Now that Osama bin Laden is dead, we thought it would be informative to look back to what people said in 2001, reacting to the 9/11 attacks.

Our editorial of September 13, 2001 said: "Terrorists may think America is a fractured society where races, political parties and regions bicker, debate and work against each other … But they will learn something about American will, and might, and how this nation’s diversity, far from being its weak point, is its greatest strength."

President Obama said just about the same thing Sunday night: "On September 11th, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. … We were also united in our resolve, to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice ... tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to."

President Bush, speaking on the night of the tr...