Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism
9/11 Sept. 11, 2001 logo memorial from the AHRC

9/11 Attacks, Twenty Years After: Where is the Wisdom?

Posted on September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 By Imad_Hamad No Comments on 9/11 Attacks, Twenty Years After: Where is the Wisdom?
SHARE ...
1         
 
  
1
Share

  • Tweet

9/11 Attacks, Twenty Years After: Where is the Wisdom?

By Imad Hamad

Imad Hamad is the executive director of the American Human Rights Council
Imad Hamad is the executive director of the American Human Rights Council

This September 11 is the 20th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terror attacks. Twenty years is a long time. What are the lessons of the nation’s response to the attacks? The mistakes?

The attacks shocked the country. In response to the vile attacks, George W Bush declared a war on terror. The war was fought on two fronts- domestically and abroad. Just like innocent Americans suffered from the 9/11 attacks, innocent people domestically and abroad also suffered from the nation’s response.

In response to the attacks, President George W Bush started two wars. Afghanistan was invaded because the Taliban were hosting al Qaeda. Iraq was invaded because President Bush thought that Iraq is a threat to be preempted.

Worldwide, there was an outpouring of sympathy and goodwill toward the US as a response to the shock of the attacks. But American war decisions in response to the attacks depleted the goodwill. Millions of foreigners suffered because of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And just like the suffering of Americans on 9/11 was televised, Iraqi and Afghan suffering was televised too. Was war the only way to respond to the terror attacks? Were the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq morally justified? Were they the best response/wisest response to the attacks? How many Americans died in the terror attacks and how many Americans died in the country’s response to the attacks? How much did the attacks cost and how much did the response cost in blood and treasure?

And domestically, looking back, was the response moral or helpful? President Bush told Attorney General John Ashcroft don’t let this happen again. Law enforcement respond to crime, post 9/11 the mandate was to prevent other attacks. Law enforcement cast a big net. Tens of thousands of people, Arabs and Muslims, were caught up in the dragnet. How many were charged for the 9/11 attacks? How many faced terror charges? None. Overwhelmingly, it was Arab and Muslim visa overstayers who paid the price for this response. Attorney General John Ashcroft in his book Never Again admits that of the thousands caught in the dragnet no one knows who had any ties to terrorism.

This year’s 20th anniversary coincides with President Biden’s leaving Afghanistan. Twenty years and a trillion dollars spent, the Taliban is back in power. Was war the best response? Was George Bush’s decision to treat the Taliban and al Qaeda as one and the same a smart decision? Newly elected President Karzai wanted to reach out to a defeated Taliban and include them in government but George W Bush said no. That decision led to a lengthy occupation and the US fight against an insurgency that ended with a negotiated withdrawal with none other than the Taliban responsible for the security of the withdrawing Americans!

9/11 Sept. 11, 2001 logo memorial from the AHRC

Twenty years later, no more American military presence in Afghanistan. The decision to withdraw was right despite the messy withdrawal. Giving up in that fashion was inevitable given that after almost a trillion dollars spent on the Afghanistan project, the Afghan armed forces melted away in weeks instead of months. Everyone knew a long time ago that Afghanistan is a failed project, but the bad policy continued.

Leaders have to take hard decisions. We need wise leaders who don’t take decisions to cater to the sensational news cycle. This requires wise policies and wise approaches. Terrorist organization have a free had to hurt civilians to achieve their goals. Democracies that believe in human rights should always think of the best approach that minimizes the suffering of innocent civilians. The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq inflicted massive suffering on innocent civilians. The big law enforcement net cast in the US caused countless of avoidable suffering to citizens and non-citizens in the US.

The 20th anniversary of September 11 should serve as an occasion to reflect and draw the hard lessons. Why use a sledgehammer when a scalpel is needed? Is acting tough acting wise? Or Smart?

