24 Years Ago

I had just reached work.  It seemed so utterly impossible.  Even bin Laden was apparently surprised by how effective the attack was.  I suspect he was hoping for hundreds or thousands killed by ramming jets into upper floors of buildings.   The pancaking of the Towers would have seemed unlikely. 

Things we have learned:

1. Islam is not suited to liberal democracy.  At best, you get Islamic democracy which is only slightly more humane than Islamic theocracy  

2. All the resources we have cannot defeat fanatics half a world away.   At best, you destroy the existing evil government and tell the rest, "Don't make us come back."

What we did not learn: allowing people with fundamentally different religious traditions to immigrate creates a community with whom we will always be at war 

Do not forget Falling Man and the fear that would cause you to jump.  Do not forget United 93 and the courage to fight back.