Short memories

Never forget. But it's been seven years, and we have:

Seven years ago, the roar of exploding planes and the spectacle of collapsing buildings riveted the nation's attention on a single topic, terrorism - and in the terrible aftermath, it seemed that focus would never waver.

But it has. Just 2 percent of Americans identified terrorism as their nation's top problem in a Gallup survey in early August - the lowest level since the 2001 attacks. And in new poll results released today, just 38 percent of respondents said they were at least somewhat worried that they or their families would become victims of terrorism - a 9-point drop since the question was asked last year and the lowest level since mid-2005.

On the one hand, it's good that we're not obsessing over terrorism to the point that we let it govern our lives. But it's still a dangerous world, and we forget that at our peril. Most Americans would agree that George Bush responded apto 9/11, right up to the point where he sent troops into Iraq. How would John MCain or Barack Obama react to a similar catastrophe?