Reflecting on 9/11: A Quarter-Century Later

It’s been twenty-five years since our nation endured the most devastating terrorist attack in history. This event overshadowed even the earlier violence from groups like anarchists, the PLO, and the IRA, or even more domestic threats like the Weather Underground during the Vietnam War. The tragic loss of nearly 3,000 American lives in just over an hour, from New York to Washington, D.C., and the heroic passengers of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, marked the beginning of a long struggle—the Global War on Terror. So, twenty-five years on, have we really triumphed?

To dive deeper, let’s consider what the jihadists aimed for beyond the chaos of that fateful day. Have they succeeded in any of their objectives since September 11th?

You don’t need top-level intelligence to grasp what groups like al-Qaeda or ISIS aim for. Their foundations rest on the writings and teachings of key Islamist thinkers, including figures like Sayyid Qutb of the Muslim Brotherhood, Abdullah Azzam, Osama bin Laden, and Ayman al-Zawahiri. These individuals, through their ideologies, have laid out a plan for extreme violence, and here’s a brief rundown of their dark ambitions based on insights from an informed colleague in counterterrorism.

It’s clear—whether it’s al-Qaeda, ISIS, or Hamas—they desire to dismantle Arab monarchies, labeling them as “un-Islamic,” with Saudi Arabia being their primary target due to its sacred cities of Mecca and Medina. But, in this respect, they’ve failed.

Thanks to the Abraham Accords under President Trump and recent provocations from the Iranian regime, the Gulf States find themselves aligned with America more than at any time since World War Two, joining forces against terrorism.

All jihadi groups also wish to see the downfall of Israel, and, quite frankly, the subjugation or destruction of America. Here, too, they have not succeeded. Israel remains robust and resilient, and despite the horrific events of their own devastating day on October 7th, the nation has dealt severe blows to Hamas and its Iranian backers.

Moreover, jihadists have vocalized their intent to eliminate Western influence globally. In this effort, they have not succeeded either. With Trump back in the Oval Office, America stands as an unprecedented stronghold, a beacon leading Western allies committed to peace through strength, as well as the values of sovereignty and Judeo-Christian ethics.

For these terrorists, the ultimate aim—once their prior goals are achieved through terror—is to recreate an Islamofascist Caliphate. This concept envisions a global theocracy where Muslims must worship Allah or face relegation to second-class citizenship. Unfortunately for them, they have not accomplished this either. While ISIS did achieve a semblance of a Caliphate under Obama’s administration, Trump’s military-led efforts swiftly dismantled it.

The fact is, under President Trump’s leadership, counterterrorism has been revitalized. In the last eighteen months alone, American military forces have forcefully removed 1,081 jihadists from the battlefield. Additionally, Trump’s administration successfully rescued 110 Americans who were either hostage or unjustly detained by jihadist sympathizers like the Taliban. Some of these individuals shared their heartfelt stories of gratitude at a recent event.

However, we can’t claim total safety as long as wicked individuals exist. Vigilance is crucial, and if needed, we must act decisively to protect the innocent. Yet, it is evident that jihadist efforts are crumbling.

Today, we honor the memories of those whose lives were taken on that tragic Tuesday morning 25 years ago. In the words of President Trump’s proclamation for today: “They sought to divide us — they could not. They sought to make us afraid — instead, they awakened the mightiest force for justice the world has ever known.” We must remember: peace through strength.