Twenty-First Anniversary of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

It was 21 years ago today that al-Qaeda Islamists committed the deadliest terrorist attacks in world history in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on New York, Washington and over Pennsylvania that killed nearly 3,000 people. As always, we remember those killed in the attacks and who sacrificed in the Global War on Terrorism that began after the attacks. And we express our gratitude to all the public servants and ordinary citizens who have participated in every way in opposing terrorism. Their efforts have prevented any attack on nearly the same scale as September 11 anywhere around the world. Because the Taliban regime that tyrannically ruled most of Afghanistan had harbored al-Qaeda, the United States led a successful international coalition to overthrow them by 2002 and to deny safe haven to al-Qaeda. Afghanistan thus became the first campaign of the War on Terrorism that continues today, although at a diminished intensity and without reference to the War. The leaders of al-Qaeda have been killed, but the mastermind of the attacks remains untried in a military prison. Meanwhile, although al-Qaeda suffered heavy losses in Afghanistan as did its affiliates around the Islamic world, it remains a global threat, as does its offshoot, the Islamic State. The return to power in Afghanistan last year of the Taliban, after the American-led withdrawal of international advisors, allowed the Taliban, who are intertwined with terrorists, to provide safe harbor again to terrorists, as it recently did al-Qaeda’s leader. Safe harbor allows terrorists to communicate freely, plot attacks and train. The September 11 mastermind and other al-Qaeda terrorists should be tried in military trials, convicted and receive the maximum sentences. The War on Terrorism must continue on every geographic front necessary, and in every manner, namely diplomacy, countering Islamist propaganda and disinformation, financial restrictions, security, intelligence, law enforcement, and, when necessary, military action. The U.S. and all foreign States must continue not to recognize the Taliban diplomatically and their funds should continue to be frozen, as they have violated their promises not to harbor terrorists, to persecute opponents and to be more inclusive in the ethnically and religiously diverse State. Neither Afghanistan, nor any other state, must never be allowed to become a haven for terrorists.