Lessons that U.S. citizens [FN1] can learn from 9/11 & its aftermath seem to elude many of us. The attacks were abhorrent, but not “senseless.” [FN2] Terrorists chose targets in the U.S. Our policies toward & backing of the same despots as pre-9/11 should be noted. 1/10

15 of 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, [FN3] where “criticism of the ruling family, the ruling system []the kingdom’s official religion, or the government” is met with lengthy prison sentences.” [FN4] U.S. ties to Saudi are bipartisan, strong & oil-based. [FN5] 2/10

The rest of the World expressed sorrow for the loss of lives in NYC, at the Pentagon, and in the middle of a Pennsylvania field. The U.S. moved quickly to bring to justice those who helped to fund, plan and carry out the attacks. Afghanistan was where some hijackers trained. 3/10

President George W Bush warned Taliban leaders of Afghanistan to “deliver to the United States authorities all the leaders of al-Qaeda who hide in your land,” or share in their fate. U.S. attacks, on targets in Afghanistan, at first, were surgical. [FN6] For the U.S. gov’t, 9/11's 4/10

attacks were a pre-text to invade, Iraq. The 9/11 Commission found no credible evidence to link Iraq to 9/11. [FN7] Osama bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, Gulf War 1, and continued military presence in the Middle East as reasons for the attacks. [FN8] 5/10

Since 1/20/25, trump has committed our military to help Israel attack Iran & has used military forces to kill w/o regard to international law or approval by Congress. People of this country on 9/11/01 paid a huge tab for ill-considered policies & warfare. A new tab is being 6/10

run up by a man known for stiffing the help & who probably won’t be around at closing time. If a nation’s leader commits war crimes, when do the people of his nation become complicit? Mid-term elections are just around the corner. Exercise your franchise. 7/10

Footnotes:
FN1. I direct this to “U.S. citizens” because we are the people who have the right to vote and, thus, can vote for people who would act to change things that I discuss here.
FN2. “destitute of, deficient in, or contrary to sense.” Merriam-Webster online dictionary, accessed 9/11/26. 8/10

FN3. The 9/11 Commission Report, pp. 434-37.
FN4. PEN Int’l, “Concerning Systematic Restrictions on the Right to Freedom of Expression in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” 2/8/2018, p. 2.
FN5. See, Tatum Richardson, “Forged by Fire: the Securitized Relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia,” Harvard Int’l Review, 3/13/23. 9/10

FN6. Zachary Laub and Lindsey Maizland, Council on Foreign Relations, “The U.S. War in Afghanistan,” updated 9/22/22, accessed 9/11/26. 10/
FN7. Riedel, “9/11 and Iraq: the making of a tragedy,” Brookings, 9/17/21, accessed 9/11/26.
FN8. “September 11 attacks,” the History Channel, 2/17/10, updated 9/11/26. 10/10