And it forced the country to ask questions about its response to this new threat. It is a fundamental question. That would threaten the American way of life, and the battle would already be lost, he added. But Mr Cilluffo has come away with a sense of hope in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing. The impact of terrorism is more than the sheer physical devastation of a bombed out building and the loss of 168 lives.
Terrorism is just as important a psychological weapon.
It is the fear of not knowing who carried out the attack and where and when they might strike next. Other countries have learnt to deal with the psychological uncertainty, but this was new for the United States. Mr Cilluffo recently went to the observance of the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. At the museum, there is a section with personal effects from those who died in the bombing. There was a sneaker there my daughter has.