* Military action upon Iran by the United States seems inevitable.
* North Korea has nuclear weapons and long range missiles of some questionable reliability.
* The United States has a missile defense system. Eleven missiles strong. Or is it twelve.
* Port security is still an issue. Most people recall that some of our major east coast ports were almost sold to an Arab nation: Dubai.
* The entire U.S. government was reorganized and the Department of Homeland Security was created. Unfortunately, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may have suffered in the process. At least the people of New Orleans suffered and one can argue how much of that was ineptitude, bad organization, a lesson in the ravages of Mother Nation or other factors. Hurricane Katrina, and the government response, would seem to be one of the major events impacting on the American psyche in the last five years.
* Juxtaposed to Katrina is the American and international response to the Earthquake and tsunami in Thailand an event featuring an outpouring of remarkable American generosity, organizational skill and caring.
* Kofi Annan is a household name and almost no conservatives believe he has done or can do any good. In fact, most believe he does more harm than good. Liberals think the U.N. is one of the future hopes of the world.
* France has proven itself spineless, if you are a conservative; full of wisdom if you are a liberal..
* Tony Blair stood tall with the president of the United States and will be retired for it.
* Political correctness means we still search ninety year old grandmothers at airports as often as we search men of Arab ancestry. But to change this policy would require the institution of racial profileing.
* Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld have named the terrorists "Islamo-fascists." Some Democrats have done the same to the aforementioned.
My list is incomplete as are my conclusions. We invite readers to submit feedback and participate in the discussion.
Five years after 9/11 it is not certain that we are better off. Or on the right track. The only thing certain is that we are not united.
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