In a few days it will be the sixth anniversary of 9/11, and it's worth asking the question: why hasn't there been another major terrorist strike? Why haven't the Islamic radicals at least made a second serious attempt to cause the kind of damage, or worse, than the attacks of September 11, 2001 inflicted on America?
One answer--which we can expect from Bush diehards--is that the Bush administration has installed a foolproof system of terrorist detection. This theory does not convince.
This leads to a second explanation: the radical Muslims are so weak and disorganized that they can no longer pull off an effective action. This theory has adherents both on the right and the left. On the right, we hear the theory that "we've obviously taken the battle over there, and so they are unable to do harm over here." Even if there is some truth to this, it doesn't explain why every Muslim radical must head for Iraq: surely Al Qaeda could spare a few to bring the war to the headquarters of the Great Satan. Some on the left are drawn to the theory of an impotent Al Qaeda because they are looking for any excuse to get out of Iraq and, truth be told, they would like to forget about the whole War on Terror and go back to the way things were on September 10, 2001.
I'd like to suggest a different theory for why we haven't had more attempted 9/11s. Imagine if there had been more attacks. In that case Americans would have little doubt why we were fighting in Iraq. There would be no question over why this country had dispatched more than 100,000 troops to the Middle East. As in World War II, the only sentiment for ending the war would be on the part of those calling on Bush to level the countries sponsoring Islamic radicalism so that the place could be rebuilt from the ground up, as with Germany and Japan. In sum, more 9/11s would have the effect of rousing the present-oriented, slow-to-anger American dragon.
Instead, we are six years away from that catastrophic event, and already Americans are growing forgetful and impatient. Somehow, for many people 9/11 has become a freakish, surreal, one-time disaster that was surely tragic but whose recurrence doesn't seem to be a clear and present danger. So are the Islamic radicals holding back and waiting for American restlessness to produce a withdrawal from Iraq? Are the bad guys biding their time in the hopes that American lassitude will create new opportunities for them to strike even more savagely and with greater impunity in the future? How else to account for the uneasy calm that has hovered over this country for the past six years?
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 17)
76. I don't think 9/11 will be the last attack, but I do believe that those planning future attacks will have a harder time executing their plans
Bridget at 8:06AM on Sep 7th 2007
77. There are a number of good posts which points out the right acton by President Bush in Iraq especially the ones by Manny. The liberal Democrats
such as Hillary and Bill Clinton, Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and their ilk, are trying to destroy America. We see Hillary in trouble with campaign funds from a Chinese fugitive from the law! Remember, Bill Clinton and Al Gore took illegal campaign money from China when Bill was president!
Idella Skaggs at 5:34PM on Sep 7th 2007
78. Mexican drug gangs own the US border and they aren't going to let their cash cow get spoiled by some loser terrorists. This is a billion dollar biz and YOU are unbelievably naive not to realize the Gangs protect their turf and thus the US by monitoring all that pass through their territory. It may look like desert when you fly over it in the daytime but at night its alive with Mexicans and Yaqui's plying their trade.
Kevan at 9:07AM on Sep 7th 2007
79. Is it me , or does it make any one else a bit nervous that this reporter is asking this question . You make it seem like you want it to happen . I am not sure what ethnic you are Mr.Dinesh D'Souza , but your name in itself makes me wary why you would ask such a question
JAY V at 10:31AM on Sep 8th 2007
80. Al Qaeda has tried to attack us several times and they were STOPPED. Did you all forget about the time they planned to blow up 4 planes over the atlantic with liquid explosives? Doesn't some jihadist get arrested every freaking month. It's OK to hate Jackass Bush but give the FBI and CIA some freaking credit. We haven't had another 9/11 due to luck, increased security, and the fact that poeple who blow themselves up are stupid.
EZE at 12:05PM on Sep 7th 2007
81. There has not been another 9/11 because bush has not ordered another, yet. He only needed the one to go invade a country that had nothing to do with the primary attack.
Steven at 11:21AM on Sep 7th 2007
82. Dont kid yourself, they are planning to strike again.
Al-queada likes a "spectacular" event, larger than the last.
I think we will receive a nuclear event here in this country on a major city, most likelt New York as it is still the global financial center.
After that stike, Al-Qeada will announce they have nuclear devices hidden and in play in a number of other American cities, ready to detonate. When we think they are bluffing, they will blow up Washington D C. and so on.
I certainly hope I am direly wrong, but I dont think I am.
brian at 1:54PM on Sep 7th 2007
83. Alfred wrote
"I travel for living and other countries are not so carefull as Americans. But I know the real world that most americans don't, cause they are enclosed here watching Oprah every day and letting their brains being washed by a woman that, with such a power openly hates America, loves Africa, but hates America is the only explanation for such remarks again this country."
