The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 set off huge global processes that are still unfolding. Terrorism has been placed on the center stage of world diplomacy, international political configurations have been realigned, and a war in Afghanistan has toppled the government. Within the United States, everything from security arrangements to budget priorities to the cultural mood have been transformed. But the September events had a local dimension too: New York and Washington, D.C. experienced them as immediate, horrendous disasters.