More articles to get those brain cells moving.

One year later, much more has changed, and mostly for the better. An America that Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorists wanted to frighten, proving that the world’s greatest power was actually weak, vulnerable and cowardly, has shown a remarkable resolve. Its patient but determined use of military power in Afghanistan, and threat of it in Iraq, has created more fears of its strength than contempt for its weakness. Afghanistan was liberated from the Taliban, al-Qaeda’s bases and forces there were destroyed or scattered, and that war-torn country managed to choose its own provisional government. An astonishingly broad alliance backed America in that war, and the two old superpower foes?Russia and China?were respectively supportive and acquiescent.

…What has not happened may be as encouraging as what has. America has not turned in on itself, seeking to hide from a hostile world.

…The events of September 11th showed what unscrupulous, murderous people can achieve. But they also showed how dangerous is the status quo in the Arab world.

Read the rest in the surprising Economist piece Remember.

Lastly, the attacks of September 11th brought to the surface a quality that has been forgotten recently about America. Unlike any other democracy, with the possible exception of Britain, America has a strong war lobby. Americans tend to believe wars settle things. They are willing to support vast military spending and to see the most fearsome weapons deployed.

This is the opposite of what was universally believed. After the humiliating retreat from Somalia, and the initial refusal to put troops into the Balkans, America came to be regarded in some quarters as a paper tiger?fierce-looking but unwilling to fight. Mr bin Laden taunted Americans as cowards. In fact, as Mr Russell Mead points out, where the deepest issues of national security are involved, the American public has been willing to take, and inflict, enormous casualties. It had few qualms about bombing Japan; it sustained heavy casualties in Korea; and public opinion supported even the Vietnam war almost to the end (though elite opinion certainly did not). Now, almost 60% of Americans say their country should attack Iraq even if that means heavy casualties.

This one, I don’t like so much. But maybe because it speaks the truth. Read the rest in the Economist piece Night Fell on A Different World.

It has been almost a year since a band of murderous fanatics took their best shot at New York, committing the most sensationally successful terrorist act in history – and other than the obviously heightened security in Midtown, I’m happy to report that there was no sign of any lasting effect whatsoever. Nothing will ever repair the pain and permanent loss those attacks caused thousands of American families, but any hopes Osama bin Laden and his followers had of throwing America off stride have failed.

Certain warbloggers are gonna love this Mark Bowden’s piece in the Inquirer, even if you don’t agree, it’s a good read.