By Jim Glennon
On 9/11/2001 I was the Investigations Commander for a county wide task force and we were called out to a murder scene right after the second plane hit the second tower.
All hell was breaking loose and I was angry that I was pulled away from watching the brazen attacks with other detectives in my unit.
To make matters worse, the suspect in the murder we were sent to investigate was middle eastern. He beat his Chinese roommate to death and tried to set the house on fire to cover it up. He crawled out the window, with the help of neighbors, to avoid the smoke. Rumors were quickly flying that people in the neighborhood were trying to kill Muslims.
It was all nonsense, and he confessed hours later.
As the team was sitting around in the early evening at the host police station, eating pizza and watching all the televisions a young detective from that agency said, pointing to the carnage on the monitors, “You know LT, this is a day we will never forget.”
I immediately looked at him and replied, “You’re wrong. We will forget and forget quickly.”
He thought I had lost my marbles. We discussed and I remember ending the conversation with, “Watch. I give it 18 months.”
The Initial Visceral and Collective National Reaction
For days after the original attacks American flags were displayed on almost every house in almost every neighborhood.
“Never Forget” became an oft-used rallying cry as a way to remember.
Charitable organizations sprang up to assist the victimized families.
On subsequent 9/11s, for at least three years, several cable news organization replayed the day hour by hour as it happened. Moments of silence were held in institutions and bells would toll for each of those who were murdered that day.
But….
…time marched on and my prediction became very true.
Sure, we remember it happened, the planes being hijacked and thousands being killed. But what about the lessons learned?
I was teaching a class last month and there were police officers attending who were born after 9/11!?
Man, I’m old.
I asked them what they knew about 9/11 and it was shockingly very little. I supposed it was somewhat like those born after Pearl Harbor. It’s just a blip in the history books.
After the attacks everyone was outraged. President Bush stood on a pile of rubble, pulled up a firefighter from the FDNY and gave a short but stirring speech. I had goose bumps.
But now?
The 9/11 Commission
A true bipartisan commission got together and investigated where our federal agencies failed. They wanted to find out how we missed such a well-planned and strategic bold attack. When they finished, they published a book. I bought it, I read it.
The conclusions of that investigation spurred multiple changes. Combining federal law enforcement agencies into the Dept of Homeland Security (DHS) was one of them.
From their website today: “Following 9/11, the federal government moved quickly to develop a security framework to protect our country from large-scale attacks directed from abroad, while enhancing federal, state, and local capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats and disasters at home. A key element of this framework included the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March, 2003, bringing together 22 separate agencies and offices into a single, Cabinet-level department.”
Their purpose?
Again, from their own website:
- Protecting people and values: The DHS’s mission is to safeguard the American people, their homeland, and their values.
- Preventing attacks: The DHS works to prevent future attacks on the United States and its allies.
Many other recommendations from the commission were implemented.
- People who wanted to fly were put through tons of extra security. Fly lists were created. Layers of security for frequent flyers were established.
- Every state had to revamp their driver’s licenses and create what we know as the Real ID.
- Customs lines at airports for American Citizens coming back into the country after a trip became uncompromising and laborious.
- The border was further secured.
All of this was designed to make us safer. To keep foreign and domestic terrorists from entering this country and infiltrating the daily lives of American citizens.
Are we Actually Safer? Do we Care?
Here’s my question.
Are any of these things actually working, today, in 2024?
Are we safer?
Examples that spark my interest.
The Real ID deadline has been pushed back and has still not been fully implemented 21 years later. In addition, does the REAL ID, really provide extra protection? Besides being a pain to get, how many people have been turned down from getting one?
How’s the border doing?
What about breaking our laws and entering the country illegally? What are the penalties if someone makes it and are caught? What are we doing to deter those with terroristic intentions?
How many people on the terror watchlist are caught at the border and worse yet, how many slip through?
Nineteen terrorists boarded planes on 9/11. Nineteen! All considered to be “military aged males.” How many who fit this description are currently in this country?
Perspective
After 9/11 we came together as a country, most of us. I remember talking to a twenty-something relative weeks after the attacks. And she just very matter-of-factly blurted out, “Well you gotta admit, we were asking for it.”
I did my best to contain the volcanic eruption initiated in my Irish psyche and calmly asked, “What exactly did we do that made us, ‘Ask for it?’”
Not surprisingly she couldn’t specifically answer, mumbling some nonsense about colonialism or something. Follow-up questions were met with more evasive nonsense and at that moment I noticed other family members were begging me with their eyes to let it go.
