Far, far better.
YES.
In some ways though, if this stuff is always "there", it just adds to the pollyanna isolantionist anti war crowd squeals. If they (the bad guys) were to blow up a mall here(9/11 two) then you would see this nation speak with one voice again. It would be the worst possible result for terrorists and the Marines would stop being told to play pattycake in Fallujah.
Does that mean I am hoping terrorism happens here? Absolutely not! I am only describing a fickle America, an attribute I wish wasn't there right now.