On the morning of September 11th, 2001, four commercial jet airliners were hijacked by 19 men. Two of the planes were deliberately flown into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers causing both towers to collapse within hours. A third jet was crashed into the Pentagon building causing major damage and much loss of life. A fourth plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field after the passengers apparently attempted to retake control from the hijackers, killing all aboard. A possible target of the fourth plane was the U.S. Capitol building.

2602 people died in the collisions with, and collapse of, the Twin Towers.

246 people aboard the four jets died (including crew members).

125 died at the Pentagon crash site.

24 people remain unaccounted for to this day and are presumed dead.

All 19 hijackers died as well.

2973 confirmed victims, 24 missing and the 19 terrorists died on Sept. 11, 2001.

Over 3000 people.

Since that time, there has not been another major terrorist attack on U.S. soil. This is due, in part, to tighter security measures, better intelligence methods and the military actions taken around the world against terrorists and terrorist nations.

I find it sadly ironic, though, that almost as many 'coalition' forces have been killed in Iraq since 2003 as died on Sept. 11th. This number does not count the enemy forces killed nor the huge (and under-reported) civilian death toll.

Estimates vary wildly from almost 100,000 to over 300,000 dead. This, of course, only hints at the number of 'casualties' - those injured, maimed, orphaned and scarred.

More ironic and even more sad is the estimate of one billion people in the world who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Almost Ten Million people die from these causes each year.

Over 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. Seventy-five percent of those deaths are children under the age of five.

To put this into perspective, over 1000 people die each HOUR from starvation somewhere in the world. 750 of those are little children.

To put it another way, in the minute and a half or so it has taken you to read this post so far, 17 people have died somewhere in the world because they didn't get enough to eat.

Although I have often felt that the ways our country's government has responded to 9/11 are flawed, I realize that we must protect ourselves and do whatever we must to insure that nothing like 9/11 happens again. Terrorism is a horrible and despicable practice and I respect and admire those who do their part to combat it whether they are soldiers, civilian leaders or average citizens.

But where is the outrage over starving children?

Why is there not a war against hunger?

Why do we not care that far more people have died, and continue to die, at an alarming rate due to a lack of the most basic provisions, than have died from all the terrorist attacks in history?

Please, never forget...