The very nature of terror is best explained by the various elements of it’s definition:  a state of intense fear, often intentionally induced in a population by the actions of others for political purposes.

The present War on Terror, as it has come to be labeled, was initiated by Al Qaeda with the first bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993, and culminated in the final attacks and destruction of those buildings on 9/11.  The ends of those attacks were achieved in that Americans have now lived in a state of persistent and intense fear going on for nine consecutive years. 

The subsequent failures to complete additional terrorists attacks on the United States since 9/11 are not near as important as the mere affect that those attempts have on the psyche of the American public.  After all, the achievement of the singular objective of creating terror does not require that anyone be killed or maimed.  To the contrary.  In fact, it is simply the capacity to maintain a steady level of an intense feeling that the potential for harm is always present in our minds that determines the success of Al Qaeda.  In that sense, they have certainly surpassed their expectations.

Even more important to the goals of Al Qaeda is the general breakdown of the civil, political and economic fabric of America.  To the extent that those elements of our social structure begin to crumble and dissolve into complete turmoil as a result of the fear that has been instilled in us, the greater the degree of success the terrorists will have achieved in reaching those goals.   Once again, on that basis, the terrorists are achieving their objectives.

As we bear witness to the daily political and psychological assaults on our fellow Americans by others who pretend that they are somehow more patriotic and superior because of their personal philosophies, we should stop and ask ourselves these questions:

First - to what extent do these unwarranted criticisms of the patriotism of other Americans merely increase our fear of terrorism?

Second – to what degree do these personal attacks on other Americans tear at the fabric of our social and political structure, thereby inadvertently facilitating the goals of the terrorists?

Finally – does wrapping oneself in the American Flag make you anymore American than others?

I think most of us know the answer.