'Just World News' with Helena Cobban

SO IT'S STARTED: The 17-year-old

SO IT'S STARTED: The 17-year-old just broke the news to me about the bombing having started. I clicked onto CNN.com. "Mommy?" she said, hanging round my door in her bath-robe. I said, "D'you want a hug?" "No... aw, yes then."

We hugged. "I mean," she said, "I feel a lot, lot worse for other people."

"Yup. But you know what, I'm afraid the world we're going to be handing over to you and your lot will be a far worse world for everyone, you included. I'm really, really sorry 'bout that. Sorry we screwed up-- "

"Did you feel that way, Mom? When you were my age?"

"No, really I didn't. When I was your age I felt the world my Dad and his generation were handing over was pretty secure, all in all."

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"It's okay. You know, I think you and Dad did your best-- "

"Yeah, well, we still screwed up."