That's all I ever wanted.

A repost. The following was sent Thursday, September 13, 2001, 12:07 AM ET

My dear Mr. President;

My shock was gone by mid-afternoon yesterday, but the rage still continues to build within me. If you'll excuse me, I just need to ramble a little. I'm a simple man, an old Infantry-come-Signal soldier, trained in the deep, forever-green forests of Republica de Panama in the arts of jungle warfare. I played popup target for the Jungle Operations Training Center at Fort Sherman, Canal Zone for over 5 years, and I’m probably one of the foulest-mouthed people you could ever possibly find to speak with, but I can keep it clean.

Today, we're doing what we can here at UUNet, of WorldCom, to get our Wall Street Communications Center back up and running, to get the nation’s Trade Center back online, to restore, in some small way, a faded shadow of the world we knew just a few days ago, but it's a slow job, and I'm feeling more than a little hollow right now. Mr. President, you've stepped into some awfully big shoes, and we're all looking very hard to you for leadership. Scapegoats are not required here, nor are they wanted in the aftermath of this cataclysm. What we need is swift, sure and fierce justice, and what we require is the firm determination in our leader to see this through to the bloody end.

What I was informed of in the middle of my morning workload yesterday -- the collapse of the World Trade Center, the attack on our nations' Pentagon, and the valiant efforts of those lost aboard United flight 93 as it went down just east of Pittsburgh -- literally left me dry. I spent about 15 minutes wandering the halls of the building where I work, here in Hilliard, Ohio, before settling back into my routine. My coworkers were probably amazed with my dedication, but I just needed something to do, anything at all, and it just seemed natural that the best I could do was keep our nation’s network running. In the background I had ongoing internet reports coming in from my PC, while at the same time continuing to dive through the piles of corporate software requests. By 2 PM ET, my department had pretty much disbanded for the day, but I stayed at my desk, tying up loose ends and answering what emergency software requests there were. By 5 PM, our normal shutdown time, I think I was the only person still working the 4th floor here.

At the end of my day, I headed quietly downstairs, where a TV had been left on, set to NBC and the news. I sat in the building lobby for about 30 minutes, just watching. Back at home, the trauma continued on my TV. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was incredible to watch (I’ve copied his office on this email as well). Mayor Giuliani’s steadfastness and his genuine, unashamed concern for his citizens was very moving, his words obviously bringing some small rendering of solace to his people. Last night, I more dozed than slept. It’s now after midnight, the morning of Sept 13, 2001, and I’m exhausted, but still sitting here at work -- wondering, hoping, praying.

What prompts my writing you, sir, was an article I happened across at SeattleTimes.com, by Syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., entitled “The Barbarians Will Learn What America's All About.” In this piece, I believe Mr. Pitts struck home. The link to the story is here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134340317_pitts12.html
...but if you cannot access the page, I also have it saved in .txt format here:
<< File: The Barbarians Will Learn What America's All About.txt >>

I read Mr. Pitts’ story, and I thought you might need to see this slight echo of my feelings in the matter, and I'm sure those of most of America. There is a bridled rage in this piece, but there is also an unbridled truth.

All “political correctness” aside, sir, what I personally want, and I really doubt it will ever change, is a very swift, very final resolution to this matter. I do not need prisoners that may coax others to valiantly attempt freeing them. All I require is a high enemy body count. I want them all to become martyrs in their people's eyes, as they, too, become martyrs -- until there is nothing left of them. I want the world to see us as wounded, and I want them to see us recover. I want them to see us as an unstoppable force that will sweep this globe in our search, and I want them to see us annihilate those responsible, and all who supported this attack in any way.

That is really all I ask.

As a closing FYI, sir, my wife just called me here at work and conferenced my eldest son on the phone with her, to inform me he had just enlisted in the United States Army. He was 21 last January first. Sorta makes a guy feel he did something right in his life. I shall pray for him in his hour, as I have prayed for you in yours.

Godspeed to you, sir, and I thank you for the moment.

Sincerely,
Daniel Spires
UUNET, a WorldCom Company
NSI: WAN Software Translations Technician

"Terrorism is the preferred weapon of weak and evil men"
-- President Ronald Reagan, 1986