The difference, Gold, is that this time, there's no escaping 9/11 falling on all of America's head, instead of just parts of the government. In order for 9/11 to have taken place the way you say, lots and lots and lots of people needed to be willing to actively forward the plot or turn the other way. The end result of that conspiracy being outed would be way too massive for most common people to be willing to take. Despite the war, and terrorism and hurricanes and immigration and George Bush, America's not that bad a place to be right now, especially when you look at the rest of the world, including Europe. All that can go away fast in the wrong situation.