The flags have come down and more and more people seem to want and blame this country for every wrong that has occurred across the past several centuries.
There is no bi-partisan view of this country whatsoever. It seems like there is a line drawn down the middle. If you are on one side, you have to believe everything about this country is evil and wrong. Consequently, we are deserving of whatever evil befalls us.
Is Protecting our Country Immoral?
Protecting our borders has become primarily a race issue. If you believe we should tighten up our borders and not allow anyone declaring a need for asylum to be let in, housed and cared for, then you are a racist.
But, does the average person know who is coming across our borders?
According to Pew Research, “In December 2023, most encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border (54%) involved migrants traveling as single adults, while 41% involved people traveling in families and 5% involved unaccompanied minors.”
Sex trafficking is of epidemic proportions. Border patrol can’t tell if the minors actually belong to the adults with whom they are travelling.
And 54% of those crossing are single adults, and let’s assume half are males. Perhaps “military aged males.” What is the intent of at least some of them? Are there more than nineteen with terrorism on their mind? Or criminal intent? It is well established that foreign violent gangs are infiltrating deep into the country. Citizens are undoubtedly being victimized.
Conclusion
As I finish up here, I have three questions.
Do you feel safer than you did before 9/11/2001?
Is it legal and ethical to enforce our border laws?
Is there another attack coming, soon?
Remember 9/11/2001. Forgetting may be the end for the country as we know it.
E-MAIL YOUR THOUGHTS TO: [email protected]
Jim,
I am an elementary school teacher and a part time police officer. My sixth grade students and I just came back from attending our town’s 911 ceremony (Never Forget was the theme.) We are trying to keep the memory alive but you are right. We are ineed, fighting an uphill battle. Why are we not celebrating this day as a holiday? Why are entire schools not out commemorating this event? How long can we go before we no longer remember what exactly is important enough not to forget? Keep writing solid essays like this one. They are most needed words in this day and age.
Excellent comments Jim, and sadly on mark. Awakened after the first tower was hit, I watched on live TV as the 2nd tower was hit – the announcer even questioning “is this taped” and then realizing it was live TV as the 1st tower, burning and smoking, came into view just prior to the 2nd impact.
I WILL NEVER FORGET!
Sadly, you are correct – too many have forgotten or moved on, even in NYC and most assuredly in DC. Now tens of millions of unknown people are unlawfully entering our country is beyond contemptable. No country can sustain and survive an invasion of people like that. Last year alone – 598 known gang members, 172 known or suspected terrorists, and 14, 697 criminal arrests by Border Patrol for persons with criminal backgrounds attempting entry. Over 11 million illegal entries since 2021, and an estimated 1.5 – 2 million “got-aways.” It is criminally insane!
Though I disagree with everything your 20-something relative used as a reason for the attack on 9-11, I must sadly confess her statement now rings true. By woefully allowing politics to hinder securing the border and preventing 11-15 million people entering our country illegally, when the next big attack happens … “Well you gotta admit, we were asking for it.”
Lt.
You put some great stuff on here, but this might be some of your best. It’s a shame and a disgrace the number of people who only care about our country based on what it can give them. Little or no respect for the lives lost or the men and women keeping them safe on a daily basis. If believing that it’s important to secure our borders to prevent another 9/11 or possibly something worse makes me a racist, start mine with a capital R. God bless our troops and first responders.
Outstanding commentary, Sir. Don’t ever give up. Thank you.
Thank you Jim for once again publishing a very thought provoking piece. As we close out this day I am very sorry to say that I was the only house in my neighborhood, and most of the my community, displaying a flag. Of course the state agencies, local agencies and USPS were displaying theirs at half staff. That pretty much tells me that “YES” we have forgotten.
All the changes that were made in the federal agencies was just a ton of fluff. The 56% crossing the border are getting the job done. Not with airplanes, but with the poison they are distributing daily to our citizens. If something isn’t done soon our nation is going to implode.
Do I feel safer. Not at all. I am just thankful that by law i can still have access to the tools to protect me and mine. Again, thank you for a wonderul article.
As usual, another spot-on assessment.
I grew up across the Hudson River in North Jersey and watched the Twin Towers go up. While I watched the them fall on live television, the real gut punch came almost a year later on final approach into Newark Airport. As we flew along the Hudson, there was a massive void in the Manhattan skyline and I visited Ground Zero a few days later.
