2002 in review

One year ago, still reeling from the 9/11 tragedy, Americans were wondering what would come next. | Marvin Olasky

One year ago, still reeling from the 9/11 tragedy, Americans were wondering what would come next. Toxins released on a subway train? A "dirty" nuclear bomb in some downtown area? More attacks by air or through the mail? The big news as 2002 approached its end was no news. A sniper with the last name "Muhammad" terrorized the Washington, D.C., area, but he apparently was responding to his own inner demons rather than proceeding under direction from an axis of evil abroad. Deadly terrorism continued in other countries, with the greatest loss of life coming in Bali, but America suffered no more massive scars. So Christmas this year approached with Americans focused on buying Christmas presents. In December 1999, some feared a Y2K crash. In December 2000, the presidential campaign that should have ended on Election Day was coming to its court-directed close. Last year Santa Claus was getting requests for gas masks. This year we could talk about sports and the stock market.