You travel for a living? By yourself?
tom at 12:04PM on Sep 7th 2007
84. HEY STUPID DINESH...WHY WE DIDNT GET ANOTHER 911..RIGHT????AFTERALL WHY WE HAD 911???WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME??.....WHY HE IGNORED ALL THE INFORMATIONS???....IS IT THE MEXICAN ILLEGALS DID THE 911???....WHY WE LICK THE A$$ OF THE SAUDIS EVENTHO MAJORITY OF THE ATTACKERS WERE SAUDIS???....WHY THEY DIDNT GO AFTER THE SAUDIS WHO LEARNED FLYING AND QUIT BEFORE LEARNING HOW TO LAND?????.....WHY YOUR STUPID PRESIDENT ASKED THE CHIEFS TO MAKE UP A DAMN CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM AND 911????....WHY HE DIDNT LISTEN THE INSPECTORS WHO SAID THAT IRAQ HAS NO WMDS....WHY HE ATTACKED IRAQ WHO HAS NO WMDS AND NOTHING TO DO WITH 911????....WHERE IS THE OIL IN IRAQ GOING???? WERE IRAQ HAD ALQAEDA BEFORE WE ATTACK THEM????....WHY YOUR PRESIDENT GO AFTER BIN LADEN WHO CAUSED 911???..WHY HE IS SHOWING THE LADEN VIDEO AND MAKING THE FEAR FACTOR IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC????WHY THE 100,000 TROOPS DONT GO TO PAKISTAN AND GET BIN LADEN.....OH...LADENS AND BUSHIES ARE FAMILY FRIENDS.....RIGHT DINESH YOU MORAN....????GO GET ANSWERS FOR ALL THESE THINGS AND WRITE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC....YOU LIAR......
gt at 1:01PM on Sep 7th 2007
85. #69 THANKS FOR THE FACTS, GREAT HOMEWORK, I GIVE YOU AN A+ FOR THE LIST. BUT I TRUELY BELIEVE THE ONE REASON WE HAVENT BEEN HIT AGAIN IS BECAUSE THIS PRESIDENT, WHO HAS BEEN HEAVILY CRITIZED FOR HIS POLICIES (NSA, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE PATRIOT ACT)HAS KEPT US SAFE, BY PUTTING EACH ONE OF THEM IN PLACE. BRAVO BUSH!
MARY at 2:17PM on Sep 7th 2007
86. Hey GT, is that the best conspiriacy theory you can come up with. According to your theory Bush must be some kind of super genusis who was able plot and execute 9-11 then fake INTEL and steal oil revenue from Iraq under the noses of the entire world without getting caught. All without leaving a shred of hard evedence. If he is smart enough to pull all that off don't you think he could come up with a simpler way to steal some money like I dunno... Go down to the treasury have them print him some. Quite an elaborate plan you accuse Bush of having but if hes smart enough to pull it off he would be smart enough to realize that their are much easier ways to steal money when you are president of the USA.
EZE at 2:21PM on Sep 7th 2007
87. MAN, YOU CONSIRACY THEORIST ARE WACKED!! FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BLAME BUSH (AS USUAL) REMEMBER CLINTON HAD 8 YEARS IN OFFICE WHILE ALL THESE PLANS WERE BEING HATCHED! BUT HE WAS TO BUSY WITH MONICA AND HIDING FROM HILLARY TO NOTICE, HEY NATIONAL SECURITY WASNT HIS PRIORITY... BUSH WAS IN OFFICE 8 MONTHS WHEN WE WERE ATTACKED, AND HE HIT BACK HARD, SO BLAMEING BUSH FOR EVERYTHING FROM GLOBAL WARMING TO FALLING BRIDGES IS SO OVER...GET NEW TALKING POINTS PEOPLE... YOURE BORING THE HELL OUT OF ME WITH THIS OLD ONE.
Karen at 2:32PM on Sep 7th 2007
88. LIBERALS PLEASE TELL ME! How does Bush steal Iraq's oil? Where does he keep it? Does he have HUGE tanks under the white house where he hoards his stolen oil? THE ENTIRE WORLD IS WATCHING US. If Bush is stealing Iraqi oil or oil revenues he must be some kind of Mad SUPER Genusis. Once agian if he was that smart he could find easier ways to steal money. After all he is president. YOU LIBERALS WATCH TO MANY JAMES BOND MOVIES AND CARTOONS!
EZE at 4:43PM on Sep 7th 2007
89. Mary #89, don't be ridiculous. The terrorist don't need to strike at us again because we have shot ourselves in the foot. The invasion of Iraq was the biggest strategic blunder in our nations history. It played right into the hands of Osama bin laden who couldn't have dreamed of a better response from the Bush administration. Reasons: 1)It caused us to direct our focus and resourses away from destroying Al Queda. As odious as the Saddam regime was, it did not sponser Islamic terrorism. 2) The invasion of Iraq helped bin laden make the case that the US was out to destroy Islam and to avail itself of the oil reserves of the Middle East. 3)The invasion of Iraq has not nor is it likely to achieve any of the objectives that we desired. In fact, it has made the middle east a more dangerous place and one more inhospitable to American interest. Not to mention that over 3000 of our bravest americans have died there ( a number roughly equal to the number who died on 9/11). With the kind of leaders we have directing our foreign policy, who needs terrorist.
randy at 3:07PM on Sep 7th 2007
90. Why?
It makes us feel good to THINK that we know why. Until.... the next time... Then we again ask Why?
We should ask What are we doing to ensure that people don't want to kill us?
We should ask What is the cause for all this hatred?
We should ask Is the WAR solving the problem?
and many other more MEANINGFUL questions.
Peace
dmode16340 at 3:11PM on Sep 7th 2007