"Freedom from fear is a basic human right. We need to reassert our right to live free from fear with greater confidence and determination than ever before ... here in New York City ... across America ... and around the world. With one clear voice, unanimously, we need to say that we will not give in to terrorism …"

—Rudy Giuliani, Former New York City Mayor, October 1, 2001

Five years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, the world continues to witness the effects of terrorism in places like London, Madrid, Bali, and Mumbai. And yet, in each of these places, and in New York and Washington, D.C., once the debris was cleared and the dead mourned, communities began the process of rebuilding their cities and their lives. Despite the best efforts of terrorists to disrupt peace, the resilience of people around the world, has demonstrated that the human spirit will always triumph over tragedy.

We open with an essay by native New Yorker and president of Hudson Institute Dr. Herbert London, who writes that in the once-destroyed area surrounding the World Trade Center, new high-rise buildings "seem to rise magically," demonstrating hope and resilience.

Although the United States continues to move forward, significant security concerns remain in this post-9/11 world. In "America Extends a Warm Welcome to Visitors," the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs describes improvements to the U.S. visa process that welcomes visitors while supporting U.S. border security to protect those living in the United States and international travelers.

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, communities throughout the United States pulled together to support one another. In a panel discussion, three leaders from various religious communities—Imam Yahya Hendi, Rabbi Kenneth Cohen, and Reverend Clark Lobenstine—discuss how reaching out to other religions and religious leaders brought their communities together since the 9/11 attacks.

"New Beginnings" tells the personal stories of survivors of terrorist attacks who have turned tragedy into positive life changes.

In "Common Myths About al-Qaida Terrorism," Dr. Marc Sageman, an independent terrorism expert, describes popular misconceptions about terrorists and those who support them.

Finally, two photo galleries show in pictures a world united and resilient in the face of the threat of terrorism.

The Editors