We Americans have always prided ourselves on our ability to handle self-criticism. It is this ability that is the hallmark of a successful democratic nation-state. It is unfortunate, therefore, that whenever public discourse focuses on Sept. 11, a veil of superficial patriotism envelops our propensity for candidness.

In light of the second anniversary of Sept. 11, we, as a people, need to engage in deep introspection about our actions since that day. Ideally, one would have hoped that Sept. 11would have awakened us to the dangers of excessive intervention in world affairs. We could have become a humbled nation, no longer secure in our shell of modernity and prosperity, eager to extend an olive branch to the rest of the world.

However, our immediate reaction was violence. One might stipulate that the carpet bombing of Afghanistan was justified as a form of retaliation.

Our leaders can never be forgiven for the zest with which they seized the moment to exploit our weaknesses and fabricate half-truths to coax us into the quagmire of Iraq.

Our world today is not much safer than it was on that Tuesday morning. In fact, we have no doubt created even more terrorists out of young kids frustrated at the state of the world and their inability to make a difference. And, when all is said and done, Osama bin Laden is still alive, free to plot more attacks.

Perhaps what is most depressing is the current state of this president's war. Young men and women like us, with bright futures ahead of them, are dying needlessly every day in the deserts and streets of Iraq, mere pawns in a game. That is the true legacy of Sept. 11.