9-11 Five Years Later and the War in Iraq

September 11, 2001.  The most devasting invasion by foreigners occurred on US soil; who would have ever thought this would happen?  I was in New Orleans on a business seminar when the incident occurred.  Someone came into the conference room and whispered to one of the lead instructors.  It was announced in our closed off conference room, but at first we didn't believe it.  We left the conference room of the hotel, and the TV was on in the bar area.  We were glued to the TV, calling home, family and relatives for the next two days.  

Now, five years later, there is a reported 2,973 deaths from the WTC incident, with 24 still missing on the books.  Bone fragments are still being found, as new buildings are being erected on the site.  Shortly after the WTC incident, President Bush had an approval rating of 86%.  However, in the 6-month period following the WTC collapse, the US issued approximately 51,529 Visas to people from the Middle East, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and more.  Among the Visas issued, a large number were nationals from countries where al Qaeda was known to be active.  Why did this happen?  Money.  America was devastated that such a terrorist act could occur in our homeland.  Why were we so lax as to let this happen?  Did we feel over-superior that no one would dare?  

The WTC remained the focus of television, dinner conversations, work-place topic, etc. for the remainder of 2001.  Bodies were retrieved and identified, the death toll climbed higher than what was initially thought.  Fear of flying preyed on those that had to, for one reason or another.  Everyone looked towards our leaders to provide answers as to how this could happen -here.