The Empire State Building’s decision to recognize a state sponsor of terror was met with a carefully timed response from the man credited with terminating Osama bin Laden.
Early Monday morning, residents of the Big Apple were greeted with a beacon in midtown recognizing the commemoration of the unification of Qatar as the world-famous Empire State Building was illuminated in the burgundy and white of the Persian Gulf country’s flag.
The dramatic symbolism of the move was not overlooked as former U.S. Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill, noted for pulling the trigger on bin Laden as part of Operation Neptune Spear with SEAL Team Six, took to X to highlight what was being celebrated.
“The Empire State Building was lit up all night in burgundy and white to honor Qatar National Day,” wrote O’Neill. “Qatar is a state sponsor of terror, supports al Qaeda and is hiding Hamas leaders. I’m posting this at 8:46am for a reason.”
The Empire State Building was lit up all night in burgundy and white to honor Qatar National Day. Qatar is a state sponsor of terror, supports al Qaeda and is hiding Hamas leaders. I’m posting this at 8:46am for a reason.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) December 18, 2023
Marking the first of six moments of silence in memoriam of those who died during the Sept. 11 terror attacks, 8:46 a.m. specified the time Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center leaving an indelible mark on the nation.
The Empire State Building did not shy away from recognizing the light selection for the night as they took to their own social media to post in advance Sunday, “Tonight from midnight until sunrise, we will shine in burgundy and white to celebrate Qatar National Day.”
Tonight from midnight until sunrise, we will shine in burgundy and white to celebrate Qatar National Day pic.twitter.com/avU8RD1sjN
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) December 17, 2023
Further symbolism could be found as the day the skyscraper presented its light scheme for the night also marked 22 years since the United States military action against Afghanistan concluded. The Empire State Building wasn’t alone in recognizing the state sponsor of terror as Google similarly marked Qatar National Day with a doodle, as it had in multiple years past.
Did you spot the Google Doodle today? Its Qatar National Day 2023 Doodle today!#ILoveQatar #ILQ #ILQLive #Qatar #Doha #QatarNationalDay #QND2023 #GoogleDoodle pic.twitter.com/AfYfXDp8uB
— ILoveQatar – Live (@ILQLive) December 18, 2023
O’Neill wasn’t alone in calling out the New York City landmark for openly recognizing the Middle Eastern nation as many heaped on to include one social media user who asked, “Why do we honor people/places/things that don’t honor us? We’re trying to kill people with kindness, they’re trying to kill us for our kindness. We’re saying ‘look how nice we are’ while they’re saying ‘keep your sh*t away from us.’ We need to start listening. Stop the pandering.”
Why do we honor people/places/things that don’t honor us? We’re trying to kill people will kindness, they’re trying to kill us for our kindness. We’re saying “look how nice we are” while they’re saying “keep your shit away from us.” We need to start listening. Stop the pandering
— Nice Guy P (@RealPJPaul) December 18, 2023
Others made sure to take their complaints directly to the Empire State Building’s post as they filled the thread with reminders about what it is Qatar, which reportedly purchased a roughly 10% ownership stake in the Empire State Realty Trust in 2016, supported.
Too many, there was no other way to perceive the display than that it “Sounds like what a conquered country would do.”
Sounds like what a conquered country would do.
— 8notables (@8Notables) December 18, 2023
Qatar… The scumbags who fund terrorism and who hide terrorism leaders who murder Israelis and Americans?! Really?
REALLY?
— Chanah Angelica Kamen (@AngelicaKamen) December 18, 2023
Qatar funds and harbours terrorists who would like to fly a plane into you.
— Billboard Chris (@BillboardChris) December 18, 2023
This is absolutely pitiful. A Muslim Brotherhood regime that funds the radicalization on college campuses and finances terror in several countries is who you honor? Wow.
— Moshe (@lion_4_zion) December 18, 2023
Does Qatar light up any of their iconic buildings Red, White and Blue on the 4th of July?!?!
— Ginny (@ginkates) December 18, 2023
That’s what happens when a nation becomes a globalist mall.
— BluesHarmonica (@AndArmonica) December 18, 2023
New York has fallen. Other cities to follow
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) December 18, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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