The devastating terrorist attacks on the US five years ago today have, as predicted at the time, changed the world in which we live.
Perhaps our daily lives have not been affected as much as seemed likely on that unforgettable day in 2001. Life returned to something approaching normal quicker than expected. But the repercussions have been profound. Threats to world peace are now usually defined in terms of global terrorism and the US-led 'war on terror'. Both have claimed many lives in the five years that have passed. Civil liberties, meanwhile, have suffered in the name of security. Divisions between members of the Muslim faith and the west have, sadly, deepened.
The anniversary today is primarily a time for remembering the almost 3,000 people who lost their lives. But it is also an opportunity to reflect on all that has happened since and to search for a way of making the world more peaceful and secure.
New York, which bore the brunt of the attacks, will be the scene of poignant memorials today. The city, which so quickly bounced back, is a testament to the human spirit. A ground-breaking ceremony a few weeks ago marked a key step in the redevelopment of Ground Zero, where the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were reduced to dust by hijacked airliners. That is another part of the healing process.
Healing is still needed. The impressive revival of New York should not disguise the deep emotional scars left on victims and their families. They still feel the pain and, for them, the anniversary will be an especially difficult time.
But the global consequences of the attacks cannot be overlooked. The speech to be made by US President George W. Bush live on television today will therefore be watched with great interest in the US and around the world. His presidency has been defined by the attacks and his government's response to them.
Threat remains
