Tom
That all sounds perfectly depressing!
Despite the terrorist horrors, IMHO matters are nevertheless better than at the height of the Cold War when so many of us lived in fear of a nuclear holocaust. Kennedy facing down USSR over Cuba risked everything.
Regards
JR
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1