The Pentagon's Rebuilt; Ground Zero is a Hole

They're not entirely comparable, of course. The Pentagon was bruised but not destroyed, the way the World Trade Center war. The casualties were almost 20 times larger at Ground Zero. And yet, you have to wonder, as you watch the 9/11 anniversary ceremonies today, with amazement that Ground Zero is still a construction site and the Pentagon was largely rebuilt in a year. Indeed, the Pentagon itself, the world's largest office building by office space and the third largest building in the world by area, was built in 18 months, during World War II. Obviously, there have been more competing interests and more controversy at Ground Zero and the World Trade Center reconstruction was not an entirely private venture. Multiple jurisdictions have had a role in redevelopment. Still, I think it's startling that Ground Zero is still a construction site and to those who think government is always inefficient, look at the Pentagon.