September 11, 2001, Reimagined

WTC Attack September 11, 2001

On Tuesday of this week 17 years ago, Hijackers flew commercial airliners into New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. Passengers and crew were credited with thwarting the terrorist hijackers’ planned attack on the U.S. Capital. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, in which close to 3000 people were killed, was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil in history.

We were fortunate at that time to have great confidence in the leadership of our country; in our intelligence community, the FBI and in law enforcement. There were system failures, particularly in communications. And sure, there was second guessing later about the actions taken in response to the attacks, but while events were unfolding, we trusted in our leaders to see the country through.

George W Bush first hears of WTC attack

Imagine what would happen now under the Trump Administration. The “usual suspects” carry out a devastating attack on a soft target with symbolic importance, like the December 19, 2016, attack on a Berlin Christmas Market — an attack claimed by ISIS.

Who would be blamed for not connecting the dots? Would the Intelligence and Law Enforcement agencies — the FBI, the CIA, NSA, DIA — carry sway with President Trump in formulating a measured response?


Who would we bomb, who invade? What new immigration restrictions would be imposed, what internment camps would we open for Muslim-Americans?

What new requirements would be added to the Patriot Act, what more intrusive surveillance on all Americans? What nature of protest would be made illegal? When would martial law be lifted?

The next terrorist attack on American soil is not a matter of if, but when. Determined fanatics willing to die for their cause will usually outwit even a well-managed Department of Homeland Security staffed with highly motivated and trained officers. A bombastic “strongman” equipped with a keyboard and wielding a heavy-handed immigration policy will never be an effective counter to terrorism. A country divided against itself will never be ready, or resilient.

A great danger to our country

In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, President Donald Trump criticized as “fake news” organizations that publish anonymously sourced reports that reflect poorly on him. In a series of Twitter posts, he assailed the FBI as a "dangerously porous agency," condemning unauthorized revelations of classified information from within its ranks and calling for an immediate hunt for leakers.

Hours after the speech, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, barred journalists from The New York Times, CNN, Politico, BuzzFeed, the Huffington Post, the Guardian, and several other news organizations from attending his daily briefing, a highly unusual breach of relations between the White House and its press corps.

Mr. Trump’s barrage against the news media continued well into Friday night. “FAKE NEWS media knowingly doesn’t tell the truth,” he wrote on Twitter shortly after 10 p.m., singling out The Times and CNN. “A great danger to our country.”

Retired Admiral Will McRaven spoke out on this calling Trump’s attack on the media “a threat to democracy." McRaven is currently a chancellor in the University of Texas system.

Trump seems to be trying to distract the public from FBI investigations into Trump's and his staff’s ties to Russia, as well as an unprecedented and prohibited attempt by Trump Chief of Staff Reince Preibus to have the FBI “knock down” the story.

In addition, Trump rejected his own Homeland Security report on his travel ban, again attacking the Intelligence Community.

In an ironic twist, CPAC audience members unknowingly waved Russian Flags with Trump’s name on them. Here’s the picture, just in case you thought this was “fake news.”

Trump supporters at CPAC waving Russian flags with Trump's name emblazoned in gold (of course).

So, given the state of affairs in the Administration, and geopolitical events of immense importance, what is the White House doing? Rescinding the rights of transgender people to use public bathrooms.