This commentary responds to an article by L A Fingerhut et al that discussed the statistical challenge posed by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The author states that the NCHS revision of the International Classification of Diseases as a means to classify deaths from the events is an improvement over initial inclination to code the deaths as “assault (homicide).” The new coding still has deaths in categories of homicide & suicide, & thus the new codes keep NCHS in conflict with the official response to the terrorist activities, which is as to an act of war. (4 refs)