September 12, 2007	Wednesday	Sha'aban 29, 1428

WASHINGTON, Sept 11: Six years after the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, some in America are debating whether the nation should continue to observe the day when terrorists killed almost 3,000 innocent civilians in New York and Virginia.

What was initially discussed at cafeterias and in living rooms turned into a national debate when The New York Times published an article on Sept 2, headlined: ‘As 9/11 draws near, a debate rises: How much tribute is enough?’

Writer N.R. Kleinfield quoted a 57-year-old nursing supervisor as saying: “We’re very sorry and mournful that people died, but there are living people. Let’s wind it down.”

Those participating in this debate are divided into two distinct camps those who want to observe the occasion and those who want to move on.

“For me, 9/11 was such an enormous tragedy and unexpected horror that it must be marked, year after year,” said writer Susan Pawlak-Seaman.

The Washington Post published a full-page advertisement on its back page by a group called ‘Freedom Watch Organisation,’ which not only favours observing the day but also urges Americans to continue to support the war against terror till the final victory.

Pakistan is also among the countries listed in this advertisement as victims of terrorism.On Sunday, Sept 9, the Post published a special 9/11 supplement, with the main article urging Americans to ponder: “Are we safer today?”

The article concludes that despite concerted efforts to defeat terrorism, “the US homeland (still) confronts a ‘persistent and evolving terrorist threat.”

The supplement also had an article by Gen Anthony C. Zinni, the former commander-in-chief of the US Central Command, titled: “Stand by our man in Pakistan.”

In this article, the general, who commanded his country’s troops during the US invasion of Afghanistan, urged Washington to continue to support Gen Musharraf, a key ally in the US-led war on terror.

Another, front-page, article explored the emergence of “the new Al Qaeda central,” arguing that the terrorist organisation responsible for the 9/11 attacks has not only rebuilt itself but also has appointed new leaders to replace those killed or arrested.

A popular Website, Reformer, highlighted another point linked to the 9/11 observance. “This day should be seen as a day of mourning -- not only for the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks, but for the nation we knew before 9/11,” it argued.

“It’s hard to talk about 9/11 without mentioning how a national tragedy was exploited by those in power for political gain.”

It noted that the first observance of 9/11 in 2002 came during the run-up to the US invasion of Iraq and “was part of the Bush administration’s deliberate decision to conflate 9/11 with Saddam Hussein.”