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September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack

"SMA's Email Message To All US Army Soldiers"

From Sergeant Major of the Army Tilley
Sent Approximately September 14, 2001

I thought it appropriate to take a minute out of what has been a hectic few days for all of us and touch base with as many of you as possible.

I'm sure all of you join my family and I in extending heartfelt prayers and condolences to the victims and families of Tuesday's attacks on America.

These are not easy days, but at times like these it is vitally important for leaders to stay focused and provide a calm, reassuring hand on the shoulders of our soldiers, their families and all members of the Army family.

Here at the Pentagon, I can tell you Army and Defense Department leaders are at their stations taking care of co-workers and providing counsel to our country's leaders. It is impossible to know what is coming next. What is more certain that each of us will play a role, and it is important for us to stay focused and ready.

I would also ask us and our soldiers to comfort our own family members and stay in contact with concerned mothers and fathers to reassure them that their sons and daughters are doing fine. These are tense times for everyone, and regular phone calls and updates do a lot for everyone's peace of mind.

Lastly, I would remind you that we are a great Army defending a great nation and a great way of life.

Our country and our values have been tested before, and never have we let others down. Our very existence and what we do daily around the world allows many thousands of people to be free.

But, freedom is never free, and this week's attacks are a grim reminder of that.

Stay safe, stay focused and take care of each other. Hooah.

SMA

"Toronto Editorial TV Broadcast"

By Gordon Sinclair

"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.

Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.

I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?

Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times and safely home again.

You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.

I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those.

Stand proud, America!

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