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ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11
It’s been nine years since planes crashed into our buildings and killed almost three thousand American civilians. Our nation has been through one long war in Iraq and is still struggling with another war in Afghanistan. As much as it seems like the world is in conflict right now, it’s necessary to remember a few things. The people who died in the Twin Towers nine years ago include foreigners as well as Americans…Muslims as well as Jews, Christians, and atheists…immigrants as well as people whose families have been here for centuries. The real conflict occurring in the world at this moment is not between Islam and the West, but between extremists of all stripes and the rest of us who wish to live in peace.
According to the United Nations, roughly two thirds of the civilian casualties in Afghanistan are not caused by NATO forces but by Taliban fighters – their fellow citizens. On the other side of the coin, there are thousands of Westerners in Afghanistan helping bring medical care to civilians, helping build schools and irrigation systems, helping reassemble a country that has been shattered by thirty years of war. That is not war as most people imagine it…that is people from one society risking their lives to help people in another society. War is a terrible thing, but extraordinary acts of courage and generosity happen within it. We must remember that as we commemorate this terrible anniversary.
President Obama has just announced that Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta of the 173rd Airborne will be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of heroism in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. Tim Hetherington and I spent many months in the Korengal chronicling the deployment of Guinta’s unit. A few months after the battle that cost the lives of three American soldiers, I had the chance to talk to Sal about what happened that night. First Platoon was walking single file down a ridge called the Gatigal Spur, and they stumbled into an L-shaped ambush that had been laid by a dozen or so Taliban fighters. Most of the lead squad was hit and wounded and one man – Sergeant Josh Brennan – was separated from his unit and dragged off alive. Sal Guinta sprinted after them, throwing hand grenades and firing his rifle, and succeeded in rescuing his friend. Tragically, Brennan died of his wounds - but he died surrounded by his brothers in First Platoon, rather than by enemy fighters.
Guinta is widely thought of as an extraordinarily brave man. Ironically, he might be the only person in the country who doesn’t quite agree. “I didn’t run through fire to do anything brave or heroic,” he told me. “I did what I believe anyone would have done.” In that moment Giunta was more worried about his friend’s safety than about his own, and he acted accordingly. As far as he’s concerned, anyone in First Platoon would have done the same thing.
I know it sounds farfetched, but sometimes I like to think about how that impulse would play out on a larger scale. Giunta was willing to risk his life for another person. Could a community do that for another community? Could a country do that for another country? (Some would argue that that’s exactly what happened on D-Day.) Could a religion do that for another religion? I don’t have the answer. I guess we’ll find out. As a country, I don’t think we’ll survive unless our political leaders - on both sides of the aisle - figure out how to think a little more like Sal Guinta and his brothers. As a world, I’m not sure we’ll survive if we decide that one religion or one society is the root of all evil. It’s an old lie and a tired one.
Think about the people who died in those towers nine years ago…imagine what they would have us do, if they could communicate that somehow. I promise you, they would not want us to hate. It was, after all, a stranger’s hatred that had cut short their lives. They would want us to do the exact opposite of the thing that had killed them. On the anniversary of that awful day it is the job of every person in this country to figure out exactly what that might be.
According to the United Nations, roughly two thirds of the civilian casualties in Afghanistan are not caused by NATO forces but by Taliban fighters – their fellow citizens. On the other side of the coin, there are thousands of Westerners in Afghanistan helping bring medical care to civilians, helping build schools and irrigation systems, helping reassemble a country that has been shattered by thirty years of war. That is not war as most people imagine it…that is people from one society risking their lives to help people in another society. War is a terrible thing, but extraordinary acts of courage and generosity happen within it. We must remember that as we commemorate this terrible anniversary.
President Obama has just announced that Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta of the 173rd Airborne will be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of heroism in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. Tim Hetherington and I spent many months in the Korengal chronicling the deployment of Guinta’s unit. A few months after the battle that cost the lives of three American soldiers, I had the chance to talk to Sal about what happened that night. First Platoon was walking single file down a ridge called the Gatigal Spur, and they stumbled into an L-shaped ambush that had been laid by a dozen or so Taliban fighters. Most of the lead squad was hit and wounded and one man – Sergeant Josh Brennan – was separated from his unit and dragged off alive. Sal Guinta sprinted after them, throwing hand grenades and firing his rifle, and succeeded in rescuing his friend. Tragically, Brennan died of his wounds - but he died surrounded by his brothers in First Platoon, rather than by enemy fighters.
Guinta is widely thought of as an extraordinarily brave man. Ironically, he might be the only person in the country who doesn’t quite agree. “I didn’t run through fire to do anything brave or heroic,” he told me. “I did what I believe anyone would have done.” In that moment Giunta was more worried about his friend’s safety than about his own, and he acted accordingly. As far as he’s concerned, anyone in First Platoon would have done the same thing.
I know it sounds farfetched, but sometimes I like to think about how that impulse would play out on a larger scale. Giunta was willing to risk his life for another person. Could a community do that for another community? Could a country do that for another country? (Some would argue that that’s exactly what happened on D-Day.) Could a religion do that for another religion? I don’t have the answer. I guess we’ll find out. As a country, I don’t think we’ll survive unless our political leaders - on both sides of the aisle - figure out how to think a little more like Sal Guinta and his brothers. As a world, I’m not sure we’ll survive if we decide that one religion or one society is the root of all evil. It’s an old lie and a tired one.
