Them or us? Who will determine how the US acts, what kind of nation we will become?

A nation can be reactive, or follow it's own agenda. It can either let someone else determine it's morality and values, or it can decide itself what those are.

I think one has to ask what makes this country great, what separates it from two-bit dictatorships or rogue cults.

Then we have to decide if that's worth keeping, or if we want to become just like them.

And the reality, difficult as it is to accept, is that no vital interest of the US is threatened by any outside force. The only threat to what makes this country the best place on Earth to live is internal.

WTC was tragic. Victims and their survivors have suffered grievously, and it cries to be avenged. It should be. And the next one prevented.

It did not damage any vital aspect of the US. Most of us didn't even notice it was gone except for the news. It did not hurt our ability to defend our borders, or our interests abroad. It was not another Pearl Harbor.

It was also a blow to our pride. Do we want to give up much of which have to be proud on our way to protect our pride?

Or do we want to determine for ourselves what we are as a nation, and protect ourselves vigorously without sacrificing our values?