It’s Worse Than You Think

September 11, 2001 marked a turning point in American history. It was a tragic day which will resonate well into the 21^st century. As historian David Halberstam said, we first faced the “sheer horror of the event itself, destructive and violent…” which led us almost immediately into war with the Taliban government of Afghanistan. But as Halberstam continues, the trials we face as a nation are the “abrupt start of a new chapter in our lives.” This “new chapter” is the challenge of continually combating terrorism throughout the world. But is this any different from challenges we have faced in the past? How has September 11, 2001 actually changed America? One of the most notable changes is the way in which we prioritize.

Before September 11, domestic issues dominated the political landscape. People were largely unconcerned about what went on in other countries thousands of miles away. But by the 2004 presidential election, the top issue of the day was foreign policy. Instead of concerning themselves with who would better manage the economy or health care, the voters questioned the ability of each candidate to deal with the ongoing “War on Terror.” Polls consistently showed George Bush with higher marks on terrorism, and he managed a razor thin win. Foreign policy hadn’t been so important in a presidential election since 1960, when the United States and Soviet Union were standing on the brink of mutual nuclear destruction. If America could endure the threat of nuclear annihilation, can it not endure the threat of terrorism? Compared to global nuclear war, is terrorism somehow less threatening, easier to handle? While terrorism may not approach the destructive magnitude of nuclear war (for now), it has still had a drastic impact on how many people live each day.

Coping with a national disaster of dire proportions was precisely the reason the Department of Homeland Security was created after September 11. But is it prepared for such an emergency today? FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) was brought into the DHS, but its appallingly slow response to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina makes many people question whether or not the United States can recover effectively and efficiently from future terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Experts say that a terrorist attack in the next few years is extremely likely. Even more likely is a global pandemic caused by the Avian Flu. Are the various government agencies prepared to deal with such looming threats? Has September 11 taught them to prepare for the worst, or have they learned nothing? The answer appears to be the latter. While countries across the developed world are stocking up on enough vaccines for anywhere between 20 and 40 percent of their populations, the United States only has enough for roughly 2%. In terms of preparedness, little if anything has changed since September 11, 2001. And that is the real tragedy.

Did September 11, 2001 mark a new chapter in the American way of life? Yes. It made people more conscious of the world around themselves. It altered the course of a presidential election. But in the long run, has it had a significant impact on our country—or is it just politics as usual? The sad truth is that our government is just as ineffective and unable to prevent a major disaster today as it was before September 11, 2001. It truly is a threat without end.