For a while after the attacks, I remember flags flying and unwavering support for those who died that day, support for first responders, a sense of renewed patriotism and American pride, but like everything else, it went away. To add insult to injury, in today’s world, if you’re a proud American, you’re considered by the Left, including those in our own government to be racist, extremist, and a threat to Democracy.
I live in a border state and dealt with my share of border-related crime during my police career. Personally, I feel our country is more divided than ever, and the open border has allowed millions of unvetted individuals, including those from countries we know hate the United States. Knowing more than the average citizen based on my training and experience, I believe we will see another attack, however on what scale, I don’t know, and I don’t know when, but I, like you and many others who didn’t forget 911, it won’t be a surprise.
As a Veteran and retired cop, my oaths didn’t expire and I truly believe we are still responsible for defending the Constitution of the United States against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic.
I’m not sure what the author’s intent is with this editorial. It seems to be “Don’t forget the tragedy and the lessons of 9/11?” at the outset, but at the end it becomes, “Beware of immigrants. Because some of them, perhaps, are criminals.”
The author also quotes a credible study but then uses assumptions and not sourced material. First, we have: “According to Pew Research, “In December 2023, most encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border (54%) involved migrants traveling as single adults, while 41% involved people traveling in families and 5% involved unaccompanied minors.”
Then this: “Sex trafficking is of epidemic proportions. Border patrol can’t tell if the minors actually belong to the adults with whom they are travelling.”
Is this from the same Pew Research study, or just something author believes to be true. There isn’t even a quoted Border Patrol agent or command officer saying anything to back this claim. Yes, sex trafficking is of epidemic proportions, but where are the statistics for this argument?
This follows: “And 54% of those crossing are single adults…” Again, is this from the Pew Research study?
Next, we have: “…and let’s assume half are males. Perhaps “military aged males.” What is the intent of at least some of them? Are there more than nineteen with terrorism on their mind? Or criminal intent? It is well established that foreign violent gangs are infiltrating deep into the country. Citizens are undoubtedly being victimized.”
There’s a lot to unpack here. First, “let’s assume half are males. Perhaps “military aged males.” This is more assumption on the author’s part. What if they are “military aged?” Does this automatically put them under suspicion because the 9/11 terrorists were in the same age group. Also, what does “military aged” even mean? 18 – 30? 30+ if you count career officers?
“What is the intent of at least some of them?” How is the reader supposed to answer this, other than by conjecture? People can even answer what their neighbor’s intent is, let alone the intent of immigrants they’ve never met. Is answer supposed to be, “Some of them might be coming here to kill us?” Okay, sure. Some of them also might be coming here to not live in a tin shack or a brothel. There’s no way of knowing. Does that disqualify every immigrant?
“Are there more than nineteen with terrorism on their mind? Or criminal intent?” Again, we can’t know this. Also, is nineteen some sort of magic number since there were nineteen 9/11 terrorists? Do nineteen criminals equal a terrorist plot to destroy the nation? There are departments that arrest nineteen people or more per day, yet they’re not claiming a terrorist plot is happening in their jurisdiction.
“It is well established that foreign violent gangs are infiltrating deep into the country. Citizens are undoubtedly being victimized.” Again, what’s the source of this claim? Are violent gangs found throughout the country and victimizing citizens? Yes, but how many of these gangs are made up of immigrants and how many have been established in communities for years? How many of them are based on racial ideology or extreme religious beliefs?
As for the author’s three questions…
“Do you feel safer than you did before 9/11/2001?” Like other questions asked, how is the reader supposed to respond to this? People can’t remember if they feel safer now than they did last week, and now they’re supposed to remember how safe they felt 23 years ago? The author even mentions how many officers were born after the 9/11 attacks, so they have no answer to this. A better question might be, “Do you feel safer than you did before the last mass shooting in the United States?” or “Do you feel safer than you did before the January 06th assault on the U.S. Capitol?”
“Is it legal and ethical to enforce our border laws?” Yes to both, especially when the laws are ethically enforced.
“Is there another attack coming, soon?” Unfortunately yes, and, according to the FBI’s 2023 Active Shooter Report, it will probably be by a lone male aged 25-34 (Is that still “military aged?”) with a single firearm at an open space on a Monday between 6:00pm and midnight in April in California. That attack, too, will be forgotten when the next one happens.
Powerful! This should be available for every American to read!
People in the NYC metropolitan area have certainly not forgotten.