One of the weaknesses of a democratic society is that conflict is not popular. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, political leaders could argue that military and intelligence resources could be reduced and focused solely on the old Cold War threat. The threat of terrorism could be quietly swept under the rug, without disturbing the peaceful popularity and status quo. When Al-Qaeda bombed US embassies in Africa, the White House and Pentagon responded by lobbing a handful of cruise missiles into a couple of empty tents in the Afghan desert. As Islamist groups trained and organized across the globe, political and military leadership remained complacent, safe in the knowledge that having weathered the Soviet threat, American was untouchable. Uncomfortable intelligence reports were quietly ignored, left to gather dust in the bureaucratic web of Washington