Looking Back on 9/11: 23 Years of Lessons Learned
It has been 23 years since the tragic day when the Twin Towers collapsed on live television, leaving America in shock.
Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists, originating from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Lebanon, hijacked four planes, resulting in the deaths of 2,977 people and deeply impacting the nation.
America woke up abruptly to the threat posed by those who harbor hatred towards our nation and its values.
During this time, heroes emerged: Todd Beamer and his fellow passengers on Flight 93; firefighter Stephen Siller and his run through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel; Morgan Stanley’s visionary Rick Rescorla, and many others, including those whose names may never be known.
Despite the flaws in the War on Terror, the terrorists have continued their campaign against us.
However, America, particularly its leaders, now risk falling back into the complacency that led to the tragedy we vowed to “never forget.”
Over the past 3½ years, the Harris-Biden administration has left the United States vulnerable to threats both within and beyond its borders.
In the Middle East, the White House has continued to appease Iran as it pursues regional dominance, gets closer to obtaining nuclear weapons, supports our adversaries, and uses proxies to attack our military, disrupt Red Sea shipping, and target Israel from multiple angles.
China is actively targeting our critical infrastructure, meddling in our elections, and sending spies into government offices.
Russia is preparing for a potential conflict with NATO countries, while also kidnapping Americans for use in prisoner swaps. President Biden’s response has been criticized for not swiftly providing necessary military aid to Ukraine to end the conflict there.
At home, terrorism is becoming a growing threat once again due to the open borders policy of the Harris-Biden administration. Instances where individuals on the terror watchlist were able to enter the US without being stopped highlight the dangers.
The Border Patrol reported 98 encounters with individuals on the terror watchlist in Fiscal Year 2024, a significant increase from previous years, indicating a serious security risk.
Under the leadership of Harris-Biden, the nation’s adversaries have become more emboldened as we witness a decline in our global influence and domestic security.
The events of 9/11 showcased the bravery, selflessness, and resilience of Americans. However, it also served as a stark reminder of the threats that exist against our nation.
As the bells toll on Wednesday morning and the names are solemnly read, let us take a moment to reflect on the lessons learned from that tragic day.
