Ten years ago on Sunday, Sept. 11, one of the worst acts of terrorism in North America hit the United States, but it affected the whole world. After the 9-11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the world reeled from the illusion that hijackings had faded away as a threat to public security. Far from fade away, the hijacking of the four jets in the U.S. had been put to devastating use. With hundreds of human hostages on board, the humanity-less terrorists did not care of the families left behind and acted in a selfish and hateful way with a total disregard for human life.
There is no excuse, no possible motive that could justify the destruction and murder by the plane hijackers, their financiers and supporters. Not long after the planes hit, NATO invaded Afghanistan on the hunt for the mastermind behind the scenes. And around 10 years after that, a presidentially sanctioned hit inside the Pakistani border would end the life of one of the worst terrorists the world has ever seen.
While the U.S. has been the leading country in the fight against Islamic terrorism, Canadian troops have also played a vital and noble role in that fight. Many Canadian troops made the ultimate sacrifice to help preserve the freedom we enjoy. In some ways the troops and Armed Forces families have experienced the brunt of the war effort alone. With Canada's withdrawal from Afghanistan around 10 years after the incident that started it all, it's time to show the appreciation and respect owed to Canada's fighting forces, which will be called upon again to defend the country again in time.
