" Has America “forgotten” what happened on Sept. 11, 2001? America is in the midst of the "me" attitude. What does not directly effect Americans, is quickly forgotten. Unless it is in vogue, based on the media's attention, we as a country quickly cool to its importance, as we have done with 9-11. Is America safer today from terrorism than on Sept. 11, 2001? This is a very difficult question. If we are safer, it is only because our awareness has been heightened. We know now that we are no longer protected geographically. We are targeted for what makes us great. Have the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, been memorialized in an adequate way? If we continue to remember them in a way that promotes continued vigilance against this type of atrocity ever happening again, then yes we have. If we use these deaths for purely political means, we should be ashamed. Has the war on terror been effective in punishing those responsible for 9/11? This question is impossible to answer. There are security issues that the American people should not be made aware of. We cannot know all that is being done, all we can look to are the results, and after 5 years, there has been no major attack on American soil. Will the United States ever capture or kill Osama bin Laden? Strategically, it is better from a public mentality standpoint to not capture him. If this were to occur, those with limited understanding would assume we would be free from a terrorist threat. Only to have this complacency come back to haunt us later. Is al-Qaida the principal threat to U.S. security? Absolutely not! The apathy of the American people is our biggest threat. We want security, but we are not willing to have to "pay" for it. Everything comes with a price, our security is no exception. There are many groups who are jealous of our way of life, these groups will go to great lengths to take it from us, Al-Qaida being the most recognized. Is terrorism a threat in South Carolina? Terrorism is a threat to every square foot of American soil. It is our way of life they want to destroy. Will the United States be the target of future terror attacks and the likes of suicide bombers? If we fail to recognize this threat, as had been done from 1992-2000, we will be targeted. We must maintain our "preemptive strike mentality" and remove the threat before it removes us. Are you afraid of being the target of a terrorist attack? I trust the government to protect my family from this type of concern, and God will see to the rest. Should the United States have gone to war in Iraq as part of the war on terror? Another question that is impossible to answer. We are not aware of everything that those in power are. Recent findings have shown the weapons that were touted as the reason for entering Iraq were actually there. The better question would be: What would be the status of the region if we had not? Is our military's work complete in Afghanistan and Iraq? Our military prescence in these regions show the morphing of traditional military exercises. No longer is the US seen as a power that runs in and then quickly leaves the mess for someone else. A continued prescence can have the effect that occured in Japan in the late 1940's. Had we left immediately following WWII, we would have allowed Japan to be absorbed into the Chinese communist regime. Yet, by staying we have helped illustrate the benefits of democracy, while helping to preserve their historical culture. Leaving is NOT in our best interests. "