Terrorist Challenge To America

Although the 1993 World Trade Center bombing reminded Americans that terrorism could strike them at home, until September 11, 2001, it was possible to view such incidents as rare aberrations and the threat of terrorism as diffuse and distant - something that happened elsewhere in the world. The total destruction of the World Trade Center and the damage to the Pentagon took more than 3,000 lives and sent shock waves rippling through an already troubled economy. President Bush, Congress, and many other world leaders resolutely declared a war on terrorism. Choosing the appropriate rules of engagement for this struggle against terror poses tremendous challenges to an open society such as that of the United States.