Tricia (@Tri9)

AMAC: Have we learned the right lessons from the intelligence and security failures that preceded 9/11? The lesson of 9/11 was never simply to collect more intelligence. It was to remain focused on genuine threats, share information effectively, exercise good judgment, and never allow bureaucracy or institutional distractions to blind us to dangers gathering in plain sight. The 9/11 Commission famously concluded that the attacks reflected failures of “imagination, policy, capabilities, and management.” Intelligence existed, but agencies failed to connect and share crucial information. America responded by creating the Department of Homeland Security, expanding surveillance and intelligence capabilities, and reorganizing the national-security apparatus. But bigger government does not automatically mean better security. Last November, an Afghan national admitted to the United States by the Biden administration opened fire on National Guard members just blocks from the White House. Clearly, there are still holes in the nation’s vetting and security protocols. One reason for that may be that the intelligence community that became greatly empowered after 9/11 chose to use that power for nakedly political purposes. In 2016, Deep State operatives cooked up the “Russiagate” conspiracy to try to take down Donald Trump. How many terrorists escaped undetected because partisan bureaucrats were more concerned with a political witch hunt than protecting the country? What can we do to honor the memory of the fallen every day? Perhaps this is the most important question of all. “Never Forget” cannot be something we say once every September. It is a commitment to build a country worthy of the people who died that morning and the Americans who sacrificed in the years that followed. But perhaps most importantly, be a good neighbor. Help someone who needs it. Remember that our fellow Americans are countrymen before they are political opponents. September 11 showed the world the terrible consequences of hatred. September 12 showed something more powerful – the resilience, courage, generosity, and fundamental goodness of the American people. The terrorists sought to strike at the very heart of America. We ensure they ultimately fail by ensuring that America remains a beacon of freedom. We win every time we refuse to surrender to hatred and division, and every time a new generation learns what happened that day and resolves anew: Never Forget. https://amac.us/newsline/five-questions-americans-must-ask-themselves-25-years-after-9-11?