AZ, 9-11 is old news to most of the younger crowd. If it didn't happen in the last year or so, then it's ancient history.
Most folks have a very short attention span, especially the younger ones.
It changed the climate of education on human/State interaction.
The TSA, increased social event security (theater), and similar actions are not only for security (theater). They're a tool to get an entire new generation of future voters accustomed to State security, and justifiable State authoritarianism.
You're right, it is old news. But it's now part of the subliminal culture and fabric of our lives. And the next generation of voters has lived their entire "conscious" formative years (about age 5 to 18) with these controls in place. They don't know any better.
The 30-somethings are angry about Statism, hence the rise in strength of the Tea Party and Libertarian groups.
But the next group of 18-25 voters pretty much don't know any better.
Watch this group very closely, and the 12-18 year old group behind them. Watch for school-sponsored indoctrination of key news events, either from Junior High to college.
Progressives will make another generation to replace themselves.