"We may yet work up to some serious shooting war, or maybe some acts of urban genocide committed with rogue nuclear weapons. But if that were the case, why would we call that "9/11"? If Washington disappeared in a mushroom cloud, we'd give that huge event a different name"

In this quote, author Bruce Sterling is discussing the possibility of a significant conflict or devastating occasion happening in the future. He suggests that there may be a circumstance where there is a serious war or acts of violence using nuclear weapons in city areas. However, he questions why such an event would be described as "9/11," as that term is typically connected with the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Sterling argues that if something as substantial as the destruction of Washington D.C. were to happen, it would be provided a various name to show its magnitude. This quote highlights the potential for future conflicts and the impact they could have on society.