On September 11, 2001, the world watched in disbelief as hijacked commercial airliners struck the World Trade Center in New York, toppling the twin towers that symbolized American economic might. Nearly 3,000 people perished, from executives to clerical staff and immigrant workers. The attackers were mostly Saudi nationals, yet two and a half decades later, the official account still leaves many questions unanswered.
In the aftermath, the administration of President George W. Bush declared a global "war on terror," a phrase that critics say masked a broader agenda. Retired General Wesley Clark later revealed that the Pentagon had drawn up plans to topple governments in seven Muslim-majority countries: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iran, Somalia, and Sudan. Over the following years, the United States launched military interventions in all of them, plus Afghanistan, with devastating human costs.
A widening conflict
The human toll is staggering. Millions of civilians have died in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan, while millions more have been displaced as refugees. Thousands of American soldiers also lost their lives, and many more carry physical and psychological scars. The wars have destabilized entire regions, creating power vacuums that allowed extremist groups to flourish.
Iran remains the last major regional power that has resisted US and Israeli pressure. Its strategic position and influence in the Middle East make it a target for militarists in Washington and Tel Aviv. The current US administration has escalated rhetoric and military deployments against Tehran, raising fears of a new conflict.
Domestic consequences
The "war on terror" has also turned inward. The prison at Guantánamo Bay, established on Cuban soil, became a symbol of indefinite detention and torture. At home, immigration enforcement has become increasingly aggressive, with ICE agents conducting raids that many describe as racial profiling. Mass incarceration has expanded to include not only Black Americans but also Latino and other minority communities, often held in private prisons with poor conditions.
Peace activists and immigrant rights advocates now find themselves labeled as terrorists for nonviolent protest. White supremacist groups have become more vocal, and some observers see a normalization of authoritarian tactics. The Trump administration's efforts to restrict voting access, including gerrymandering and reducing polling places, have raised alarms about the integrity of upcoming elections.
Nuclear brinkmanship
The most alarming development is the renewed talk of nuclear weapons. Reports indicate that the Trump administration has discussed using tactical nuclear weapons against Iran. Pentagon war games consistently show that any such use would escalate to a full-scale nuclear exchange, leading to a nuclear winter that could kill billions.
Despite the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, ratified by 75 countries, the US has withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia and is reportedly planning for a possible first strike against China. These policies undermine non-proliferation efforts and encourage other nations to seek their own nuclear arsenals.
The so-called "war on terror" has become a war of terror, waged by the US government both abroad and at home. As the 25th anniversary approaches, the question is whether the lessons of the past will be heeded or repeated. For the rest of the world, especially in Asia, the stakes are high: a US-China confrontation would have catastrophic consequences for the entire Indo-Pacific region.
