All right. Timeline as of now:
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: Authorities step up arrests of protestors. Where once tens or hundreds were brought in for days, thousands are held for longer periods of time.
AND NOW, what happens in late August 2004 or early September, as the RNC comes to Gotham?