This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Art Cashin Remembers 9/11
Via UBS' Art Cashin,
A Few Personal Comments – A few years back the "New Yorker" magazine ran a whimsical cover showing how “egotistical” New Yorkers might conceive a map of the United States. Satirically it depicted the nation, with three-quarters of its focus on the island of Manhattan. Ironically, after the atrocity on September 11th, the nation’s heart, its concern, its generosity is disproportionately focused on New York in almost the same manner.
Similarly, in each of our lives, the picture we view of the world around us would surely have had us as the dominant feature of the canvas. Yet after the tragedy of that Tuesday, with its image of victims and heroes, of smoke and tears; none of us shall see ourselves so large again. There will be room in that picture for others – many others.
Valuing language and the words that give it shape, meaning and impact, I have always been fascinated by that special group who once wrote for the aforementioned "New Yorker" – James Thurber, Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, Alexander Woolcott and E.B. White and others. In simpler times (how foolish! Almost any time was simpler, safer, more secure)...let me start again.....my love for the writers that Harold Ross brought to the Golden Age of the New Yorker (and thus to the legendary "Algonquin Table") was to the comedic/satiric group. The events of 9-11 led me back to E.B. White.
He was terrific, but given my satiric leaning I only loved or, at least remember three things about White – his marvelous book on writing style, his caption for a legendary New Yorker cartoon in which an obstinate kid, responding to his mom's explanation that what's on his plate is "broccoli, dear" says – "I say it's spinach and I say – the hell with it!", and – of course – his short story called "The Hour of Letdown" in which a computer built to play chess against a human, stops after the event to have a drink. (I'm not sure why I love that story.)
Nonetheless, the atrocity on September 11th recalled another E.B. White essay. It was (I recall) written over 50 years ago, back when the UN was moving into Manhattan from its early life in "Lake Success" on Long Island.
Much of White's essay, written over a half century ago is filled with meaning and moment this day. It has recently been republished as "Here is New York", if you care to see more. Here are some of the things that bridge generations:
"The subtlest change in New York is something people don't much speak about that is in everyone's mind. The city, for the first time in its long history is destructible. A single flight of planes no bigger than a wedge of geese can quickly end this island fantasy, burn the towers, crumble the bridges, turn the underground passages into lethal chambers, cremate the millions. The intimation of mortality is part of New York now; in the sound of jets overhead, in the black headlines of the latest edition."
"All dwellers in cities must live with the stubborn fact of annihilation; in New York the fact is more concentrated because of the concentration of the city itself, and because, of all targets, New York has a certain clear priority. In the mind of whatever perverted dreamer might loose the lightning, New York must hold a steady, irresistible charm."
"....New York is not a capital city – it is not a national capital or a state capital. But it is by way of becoming the capital of the world...."
"....Once again the city will absorb, almost without showing any sign of it, a congress of visitors. It has already shown itself capable of stashing away the United Nations – a great many of the delegates have been around town during the past couple of years..."
"This race – the race between the destroying planes and the struggling Parliament of Man – it sticks in all our heads." "The city at last perfectly illustrates both the universal dilemma and the general solution, this riddle in steel and stone that is at once the perfect target and the perfect demonstration of nonviolence, of racial brotherhood, this lofty target, scraping the skies and meeting the destroying planes halfway, home of all people and all nations. Capital of everything, housing those deliberations by which the planes were to be stayed and their errand forestalled."
Thank you, Mr. White! (Mr. White earlier in the essay noted that New York and New Yorkers – and all Americans – do good, do what they do, and have traditionally defied logic and their enemies by not only surviving but actually thriving. And all that was true even a half century ago.)
A More Personal Thought – Many of us got out that Tuesday walking through streets onto which ash, smoke and business envelopes fell snow-like, blocking both your view and your breathing. Yet when a stranger was met, they were invited to join the convoy and offered a spare wet cloth (carried in pockets) through which to breath as they walked. When we reached the East River (Brooklyn side of Manhattan), there was a volunteer group of tugboats, fishing boats and mini-ferries that looked like the evacuation of Dunkirk. No charge. No money. Just – "May I help you!" No one got anyone's name. No thank you cards will be sent. But Americans – even New York Americans – who freely give to strangers but argue with neighbors were suddenly one group.
In the days since, as we wander via new strange ways back to Wall Street, we all internalize the survivor’s quandary. We are lucky to be alive – but why us.
As I noted on TV – none of us headed back to re-open the markets with relish or avarice. The President, the Governor, the Mayor and all officials asked that the markets re-open to provide a means for the economy to work – to unclog an artery.
Day after day, traders, clerks and the thousands of folks who support them walked to work. No spring in their step. Resolute to do their job, they are civil but somber. As they pass checkpoints, they say "thank you" to the policemen, firemen, and National Guardsmen who may have lost brothers saving us and some of our friends.
Ironically, the only smiles you see in Wall Street are on the photocopied photos of the missing that family and friends have taped to walls, mailboxes and lampposts. It may take a long time for smiles to naturally return to Wall Street. It may take a long while to find those criminals who took our smiles and our friends. But, we will have patience.
As our President said – "We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail!"
- 12398 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -


If you're so tough, and if you care so much for decency, why aren't you pushing for truth and justice?
9/11 Never Forget...
...or the police state can't be rammed down your throat and your rights be stripped at break neck speed. So never forget: terrorists, terrorists, terrorists everywhere. EOM.
My sympathies do go to the families of those murdered by their own government...like the tens of millions before them over the last century+. I just hate the fact the MSM MAKES us re-live the day over and over because it fits their agenda.
