The “war on terrorism” was invented in the 1990’s by Project for a New American Century who decided that they needed an excuse to go back into Iraq.

If you’re asking about the war in Iraq, that is a different question, as is when did we go to war in Afghanistan.

Things got stepped up a notch when exiled King Hussein quietly warned either President Ford or Carter (not sure which) to keep a wary eye on Saddam.

And things got really hot when Shiite Muslim radical Ayatollah Khomeini snatch-grabbed US Embassy hostages, careful to let go those from strong nations…..and kept 51 American hostages; one died in captivity !

We simply weren’t ready for such dangerously dirty poltical dynamics, as President Jimmy Carter, tried in vain (much to American citizen disgust) to take the “Christian approach” and neogotiate with terrorist thugs.

We were ready the very second President Ronald Reagan took his Oath of Office—and they KNEW he was ready to deal with them! Back then, Reagan didn’t have “political correctness” to deal with; even if “PC” was around, Regan would simply ignore it. Khomeini sonic boom delivered our hostages back home—where they came back home to a hero’s welcome. And the USA, for a time, was covered quite well on Regan’s watch.

US Security eventually eroded over time during the Bush / Clinton / Bush, Jr. era.

Analytists all logically knew we’d eventually become a successful terrorism target strike; Olkahoma confirmed we also had to look at our own backyard for angry terrorist factions. New York WTC was unsuccessfully striken once…..

And the think tankers were right….and yet again….we tragically weren’t ready. Question is: are we ready now?

(not sure if it’s the 17th or 7th.)