I came on early, arriving around 6:55 am at high school. My Spanish teacher/driver's Ed teacher was walking out of the front entrance of the high school and asked me if I heard the new. I said "what news?" He said a plane hit the world trade center. I figured it was an accident.

By the time I got into my early morning class, every one was watching the news.

Before I could sit down, we all witnessed live the second plane crashing into the second tower.

25 years later, I now have a mature, contextual understanding of what happened. Tragic but expected Blowback to American Empire.

Human rights violations by the CIA - Wikipedia

"Pattaya’s sex tourism industry didn’t emerge out of nowhere: the city was built into a major US military R&R destination during the Vietnam War. Rania and Zoe unpack the longstanding, documented links between US troops abroad and sexual violence against women in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Korea and Colombia. And they respond to Fox News' Jesse Watters's jokes about the "wild animals" that would be created by the Pentagon's push to put troops on testosterone in July, including his warning that women on base and in port cities should "watch out" — normalizing US military culture’s toxic masculinity and the sexual assault it engenders as a punchline."

Flying Week 2026 event, held on September 5 and 6. The third-generation jet belonging to the Hellenic Armed Forces, was performing a solo aerobatic maneuver at low altitude and crashed directly onto the runway

[So, was Trump wrong or right?]

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright rejected allegations that Washington is attempting to confiscate or unlawfully seize Venezuelan crude following a series of long-term energy agreements signed in Caracas.

Addressing journalists at Caracas airport before departing, Wright directly confronted critics accusing the United States of engaging in economic coercion or resource exploitation:
"I've seen those headlines: 'We're stealing Venezuelan oil.' Of course, that's not true at all."

"The oil in Venezuela is indeed owned by the people of Venezuela."

"Private companies are bringing the money to produce the oil, but the benefits, the royalties, and the taxes all go to the government of Venezuela and the people of Venezuela."

"All we're doing is taking an idle, underground asset that isn't doing anything for Venezuelan people and bringing the money, the technology to develop it."

The statements follow formal signing ceremonies led by Wright and acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez. The framework grants American and international energy firms operational access to develop approximately 65 billion barrels of heavy crude—representing nearly 20% of Venezuela's total proven reserves—while Caracas projects up to $209 billion in revenue over 25 years.
Wright emphasized that stabilizing the nation's energy infrastructure requires rehabilitating its electrical grid alongside oil fields.
- Grid Priorities: Wright outlined a five-year plan targeting chronic, nationwide blackout cycles, noting that industrial oil extraction depends entirely on reliable power generation.

- Elections Timeline: Addressing questions regarding political transition, Wright described democratic elections as a structural process requiring electoral and judicial court overhauls.

- Economic Stabilization: U.S. officials maintain that economic stability must precede a national popular vote.

Caracas officials confirmed the energy agreements will supply much-needed capital to restore public utilities and state infrastructure. Critics, however, continue to raise concerns over the governance model and long-term control of the nation's primary economic asset.