Former President George W. Bush stated on Wednesday, marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, that many Americans fail to heed the lessons of that day. Speaking at his presidential library in Dallas alongside his former national security adviser and secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, Bush argued that periodic isolationist sentiments—driven by the belief that domestic issues eclipse overseas events—undermine national security. Bush maintained that supporting those fighting tyranny matters, noting that the U.S. does not always need to deploy troops but should stand with those seeking freedom, similar to America’s own founding ideals. Reflecting on the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan that followed the 2001 attacks, Bush dismissed the idea that Afghans do not appreciate freedom, pointing to young girls attending school and women working as doctors and professors who now face renewed oppression under Taliban rule. Recalling Sept. 11, 2001, when he was informed of the tragedy during an elementary school visit, Bush described how he instantly became a wartime president tasked with protecting the nation. Bush and Rice also reflected on the chaos of that day, including the grounding of all civilian aircraft and the agonizing brief uncertainty over whether Flight 93 had been shot down by the military before crashing in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Bush recounted visiting Ground Zero on Sept. 14, 2001, emphasizing his priority to help the country return to normalcy without losing its soul or core values. He also highlighted his decision to visit a mosque shortly after the attacks to defend religious freedom and counter harassment against minority communities, framing the conflict as an ideological struggle. Rice added that contemporary observers often fail to grasp the immense pressure and heaviness of the immediate post-9/11 period as leaders pivoted to a defensive and offensive posture to protect the nation.
Source: cbsnews.com