Think about the people who died in those towers nine years ago…imagine what they would have us do, if they could communicate that somehow. I promise you, they would not want us to hate. It was, after all, a stranger’s hatred that had cut short their lives. They would want us to do the exact opposite of the thing that had killed them. On the anniversary of that awful day it is the job of every person in this country to figure out exactly what that might be.
Views: 101
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Comment by Chris Madsen on September 11, 2010 at 12:26pm -
Mr. Junger, I am a Viet Vet, who has read a lot of historical books on war over my life time. WAR, is in the top five, and this post is outstanding. I salute your understanding and ability to verbalize it.
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Comment by Becca Bryan on September 11, 2010 at 5:00pm -
I totally agree with Mr. Madsen's comment below. I have your book in hand, Sebastian. I look forward to digging into it after I get home from seeing Restrepo. My 2nd time, my friend's first.
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Comment by Kathy Weber on September 11, 2010 at 5:54pm -
Outstanding post. Your ability to clearly express these ideas will help me more clearly express myself with my middle school students. They are a very mixed bag but many are Muslim and I worried about them this summer when the community center issue exploded.
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Comment by Carmen Ferreiro on September 11, 2010 at 7:14pm
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Sergeant Giunta is a hero, as are all those brave Americans who fight the terrorist to protect our country and other countries of the free world. They fight to defend the American way of life, which the terrorist's attacked on September 11, 2001. 9/11 is a day to remember the slaughter of innocents as well as to honor those who when called to duty went forth and lost their lives to save the lives of others. That is heroism.
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Comment by Gavin Bucknell on September 12, 2010 at 5:30am
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Thankyou for telling the story of not only the men depicted, but all who serve their country. They may have different role and face different risks, but the have stood up to be counted and we should all thank god every day that they do.
Sgt Giunta is typical of most hero's, he says he was only doing his job, but there is a limit to what most of us would do under such conditions.
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Comment by Debra Marks on September 12, 2010 at 7:33pm
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Thank you, Sebastian, for your book and documentary. I think it's rare nowadays for a journalist to be embedded for so long and to be able to have the access and insight that you were afforded. Consequently, I feel many journalists fly in and out without being able to portray the true picture of what is going on. I also want to commend you for conveying the incredible sense of bravery and heroism that these men show. Sgt. Giunta is just one such example of many. Without a doubt, he is a true hero.
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Comment by Peter Haberfehlner on September 14, 2010 at 3:04am
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There are many more heroes in the world who are not fighting in an American platoon. I didn´d read "war" yet, but from an Austrian perspective, I must say: Well, American soldiers saved my country from Hitler. My grandfather was treated really well, when he spent 3 years in a prisonners-camp in North Carolina (1943- 1946). He was working in the fields, as I said, the Americans treated their prisonners well. However I must say: The Iraq war was based on Powell cheating the public. And it was not only Powell, but also the former alcoholic Bush, Cheney and all the hardliners. Now with Obama I hope the US politics is changing for the better. Nevertheless the wars you Americans lead (Vietnam, Iraq 1 and 2, Afghanistan- to mention only the bigger ones). What did they bring to the countries? Is Iraq a democratic country now? Does the US-army really help the Afghan civil population? I have my strong doubts, because of the historical facts for example about the Vietnam war. Also I must add, that the US. SUPPORTED the TALIBAN and AL QUAIDA only 10-15 years ago.
Not to understand me wrong. I also admire the bravery of fighters like Sgt. Giunta
Peter from Linz/Austria
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Comment by Peter Haberfehlner on September 14, 2010 at 4:23am
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Carmen Ferreiro wrote: "They fight to defend the American way of life, which the terrorist's attacked on September 11, 2001. 9/11 "
My commentary: Hey Carmen, are you so sure about that. And by the way: What is the American way of life in your opinion? Blowing more CO2 per person in the air than any other country in the world? Mc. Donalds??? Basket-Ball??? Base-Ball???
What ist it? And how can you defend the American way of life by bringing war to the Middle East? You Americans- or plenty of you are much easier to manipulate than we Europeans. We - for example the Austrian - have other disadvantages, but in general we are much more critical and 90 Percent of the Austrians would make jokes about a phrase like yours.
I mean: We love Bode Miller, Shane Mc Conkey, our Austrian Styrian Eiche Arnold is over there (though he is not really an intellectual he does his best)
I just wanted to lead the discussion in a different direction. As I said: We Europeans like you Americans for many things, but not for your oil-thirst, the wars, your cowboy-attitude (at least the dry alcoholic Bush- Obama we like much more)
greetings from the beautiful town of Linz
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Comment by Lars Gyllenhaal on September 14, 2010 at 9:44am -
Thank you for this reflection and even more for your book, i.e. War.
Cheers,
Lars
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Comment by Richard Masterson on September 14, 2010 at 12:02pm -
Thank you, Sebastian, for your book and documentary. Maybe you can answer my question about the War in Afghanistan. Why aren't we, the American Army using more air power?
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