Beyond the necessary self reflection here in the United States over our lack of preparedness and our neglect of the growing menace of fundamentalist Islamic terrorism is another perfectly natural question for Americans to ask, "What did the UN and other international organizations do to help fight terrorism, and to promote democracy, human rights, and social reforms in Muslim countries and throughout the 3rd world?" The answer is not much, apparently. Why should it be surprising that Americans shift to a more nationalistic stance, and away from an overreliance on coordinated but ineffective international actions, when the UN has proven to be so impotent? Kofi Annan sure isn't going to save us from future attacks by Al Queda savages and from the growing dangers of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction - but American military power might be able to protect us.