Good read here:
...according to the official story, a handful of Arabs, mainly Saudi Arabians, operating independently of any government and competent intelligence service, men without James Bond and V for Vendetta capabilities, outwitted not only the CIA, FBI, and National Security Agency, but all 16 US intelligence agencies, along with all security agencies of America’s NATO allies and Israel’s Mossad. Not only did the entire intelligence forces of the Western world fail, but on the morning of the attack the entire apparatus of the National Security State simultaneously failed. Airport security failed four times in one hour. NORAD failed. Air Traffic Control failed. The US Air Force failed. The National Security Council failed. Dick Cheney failed. Absolutely nothing worked. The world’s only superpower was helpless at the humiliating mercy of a few undistinguished Arabs. It is hard to image a more far-fetched story–except for the second thing you need to know: The humiliating failure of US National Security did not result in immediate demands from the President of the United States, from Congress, from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and from the media for an investigation of how such improbable total failure could have occurred. No one was held accountable for the greatest failure of national security in world history.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/09/11/the-11th-anniversary-911-paul...
Couldn't even find ONE of the FOUR flight recorders (but did find Atta's pristine passport on the ground).
Couldn't find who made those large shorts in airline and insurance stocks
So when Art Cashin says "a few years," he means "38 years."
That's a good thing to know.
It's real simple folks. If you have any friends who refuse to believe 9/11 was a conspiracy between certain "elements" of the U.S. Government and others, have them watch the collapse of building 7. It's all over the internet. It's a controlled demolition, period. No question about it, absolutely no doubt. Your eyes don't lie. Disintegrates and comes right down in seconds in its own footprint. The only way that can happen is by controlled demolition. Looks like every other controlled demolition you've ever seen. Impossible to happen as a result of a fire and "melting" of some steel beams in one part of the building. Which means it was wired with explosives days (if not weeks) before 9/11 by someone. Which means there definitely WAS a conspiracy. From this single piece of undeniable evidence, available and viewable by anyone who wants to look at it, the entire "official" story unravels.
Anyone who can't see this, or doesn't want to, would rather live in a mindless patriotic fantasy created by others more evil and cold-blooded than they can imagine, or has something to hide. It doesn't matter what their religion is. They are criminals. These criminals must be uncovered, rooted out, hunted down, and brought to justice, regardless of who they are. Period. End of story.
They all just suck. I'm so over trying to convince idiots. Time to move on with those of us who know what happened and to push relentlessly for justice.
Most of them have to know in their hearts that they are full of shit. If they don't by now, they never will. Fucking treasonous, murderous, complicit PUSSIES.
As our President said – "We will not tire. We will not falter. We will not fail! We will not credibly investigate!"
Great sentiment, following the worst failure in our nation's history. /sarc
Just how did WTC 7 drop into its own footprint at freefall speed when it wasn't hit by any aircraft and only experienced randomly distributed office fires on a couple of floors? Unlike a lot of politicians, Physics doesn't lie....
Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth
Hot off the press:
Bush Received More Warnings About 9/11 Than We Realized
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/new-report-shows-how-many-warnings-about-bin-laden-were-ignored-by-the-bush-white-house-2012-9#ixzz26AytCjEL
Gus Lubin|Sep. 11, 2012, 7:26 AM
The Bush White House ignored even more warnings about September 11 than we thought, according to journalist Kurt Eichenwald, who has a column in the NYT and a new book out today.
We already knew about the presidential brief from Aug. 6, 2001 that was titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.” The White House has shown that this declassified document was primarily a history of Al Qaeda, not a warning of imminent attack.
But there were other briefings, some seen by Eichenwald, that did warn of an imminent attack.
On May 1 the CIA said that a terrorist group in the U.S. was planning an attack.
On June 22 it warned that this attack was "imminent."
On June 29 the brief warned of near-term attacks with "dramatic consequences" including major casualties.
On July 1, the briefing said that the terrorist attack had been delayed but "will occur soon."
On July 24, the president was told again that the attack had been delayed but would occur within months.
These and other similar warnings were ignored by the White House. The Neocons in charge insisted that the threat was instead a coordinated diversion meant to distract attention from Saddam Hussein, according to Eichenwald. This opinion frustrated the intelligence community, who saw the theory as totally illogical.
Eichenwald's column is already getting a lot of attention today. No doubt so will his book, 500 Days: Secrets And Lies In The Terror Wars.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/new-report-shows-how-many-warnings-about-bin-laden-were-ignored-by-the-bush-white-house-2012-9#ixzz26Aya79ae
http://www.businessinsider.com/new-report-shows-how-many-warnings-about-bin-laden-were-ignored-by-the-bush-white-house-2012-9
<finger quote>Temporarily</finger quote>
...and out of the American/Saudi/U.K. funded Al-Qeada terrorist operation we knew plenty about (at the bare, bare minimum) we got the fine establishment of DHS.
Here's what our DHS loves to do.
John Brennan Linked Through Kevin O'Reilly to Operation Fast and Furious
http://larouchepac.com/node/23871
So the guy who helped create the war criminal creating and unconstitutional process of a drone kill list to target and kill amongst others, American born children without trial, also helped give us the movie script level screw up of Fast and Furious.
Your DHS/NSA working hard creating enemies and committing war crimes. All hushed up because??????
Oh yeah Glass-Steagall, or continue to let your deposits be at risk as the leverage for bailouts of fraud.
"My means and methods are sane, my object is MAD" Dick Chee...uhhh Captain Ahab, "Moby Dick" (utterly INSANE)
"an object in free fall can do no work"
-Ed Asner, on wondering why 80+ stories in free fall pulverized into two stories of dust and human remains.