"nothing else matters if you're dead." was used by another user here, to say that 9/11 was worth noting. However, let's think about that IN CONTEXT. The paranoia and "military preparedness" is putting us at greater risk than the supposed (and miniscule) danger of 9/11 type terrorism. The greatest fear of terrorism is that it'll kill innocents, and change our way of life. *ahem*... Isn't that what Bush is doing, with the FEAR of terrorism, his "patriot" packages, and war in Iraq and Afghanistan (as opposed to surgical strikes & UN support). Lets' also think about the cost of preparedness, in terms of risk to our lives. One of the greatest fears is that terrorists will bring atomic weapons into the country, or attack another "national symbol"-type building, or release biological agents on American soil. Yet... this is used as an EXCUSE to build up OUR stockpile of weapons, with predictable results: 1) A US plane has already crashed into the Empire State Building. (1940s) We can blame a careless military and an overstock of weapons for that. (link) 2) At least 2 US Warplanes have already released atomic weapons over US soil (One in NJ, one over a US military base in Okinawa, where the US military had until then said it kept NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS). 3) Gulf of TOnkin: The US commits a terrorist attack AGAINST ITS OWN BATTLESHIP in order to drag us into war. (link) 4) Nuclear "Dirty Bomb": One of our fears is that a cowardly terrorist will release an indiscriminate killer in the US-- a "dirty bomb" with conventional explosives, to distribute radioactive material. Yet... WE are doing that ! In Iraq, we used "depleted uranium" ammunition in conventional gunpowder-driven ammunition. That depleted uranium is radioactive, and lethal. (link) 4) The US has a VERY active biological & nuclear (WMD) weapons program, and Bush has pushed for the program to be expanded. (link) There are literally hundreds of biological weapons factories and research facilites on American soil, in many, many states AND CITIES. There's even a high-risk biological weapons lab planned for DOWNTOWN BOSTON ! (link) So, who're you most afraid of ? The ragtag, ill-prepared bad men far away in Afghanistan, or the paranoid military whackos HERE in the US GOVERNMENT, turning America into a land as unsafe as a candle-laden birthday cake in a fireworks factory ? Bush is making the world MORE dangerous for Americans, not less. 9/11 type disasters are the least of our problems.