It’s Been 25 Years Since 9/11. Did the Terrorists Win?

Key Points:

• During a conversation in his second term, Barack Obama described Islamic terrorism as a chronic, manageable risk rather than an existential threat, emphasizing that the real danger would be Americans abandoning their values in response.
• The 9/11 attacks significantly altered U.S. political and social landscapes, leading to prolonged wars, economic crises, and a loss of public trust in government, which contributed to the rise of figures like Obama and later Donald Trump.
• The "War on Terror" intensified societal divisions and fueled nationalist, anti-immigrant movements not only in the U.S. but also across Europe, fracturing long-standing consensus on personal liberties.
• Terrorism aims to destabilize societies by provoking overreactions and chaos, as seen in both the aftermath of 9/11 and the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, where extremist actions have led to political and moral crises.
• Reflecting 25 years after 9/11, the U.S. faces deep political polarization, challenges to constitutional norms, and rising extremism, suggesting that while terrorists failed militarily, they succeeded in destabilizing American society.