The world is not now and never has been safe. It's dangerous out there, with thousands of people dying every week from illness, crime, war, accidents, and other causes. There are countless ways to be harmed or killed, including terrorism.

Safer is a relative term. Were there terrorist attacks before we took out Saddam? Sure. Israel has endured these attacks for a long time, although these two were the first big ones in 6 months. Attacks have been going on in Russia at least as far back as the breakup of the old Soviet Union. Guerrilla warfare in places like the Philippines has been going on since the late 1960s. One of my wife's nephews was killed by guerrillas last year, and there is no end in sight.

Will there be terrorist attacks in the future? Unfortunately, yes. Still, taking out 2 nations that actively sponsored and harbored terrorism (3, if you count Libya) is a step in the right direction.

Are we safe? No, and we may never be. But it isn't unreasonable to say that we're safer than we were before. Nations that actively sponsor and harbor terrorists know they'd better tread lightly or face harsh retribution. The money flow to international terrorist groups is being attacked. International police and intelligence agencies are cooperating like never before to go after terrorists. And, terrorists are being taken out of action by the military as fast as possible.