Terrorism Lowest Since 1969

Lost in the headlines is this report from the State Department showing that the number of terrorist acts in 2003, worldwide, was the lowest since 1969. Do critics of America's foreign policy believe this to be a fluke? A historical coincidence? Luck?

Back in '69, radical chic was all the rage and terrorists, often called war protesters or radicals, were lauded by much of the Eastern establishment as latter-day freedom fighters. Although few politicians today would actually praise the likes of the Weathermen, partisans looking for ways to attack the Bush administration's war on terror rarely hesitate to demean the president, the armed forces, and America's place in the world. Has John Kerry ever given a speech in which he didn't mention Vietnam? Everyone is nostalgic about his youth, but the best try to learn a few things along the way. Which Boomer is looking forward, and which is stuck in the past?