an uncomfortable

today marks 7 years since a great tragedy. I am torn at times between anger at those who would use the attacks on the world trade center and the pentagon to fuel their own agenda for a "war on terror" and the desire to see justice served and a people protected against sucha an attack again. I have come to realization today  that i dont know would have happened 7 years ago. This realization is this..."the war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty". This is not a quote by Moveon.org, or Obama, or some hippie nut but a quote by General Colin Powell. Those responsible for the attacks seven years ago might have been wealthy Saudis but it was in collapsed poverty stricken Afghanistan they found success and sanctuary. Wouldn't it have been cheaper (and smarter) to make friends out of certain enemies than to defend yourself against them. I am coming to a realization that our best homeland security rests on the success of ending poverty in nations that we have all ability to do so in. The war on disease is a war on terrorism. Making AIDS, Malaria, and TB extinct in Africa will kill a fertile ground for terrorism. And it is doable. The plans are drawn up. We just arent convinced of it. This isnt on the news. This isnt in the papers. This isnt about oil or power its about valuing lives. We can be the generation of people who no longer accepts that an accident of lattitude determines whether a child lives or dies. Imagine if the money we spent on the war in Iraq  sent girls to school, began microenterprise loans, purified water, gave 20 cent innoculations, pardoned unpayable debt, taught AIDS prevention, fed villages, and taught responsible farming. Where would the terrorist camps be? Who would join them? I have come to the realization today that the destiny of the "haves" are intrinsically linked to the fates of the "have nothing at alls". we experience that seven years ago. Let us continue to learn from that today.