On September, 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by terrorists. This much we all still can agree on, for the most part. At that time we started a "War On Terror," something that at least in general terms we can all basically agree on.
It has been 4 years, two months, and three days. As for what tangible progress has been made, there's no need for me to tell you. Just pick up a newspaper, read this site, whatever strikes your fancy. (subtext: jack shit)
On December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked by imperial Japan, and was immediately at war with the Axis powers. Let's take a look at what the world looked like four years, two months, and three days later....
- The US and its Allies had defeated two of the most powerful armies on earth, halfway around the world.
- We had negotiated a peaceful settlement with Japan.
- We had chased Hitler to his death.
- We had taken posession of our enemies territory and had established general civil order over tens of millions of people spread over tens of thousands of miles.
- We had returned the vast majority of our troops home, where they were beginning to start their lives anew and raise families.
DO NEVER forget that the entire U.S. involvement in WWII, from the war bonds to the Rosie the Riveter posters to the invasion of Normandy to Iwo Jima, to the development and deployment of the atomic bomb, to the total mobilization AND de-mobilization of our private industrial base, to the drafting of over a million soldiers, to EVERYTHING -- was all begin and completed in less time than has passed since 9/11/2001.
Think about that every time Bush says we can't forget the lessons of 9/11, and that we're living in a post-9/11 world. In February of 1946 should we still have been listening to our president talk about how we were in a "post Pearl Harbor world" and so, you know, really we shouldn't expect much progress any time soon.