Let's not forget how this got started. On September the 11th 2001 we finally woke up. Vicious terrorists attacked what they couldn't build. Modernity drives them crazy only because the Muslim world is a failure at that, like they are at everything else. That is why they danced in the streets cheering.
If they were going to be a bunch of backwaters, they were going to force the civilized world down, and make us live in fear of them. All of the Arab nations combined export less then Finland, excluding fossil fuels. Not exactly telltale signs of a civilization on the rise, let's be honest the muslim world, particuarly its Arab heartland hasn't had anything to brag about since the 8th century, which is why the jihadists have such a desire to return to that time.
But here we are 4 years later, and what has changed? Aside from a few mentions in the news most people went about yesterday like it was any other day. Perhaps 9/11 is to be forgotten. But we need to remember. We need to remember on that fall day the world trade center, the pentagon, and flight 93 were destroyed. In an attempt to cripple the American economy, the American military and the American political system. The footage of 747's (our invention) a sign of a modern society being used as missiles is not shown nearly enough. They haven't forgotten they are at war with us, are we forgetting we are at war with them?
Despite apparent apathy here at home we are winning. Afghanistan is no longer the home and base of operations for the Taliban and al-qaida. Their operatives are on the run, and the mid level commanders are either dead, or in guantanamo. Hamid Karzai, has replaced Mullah Omar. The latter ordered adulterers shot in soccer stadiums, and had homosexuals crushed underneath walls. The latter has overseen reconstruction, is battling opium growers, has had a constitution written, and they are preparing for their first parlimentary elections, that will bring a true voice to the people for the first time in that country.
The battle of Iraq still rages on. Of course we are still engaged in a bloody terrorist campaign there. Zarqawi hides in the shadows issuing orders for children, women to be blown up. The Iraqi army and the police have faced the most of his fury yet they have not disbanded. New recruits continue to fill the ranks, many driven by pay, many wanting to rid their country of this jihadist scum. Who has shown how much of a friend he is to the Arabs, by killing thousands of them. Saddam Hussein is no longer ordering mass murder, but is instead awaiting his own trial for those crimes. True, the constitution is a sticking point, and while not perfect is the best the Arab world has to offer. Iraq is being reconstructed, but has a way to go.
Our battles with the terrorists have had reprecussions throughout the region. Syria has pulled its troops out of Lebanon, Libya surrendured its WMD, Saudi Arabia has allowed it's first elections, though extremely limited ones. Though the kingdom is a source of major problems, now that the royal family is up to its necks in perto dollars that it can throw at jihadists to keep them away, and bribe reformers into silence. But the more assertive we are in the region, the more the Saudis will keep in line. Egypt has just had its first contested presidential elections, and while rigged to allow Mubarak to stay in office they have opened the door a crack. The Egyptian people weren't falling for it as just 23% showed up to vote. Mubarak won't be in power forever and once he is no longer in charge the Egyptians will find, like the Soviets under Gorbachev, that you can't open to door to freedom only a little bit and not expect it to be ripped off its hinges by oppressed masses.
America's reputation is on the rise in the region and reform is on the way up. Would this have happened if we had not responded to 9/11 the way we did? Reform there is not voluntary, even if the reforms are half measures. Let's not forget that we are winning, and we have accomplished a great deal in four years.
