Fear, Self-Inflicted Wounds Have Defined America Since 9/11

Fifteen years ago, American self-confidence shattered amid the death and debris of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, a field in Pennsylvania and four hijacked aircraft. In our economy, our culture and our psyche, the ripple effects have been felt ever since. Before these terrible terrorist attacks, we believed history was on our side. Perhaps rightly so - the forces of democracy and capitalism had torn down the walls of communist tyranny, and the world was poised for an era of 'perpetual peace? enforced by unchallenged U.S. power. In fact, foreign policy was barely discussed during the 2000 presidential election. The world was going our way. Then Sept.11, 2001 occurred.