In trying to understand the message and purpose of releasing this video, it became clear that this video serves as a vivid reminder of why the US is at war against terror.  It seems like, as the Iraqi war continues year after year, the reasons why we decided to go to war becomes less clear.  On the one hand, this video could be seen as reminder that the Iraqi war is only a battle in the ultimate war against terror. On the other hand, the Iraqi war could be seen as an unnecessary conflict that only escalated the hatred that the extremists have towards America. 

In any case, the images shown in this video are disturbing.  The amount of hatred that these extremists have against us is immeasurable.  This video does an excellent job of illustrating extremist beliefs that are cultivated in children at a young age, and that are expected of radical Muslims of any age.  It seems like every time I turn on the TV or get on the Internet, there is a news headline of another car bomb or some sort of explosion killing innocent people; for the past 7 years that is all I hear or read about!  Back in 2001 (which seems like the beginning), it was very emotional and disturbing, but when you see these headlines over and over again, you become almost desensitized to reality.  One quote comes to mind by Joseph Stalin, “One death is a tragedy…a million deaths is a statistic”.  After a while, individual tragic deaths become statistics and dehumanized; they are left on the backburner as we carry on with our daily lives.  The Obsession video forces us to reopen, revisit, and reexamine the raw emotion and feelings that we felt on 9/11 and should remind us of the turmoil that is happening in the rest world as we carry on in our daily lives.

Scott