--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On 11 September 2001, a bunch of Saudis…" description: "\"“On 11 September 2001, a bunch of Saudis killed almost 3000 US civilians, which led to the construction of a monument in New York City. My question is:..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/michel-templet-11969_9-11_on-11-september-2001-a-bunch-of-saudis-k_803336.jpg" --- # On 11 September 2001, a bunch of Saudis killed almost 3000… ![“On 11 September 2001, a bunch of Saudis killed almost 3000 US civilians, which led to the construction of a monument in New York City. My question is: Are we also going to build monuments in Kabul, Baghdad, and Tripoli to commemorate the thousands of civilians the US has killed since then? By the…” quote by Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/michel-templet-11969_9-11_on-11-september-2001-a-bunch-of-saudis-k_803336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/michel-templet-11969_9-11_on-11-september-2001-a-bunch-of-saudis-k_803336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/michel-templet-11969_9-11_on-11-september-2001-a-bunch-of-saudis-k_803336.jpg) > ““On 11 September 2001, a bunch of Saudis killed almost 3000 US civilians, which led to the construction of a monument in New York City. My question is: Are we also going to build monuments in Kabul, Baghdad, and Tripoli to commemorate the thousands of civilians the US has killed since then? By the way, I should mention that neither Kabul, Baghdad, nor Tripoli is in Saudi Arabia; supposedly, the Saudis are our “friends”, and if you'll forgive the old cliché, with friends like these, who needs enemies?”” [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions why monuments honor victims of US actions while ignoring those caused by US interventions elsewhere, highlighting perceived double standards and the complexities of labeling allies and enemies. **In simple terms:** Calls out double standards in memorializing war casualties. Key Takeaway Recognize all civilian suffering equally. Themes war memory politics double standards allies enemies Mood critical reflective questioning Type analytical philosophical political When to use this quote - journalism - policy debates - public discourse - memorial design Key Concepts Moral inconsistency historical accountability geopolitical critique Questions to Reflect On - How do societies decide which tragedies to commemorate? - What criteria should guide the creation of war memorials? A Different Perspective Memorials can become political symbols that may not reflect all truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New york city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-city/) [Pacifism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacifism/) [War on terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terror/) ## Related quotes > [“Private-sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post-9/11 world. 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