“A careful analysis of the September 11th attacksreveals that deficiencies in U.S. intelligence collection and informationsharing, not immigration laws, prevented the terrorists’ plans from beingdiscovered”

“On September 11th, America changed. Yes. It got much stupider.”

“September 11, 2001: Citizens of the U.S., besieged by terror’s sting,rose up, weeping glory, as if on eagles’ wings.--from the poem Angel of Remembrance: Candles for September 11, 2001”

“The standard argument is that civilian deaths in Afghanistan were the regrettable consequence of military action that was needed to destroy Al Qaida bases and thus prevent further terrorist attacks. But this is a spurious argument since it is obvious that Al Qaida is a decentralised network. The counterargument – that bombing Afghanistan has made it more likely that terrorists will attack – is equally plausible. Most of the September nth hijackers were from Saudi Arabia,”

“Everyone agrees the celibacy rule is just a Church law dating from the 11th century, not a divine command.”

“And here we are, so different from who we were on September 10th. And also different from who we were on the 11th. And the 12th. And yesterday. Sometimes you see the before/after. And sometimes it's as soft as saying hello.”