The intricate and prolonged political aftermath of the 9/11 incidents
In a brief display of unity that barely stretched beyond a moment's pause for reflection, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump momentarily put aside their political differences and stood united at Ground Zero in Manhattan on Tuesday, commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Trump and Harris, who had only met the previous night during their heated debate, even exchanged handshakes for the second time in less than 24 hours. This unexpected gesture was reportedly organized by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Joining them was Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, dressed appropriately in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and scarlet tie, mimicking Trump's signature look. For a fleeting moment, the somber ceremony evoked memories of the unity that briefly emerged in the tragic days following the attacks.
With the passage of time, September 11 is beginning to take on a historical tone. However, for those who experienced it firsthand, the emotions surrounding the tragedy remain raw. The pain continues for those who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center's twin towers, the Pentagon, the planes transformed into weapons by al Qaeda terrorists, or family members who perished in the conflicts that ensued in the wake of 9/11. A simple glance at a clock displaying 8:46 a.m. - the exact time the first plane struck the North Tower on that clear September morning - can instantaneously transport one back to a devastating day that will be forever etched in history.
The gathering of former, current, and future leaders of the United States on this solemn occasion served as a stark reminder of the lasting political repercussions triggered by the attacks.
The armed conflicts initiated by the George W. Bush administration in response to the attacks contributed to public exhaustion and a decline in trust in government institutions, which Trump exploited in his political rise. Many of the US soldiers who served multiple tours and fell in the global war on terror were reserves from small-town America or what is now known as "Trump country." Twentieth years after the US invasion of Afghanistan, the war has once again become central to a presidential campaign, as Harris and Trump trade accusations over the chaotic US withdrawal in 2021 and a contentious debate rages over the deaths of 13 US service personnel at Kabul airport.
A chain of unexpected political ramifications can be traced back to the attacks. Had the public's support for Bush waned following the overseas conflicts, there might have been no room for a young Illinois senator, Barack Obama, who opposed the Iraq war, to ascend to the presidency. In a sense, Trump's presidency was a reaction to the backlash against the first Black president. And it's unlikely that Biden would have become president without Trump and the chaos he created. Had Biden not been called back into service at an advanced age, there likely would have been no opportunity for his vice president, Harris, to run in this election after Biden abandoned his reelection bid due to public concern about his cognitive abilities. Vance, who served in Iraq as a combat journalist, is now the first member of the post-9/11 generation of enlistees to be featured on a major party presidential ticket.
Twenty-four years later, the new Great Power struggle has replaced terrorism as the primary geopolitical threat. Osama bin Laden has been deceased for over 13 years. And to underscore the passage of time, some young voters born after 9/11 will be casting their ballots for the second time in a presidential election this year.
However, the world's most devastating terrorist attack continues to exert a powerful psychological and political influence, as we are reminded every September.
The unprecedented display of political unity among Biden, Harris, and Trump at Ground Zero highlighted the importance of setting aside differences for national events. Amidst the political landscape, September 11 remains a significant event that shapes and influences various political agendas.