In the darkness of our post-911 world, there were moments of light and hope. Some wanted to be part of the solution, to light a candle in the darkness. BRIDGES (Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity), a forum of dialogue between government and citizens was born right after 9/11 attacks. Acting on the advice of the late Senator Carl Levin, the outstanding former US attorney Jeffrey Collins and I co-founded BRIDGES. BRIDGES became a national and international model for law enforcement- community engagement. We tried to do damage control.

Like many fellow Americans, 9/11/2001 is a day seared in my memory. On that day I flew from Detroit to Washington, DC. I did not know that the country was under attack until the plane landed. It was horrible. My children were less 6 years old at the time. They still recall the images they saw on TV and still recall their worrying about me. Simply, on that day, I could be one of two things, a victim or a suspect.

Some think the American withdrawal from Afghanistan 20 years after the attacks closes that dark chapter and its legacies. We can only hope.

Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director

####
Save the date: AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Gala 2021
The American Human rights Council (AHRC-USA) is pleased to announce its annual AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards Gala that will be held on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Due to Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the gala’s location, program and details will be released and announced in the future.

Help AHRC Protect Human Rights:
These are challenging times. It is our common humanity that we are determined to protect. To donate, please visit: www.ahrcusa.org for safe & secured donation

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Imad_Hamad
Imad_Hamad
Director, Columnist at American Human Rights Council
Imad Hamad is the director of the American Human Rights Council based in Greater Detroit.

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) is dedicated to defending and protecting human rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution and the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The AHRC was formed to protect these rights and advocate for anyone whose rights are being violated or denied. To that end, the AHRC will build a tenacious, objective, and carefully guided advocacy program that will serve to defend individual human rights, whenever and wherever they are being infringed upon.

Reach Imad at ihamadusa@gmail.com
Imad_Hamad
Latest posts by Imad_Hamad (see all)
  • AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success - October 26, 2022
  • City of Dearborn’s Tribute to Debbie Dingell, well-deserved farewell  - September 28, 2022
  • AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel: - May 24, 2022

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
1         
 
  
1
Share
 
1
Share
1         
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Bloggers, Civil Rights, Commentary, Imad Hamad, Opinion, racism Tags:2001, 20th Anniversary, 9/11, 9/11 attacks, Al-Qaeda, American Human Rights Council, commemoration, Imad Hamad, Pentagon, Sept. 11, September 11, Shanksvlle, terrorism, World Trade Center

Post navigation

Previous Post: Arab gas station owners targeted in futile Lightfoot stunt to stop street gang violence
Next Post: Chicago Mayor ties Arab-owned stores to city’s rising gang violence

Related Posts

  • Attendees listen to speeches at rally for Marie Newman in Bridgeview Friday Sept. 4, 2020. Photo courtesy of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce
    Marie Newman will include Arabs and Muslims in her administration American Arabs
  • Qatari Airlines in Doha Airport. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    All Arabs Must Feel Like Qataris Abdennour Toumi
  • Don’t call me MENA, call me Arab American Arabs
  • Christian College to fire professor for saying Christians and Muslims worship the same God Ali Younes
  • RX: ZX Money and Suicide #JimKaz #BigPharma Bloggers
  • Mordechai Vanunu Newstip Declined by #NYT #BreakingNews #Israel #Nuclear #WhistleBlower #Vanunu American Arabs

More Related Articles

Responding to Netanyahu and The New York Times Re: Vanunu, Israel’s WMD and Occupation Palestine Arab World
Human Rights activist Vince Warren Israel rejects entry to human rights activists Arab World
Dr. Sadek Sellam Profile Interview: Professor Sadek Sellam  Abdennour Toumi
America and Saudi Women Again! Arab World
Rush Darwish hosted his live radio show from the Arabesque Festival in June 2010 when Richard M. Daley was mayor. Photos by Ray Hanania Chicago Sun-Times owes Rush Darwish an apology American Arabs
Video: Kansas City Chiefs Abdullah penalized for being Muslim American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022
    January 4, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri
    October 19, 2022

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme