How Pirates Brought About the End of Ancient Rome

Robert Harris has an op-ed in the New York Times that uses ancient Rome as an analogy for the United States of today. Harris suggests that the catalyst for the demise of the Roman empire was the terrorist attack on the port at Ostia -- and draws parallels to the 9/11 attack that brought down the twin towers. Subsequent to the attack on Ostia, the Roman senate voted to grant unprecedented powers to a centralized authority, over Rome and its people. What followed was a massive military build up, military campaigns, abuse of power and the eventual fall of what was once great empire.

Have a read and you decide if we're seeing history repeat itself.