Way way back in the mists of time, I had a series of polls to predict the future.
With the new scuttlebutt about oil in Africa, the following seems interesting:
Sept 11, 2001: Day of Attacks by Al Qaeda
Oct 2001: We freeze assets of Al Qaeda
Nov 2001: We attack Afghanistan. Bin Laden escapes with most of his lieutenants.
Nov 2001-Apr 2003: Attention shifts to Iraq. Al Qaeda regroups and regains its frozen assets.
Mar 2003: Iraq War begins.
Nov 2001-April 2003: CIA and FBI are losing lots of personnel through protest resignations
May 2003: Iraq War does not end.
Late 2003-Early 2004: Terrorists or Iraqi insurgents engage in "massive attack" on US forces in Iraq. One whole ship, squadron or unit is obliterated. Nation is shocked.
Early 2004: American forces sent somewhere in Africa to deal with Islamic insurgency.
Nov 2003-Summer 2004: Presidential race remains a dogfight.
Summer 2004: DNC Convention. Authorities step up arrests of protestors. Where once tens or hundreds were brought in for days, thousands are held for longer periods of time.