Good riddance, 2002
By Miles O'Brien
CNN
ATLANTA (CNN) -- So what is your pick for the top story of 2002? There are plenty of places to weigh in with your choices. CNN.com is among them.
Is it the winds of war blowing like a sirocco across the Persian Gulf? The war against terrorism -- in Afghanistan and elsewhere? The stubborn cycle of violence in Israel? How about the sniper attacks in the D.C. area? Anyone offering bids on the failing economy?
Whatever you choose, looking back on 2002 is not a lot of fun. It has been a busy year for the likes of us, and to say, when business is good here, it means the outlook is grim for the world in general.
There was a moment in time -- albeit a brief moment -- in the heady days just after the Cold War when we all rejoiced the commencement of a new era of peace and prosperity. It was all so evanescent we hardly had a chance to fully appreciate how good we had it.
The tense days of the Cold War have yielded to a new kind of struggle, a bold war waged by terrorists who wish to bring us down and hamstring us like so many Lilliputians. Those days we were afflicted with vague, yet foreboding terms - things like "throw-weight" and "MIRVs" and "Mutually Assured Destruction." Now we are maddened, and saddened, by "shoe-bombs" and "cells" and "jihad."
But before we wallow too much in half-empty despair for the plight of mankind, it is worth remembering the lesson of history. The tyranny of communism died a quick death -- and so, in time, will the scourge of terrorism. We just don't know how yet. We never do in our darkest moments.
But here is my resolution for the year to come: I hereby resolve to be patient -- to never forget that we are in the midst of a Crucible. We have passed the ultimate test before with flying colors. We will pass again. And our enemies are doomed to fail.
