2001.  The world was moving ahead.  Prosperity was finding its way around the globe.  The technology bubble had burst, but the gains along the way had created opportunity for millions and arguably billions.  The cold war was over and wars were limited to “low grade conflicts.”  America felt more secure and military expenditures, especially as a percentage of GDP, certainly seemed to indicate a world moving towards greater peace. 

Then 9-11 happened and “everything changed.”  Did it have to?  As Bill Maher said, it was “Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Iraq.  What?”  Budget surpluses turned to deficits in a trillion dollar turnaround while tax cuts favoring the rich were ruthlessly cut.  Another election passed where a draft dodger's party successfully questioned the valor of a purple heart winner and questions about a stolen ballot in Ohio were never answered.  New Orleans fell and the Pentagon budget grew to exceed the military spending of the rest of the world combined.