Published May 3, 2011

James Carroll (Courtesy)

The other day I had a conversation with James Carroll about our response to Sept. 11, the wars that were “unnecessary” and the moment of opportunity America now faces.

The Globe columnist, distinguished professor-in-residence at Suffolk University and author — most recently of the book “Jerusalem, Jerusalem” — regularly presents us with both the big picture of American foreign policy and the tectonic clash of Christianity with Islam and Judaism in ancient and modern history.

For my piece this morning, I availed myself of his brilliance as a chronicler of Boston, as well, for a look back to what began here 10 years ago and ended with the killing of Osama bin Laden.

I had far too much to share and so little time, so here’s an extended interview: