[piasa]

World War III started on September 11, 2001 as surely as World War II started with the bombing of Pearl Harbor

NOPE. It started BEFORE.

Remember Osama's declaration of war? That was in 1998.

Remember the USS Cole? Sometimes I wonder if anyone remembers and that was so recently.

Remember the bombing of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya?

Khobar Towers?

No, we've been at war for a long time. We were like Gulliver with Lilliputions taking free shots at us.

[GOP_1900AD]

Indeed. Also, not to forget, Iran hostages '79, Marine barracks attack '83, WTC 1 '93, OKC '95 (yes, I do believe this fits into the pattern), and, here's one to really give food for thought, the EP3 attack '01. About that last one, read Bodansky's "Beijing's Surge for the Strait of Malacca" and connect the dots between the Dragon and Islamist Terror.

[arthurus]

No, we've been at war for a long time

WTC is just the attack US was unable to ignore, though some are trying.

[rmlew]

In 1937,Japan sank the USS Panay.
We were attacked before Pearl Harbor.