- Many adults in the United States think their country will forever be a target for terrorists, according to a poll by CBS News. 81 per cent of respondents think the U.S. will always have to live with the threat of terrorism.

Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. In July 2004, the federal commission that investigated the events of 9/11 concluded that "none of the measures adopted by the U.S. government from 1998 to 2001 disturbed or even delayed the progress of the al-Qaeda plot" and pointed out government failures of "imagination, policy, capabilities, and management."

On Sept. 11, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss the war on terrorism. Bush declared, "Winning this war will require the determined efforts of a unified country, and we must put aside our differences and work together to meet the test that history has given us. We will defeat our enemies. We will protect our people. And we will lead the 21st century into a shining age of human liberty." 49 per cent of respondents think the U.S. is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack, down 15 points since March 2003.

Polling Data

Do you think Americans will always have to live with the threat of terrorism in the U.S., or do you think the threat of terrorism in the U.S. can someday be eliminated?

In general, do you think the United States is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack, or not?

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