(The opinions expressed in guest op-eds are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com.)

Manic Contrarian – 9/11/2022 7:52 AM

Last night we watched American Sniper. Watching it on the eve of September 11 was purely coincidental. Knowing now what I thought I knew back then, the movie was unwatchable.

9/11 was a wake-up call that our American foreign policy was a colossal failure. The response to it once the dust settled was an encouraging sign that maybe the country could put aside partisan hackery and unite behind a common goal to oppose a common enemy; Islamic extremism.

That quickly gave way to it no longer being the American people’s response to becoming instead the Bush Administration’s response proving once more that people don’t go to war against other people; governments go to war against other governments.

And over one trillion dollars later, America’s reputation in the Middle East is even worse now than it was on September 10th, 2001.

The world is even more dangerous, but the freedoms of the American people have deteriorated so much that if any sentient American thinks they live in a free country, they’re living a fantasy. We’ve never been less free.

And now, instead of looking for Arab children to blow up with our drones or kill them with our military’s best sharpshooters, we are spending billions of dollars waging a proxy war in Eastern Europe in service to one Authoritarian who’s at war with another.

All of this is at the financial expense of the American people, who are forced to pay higher taxes, accept higher energy prices, and ultimately settle for a lower standard of living.

Other than that, 9/11 should be seen as the long-coming great awakening of America’s graceful but forceful global leadership… If only it were so…

Editor’s Note: This piece has been edited for clarity.  

The Manic Contrarian is the former head of several heady groups, associations and organizations. His views are his and by necessity should represent of the views of every freedom and peace loving American. Manic can be reached at: 805.990-2494.