We *did* have 7 years of peace
(via HotAir.com; I had wrong link here ... and I can't seem to find the link again) "You are getting sleepy ... "
As we can see in a quick look through Wikipedia (which is as reliable and complete as any source as far as notable past events go) shows, we haven't had any successful acts of terrorism in U.S. since 2001. After the 9/11, the anthrax incident (2001) is the only one I see in the list with actual casualties.
Historically speaking (although data is lacking, since rise of terrorism in the absence of foreign occupation (which is more a guerrilla warfare than terrorism) had only 50 years or so to take hold), 7 years is as long a spell as we can expect in the modern times. Before 9/11, we had just counting what Wikipedia considers notable (after WWII):
- Unabomber attacks starting in 1978
- 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing
- 1996 Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
and if you look through this page, incidents with smaller casualties dot the 70s and 80s. So historically, one decade is as long as you can expect to go without acts of terrorism in U.S. And with the greater intensity of terrorism in the 90s and after (I suppose, associated with the failed peace in the Middle East), it's amazing that we went for 7 years without terrorism.
This is more remarkable if you are willing to forgo conspiracy theories and trust the government press release: Since 2001, no fewer than 7 separate plots of terrorism involving specific targets have been stopped.
I suppose the question is, will this record continue during Obama's term or will the worst fears of Republicans come true during the term of the nation's first Arab president?
P.S. Of course, in the big picture, I don't think these small acts of terrorism are much of a threat: more people die in preventable car accidents every year anyway. These insignificant acts and plots are important only to the extent that they may help thwart bigger plots involving bigger explosives (maybe even nuclear) and bigger targets. But it's the principle of things that matter: we can't let enemies of America think that they can attack America with impunity, just because they don't have a standing army.