do not.)  At the risk of repeating 
myself, here is the post (again?):

Subj:   Dan Rather Cries But Helps George Load the Bombs.
Date:   09/18/2001 3:38:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:   Biologist501
To: CryoNet

Cryonet:

Letterman was back on the air for the first time tonight (Monday--9/17/2001) 
broadcasting from NY.  We will likely see selected sections of this 
particular show far into the future.  Dan Rather was a guest.  I only caught 
the last part of his spot (and the remainder of the show with guest Regis, a 
morning show host, e.g., Kathy & Regis fame, I think).  Dan Rather, obviously 
physically and emotionally worn, "brokedown" in tears recounting events and 
forecasting events.  I believe that may be a first.  Letterman was 
unprepared, but was characteristically quick.  Hopefully, Rather is not 
embarrassed, if so, he will likely reconsider over time for several reasons, 
one of which will be his enhanced ratings.  Both revealed deeper sides of 
themselves.  Both came off well.  Regis was next.  He was also 
good--appropriately comical for a bit of a needed relief.  The audience was 
even unusually good/fitting. At one point Regis mentioned that he was talking 
to his son, a wheel chair-bound Pentagon employee, when the attack in 
Washington occurred.  He did not hear the explosion at all but heard the 
hollering to clear out several minutes later.

The post part most relevant to the forum is Rather's apparent conviction of 
serious US retaliation as soon as perhaps the next several hours.  The tone 
of his voice and the clarity of his expression quieted the audience. He did 
not elaborate on his source, the likely target or the magnitude, but offered 
no objections. Letterman hesitated but did not probe.  Historically, George 
Smith's posts are of irrefutable logic.  And on this issue he speaks from a 
position of firsthand knowledge of the realities of war, I believe (i.e., 
blood and guts).  I note that both have somewhat unique vantage points, 
apparent similar points of view and apparent similar expectations.  We should 
be prepared.  (I have envision limited but sustained excursions to begin in 
several weeks or months and continue indefinitely, with equal parts legal, 
political and military.)

New Subject:
I read all of the world newspaper accounts posted yesterday by John Grigg 
(thanks, John).  Those and more should also be a required reading for any and 
all decision makers.

New Subject:
Mark Plus posted #17555 (Cryonet - Sat 15 Sep 2001) titled: "When you strike 
the king..." 
Good post in my book.  Much truth per my 44-year experience and extrapolated 
experiences.  I have pulled some poignant lines and have added a comment in 
[brackets].

"This enormity is fundamentally different from earlier terrorist attacks in 
that it directly assaulted the ruling class in this country."

"For a long time now they have been able to depend on proxies in the U.S. 
Government to do their heavy lifting."

[Those at the WTC were still largely proxies, I believe, but close enough to 
get the attention of their bosses with motivations even more so chipped in 
stone with the incredible drop in the stock market today/yesterday--some sold 
quick, some took a serious cold bath first]

"Now they realize that the shield has failed to protect them, and they are 
angry, frightened, and given the economic incentives to act."

"Those terrorists have awakened a metaphorical 'Great Satan,' indeed."

"In the real world, people are quite willing to hold onto wealth and power 
using whatever means they find  
expedient."

[Thanks, Mark.]

New Subject
David Pascal's post from yesterday was characteristically insightful. 
[Thanks, David.]

Regards,

David C. Johnson

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