Flight 93 ... No Flight of Fantasy

In the last several weeks the Big Three of the Islamic world’s sizable jihadist wing–Usama bin Ladin, his lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahiri and his epigone Mus`ab al-Zarqawi–all fulminated about the need for continuing jihad against “Crusaders” (and Zionists, and Hindus). How appropriate, then, that “United 93" opened at the same time, reminding us that it’s ZZ and their Top that are the real threats to the world–not George Bush.

If you haven’t seen the movie, run–don’t walk–and do so. It’s not just emotionally-wrenching, it’s informative (albeit necessarily speculative in some aspects). For example, you’ll see that the hijackers of the airplane (and, no doubt, all their 9/11 compatriots) quoted the Qur’an at length (although not all of their Arabic was subtitled in English), both in preparation for going about their gruesome task and as they did it, slitting throats and flying their unwilling victims toward the U.S. Capitol. Somehow the meaning of jihad beloved of the Middle East Studies Association and the European Union–“striving to be a good Muslim”–was lost on the hijackers. To them it meant–as it theologically and historically always has for the majority of Muslims–“holy war.” And their reciting of Qur’anic verses about belief in the day of Judgement and the rewards of martyrdom made an interesting and trenchant contrast with the Lord’s Prayer being uttered by passengers as they girded themselves to try to stop the terrorists. It’s not hard to figure out which religion was one of peace on that airplane.

Another fascinating and infuriating contrast was the admittedly speculative one between the European–probably German, judging by his accent–and the Americans on the plane. At one point he tells the others “they will ask for ransom–they will let us go” and later “don’t provoke them–do what they want.” As some of the passengers (almost all male–sorry, Title IX crowd) plan their attack, Mr. Euro actually tries to warn the hijackers! As far as this viewer is concerned, the beating he gets as a result ranks right up there with Indiana Jones shooting the scimitar-wielding Arab in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” No “Economist” article could have better made the point about the geopolitical differences between Americans and Europeans (or at least Germans and French) than those scenes.

Outside the plane, director Paul Greengrass superbly captured the confusion and disbelief that affected all of us–even (perhaps especially) the government officials in charge of airspace over America, both civilian and military. If Air Force F-16s are still scrambling without missiles, as they were that day, someone in authority needs to be drawn and quartered. One fascinating point was that the NORAD colonel in charge that day actually informed the civilian chain-of-command that his pilots were prepared to ram and eject, if that was the only way to bring one of these flying car bombs down. Thank God that was not necessary. But it made for one of the few proud moments during the movie.

Of course the proudest moments were when the passengers on United 93 fought back, taking out the two Muslim terrorists in the cabin (one with a bomb, one with a box cutter) then storming the cockpit and actually breaking in, but being unable to prevent the fanatic Muslim at the controls from taking everyone along with him on his quest to meet Allah. Even as he flew the plane into the Pennsylvania countryside, he was quoting the Qur’an. Which rather gives the lie to Paul Greengrass’ statement on radio that “on 9/11, two hijackings took place: those of the planes, and that of a religion.” Please. The Qur’an contains more verses justifying violence than any other holy book in the history of humanity.1 The 9/11 terrorists did not “hijack” a peaceful religion–they simply took one of its major theological and historical strains and acted on it. The director’s politically correct protests notwithstanding, his movie makes that point more powerfully than al-Zawahiri, al-Zarqawi or even Bin Ladin has done lately.

1 See the following surahs: Muhammad [47]:3: “when you encounter unbelievers on the battlefield, strike off their heads;” al-Anfal [8]:12: “Strike off their [unbelievers’] heads….;” al-Nisa’[4]:73ff: “Let those who would exchange the life of this world for the Hereafter fight for the cause of God…whether he dies or triumphs, we shall richly reward him;” al-Nisa’ [4]:95: “the believers who stay at home…are not equal to those who fight for the cause of God…God has given those who fight with their goods and their persons a higher rank….;” al-Nisa’[4]:100: “the unbelievers are your inveterate enemies;” al-Tawbah [9]:87: “The Messenger [Muhammad] and the men who shared his faith fought with their goods and their person. These shall be rewarded.” This is only a partial list of Qur’anic cites justifying violence.

Related Links

• Paul Farhi,"When Hollywood Makes History: Invented Details in 'United 93' Raise Real Questions," Washington Post, Friday, April 28, 2006; Page A01.
• John Farmer,"'United 93': The Real Picture," April 30, 2006; Page B02.