Threats to security.

• Position: Matters of Scale

MATTERS OF SCALE Threats to Security When 3,000 people died in the "9-11" attacks, Americans went into deep shock and declared that "the world has changed." Here's how that event compares with some other recent and ongoing causes of death and destabilization in the United States and in other countries. All figures are approximate. In the United States... Killed by cigarette smoking, per year, on average 430,700 Killed by obesity, per year, on average 300,000 Killed by alcohol abuse per year 110,000 Killed by motor vehicle accidents, per year, on average 43,200 Killed by guns (other than in war) per year, on average 34,000 Killed by adverse reactions to prescription drugs, per 32,000 year, on average Killed by suicide in 1998 30,575 Killed by accidental falls, per year 14,900 Killed by accidental poisoning, per year 8,600 Killed by non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs such 7,600 as aspirin, per year Killed by drownings, per year 4,000 Killed by choking on ingested objects, per year 3,000 Killed by the September 11 attacks in 2001 3,000 In Other Countries... Sudan: Killed in the ongoing civil war 2,000,000 Cambodia: Killed by the Khmer Rouge massacre in 1975-78 1,700,000 Congo: Killed in the ongoing war 1,700,000 Guatemala: Killed in army massacre of 400 Mayan villages 200,000 in 1981-82 Cambodia: Killed by U.S. secret bombings in...