Solidarity  —  Our first duty is to stand together against bin Ladenism.  —  Never mind where I was standing or what I was doing this time five years ago.  (Because really, what could be less pertinent?)  Except that I do remember wondering, with apparent irrelevance, how soon I would be hearing one familiar cliché.

How safe a world?  —  THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY of the Sept. 11 attacks is a day of remembrance and special sadness for the nation, and all those who knew any of the 2,973 victims.  Yet in the long run, the reaction of the Bush administration may prove more harmful to the national interest than even these horrific attacks.

Situation Called Dire in West Iraq  —  Anbar Is Lost Politically, Marine Analyst Says  —  The chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq recently filed an unusual secret report concluding that the prospects for securing that country's western Anbar province are dim …

Worried CIA Officers Buy Legal Insurance  —  Plans Fund Defense In Anti-Terror Cases  —  CIA counterterrorism officers have signed up in growing numbers for a government-reimbursed, private insurance plan that would pay their civil judgments and legal expenses if they are sued or charged …

STUFF HAPPENS by David Hare  —  'America changed.' That's what we're told.  'On September 11th everything changed.' 'If you're not American, you can't understand.'  —  The infantile psycho babble of popular culture is grafted opportunistically onto America's politics.

For Democrats' Hopes, Less Promise in New York  —  Kirsten Gillibrand campaigned with Hillary Rodham Clinton last month.  She is trying to unseat Representative John E. Sweeney, a four-term Republican.  —  In a year when Democrats hope to take control of the House of Representatives …

Imam casts doubt over existence of bin Laden  —  The leader of Muslim imams in Norway said Monday that many Muslims feel they've been under collective suspicion since September 11, 2001.  He also questioned whether Osama bin Laden actually exists.  —  Imam Zulqarnain Sakandar Madni answered …

Al-Zawahri: Gulf, Israel next targets  —  CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden's deputy warned that Persian Gulf countries and Israel would be al-Qaida's next targets, according to a new videotape aired by Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera on Monday, the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

9/11: FIVE YEARS ON  —  GETTING IT RIGHT  —  THE biggest story since 9/11 is that there hasn't been an other 9/11.  According to our hysterical media culture, everything's always going wrong.  The truth is that we've gotten the big things right.  —  On this fifth anniversary …