This piece is co-authored with Mr. Jimmy Greene and Mr. Allen West.
Since our founding in 1776, the United States or her territories have been attacked 16 times before September 11, 2001. Unlike military attacks by foreign powers in 1812 (Great Britain) and 1941 (Japan), September 11, 2001 was an attack on the United States by terrorists; not a foreign country but a group of 19 radical individuals from four countries that took exception with America's free, open and inclusive society.
WHY THEY ATTACKED US
America stood for the promise of inalienable rights for all…for life, liberty, private property and the pursuit of happiness. 9/11 was an attack on the very reason we exist – our love of freedom, our belief in a constitution and rule of law, our belief in individual rights, rights that are owned by both genders, all walks of life, regardless of race, color, religion, or sexual preference.
They also attacked us because we believe in a free American economy, driven by entrepreneurship, invention and innovation. An economy like no other, where young and old, rich and poor, born in America or immigrant can dream of starting a business and bring it successfully to fruition as long as they satisfy their customers and shareholders. Today those businesses are run and/or owned by less than 4.2 percent of the world's population yet they produce more than 24.3 percent of the world’s GDP. American companies produce a disproportionately large number of the world’s goods and services from companies like Amazon, Apple, Coca-Cola, Disney, Dow, General Motors, Google, and McDonald’s largely due to the free enterprise system in which they function. The U.S. economy and her people were in 2001 – and are today – an enduring monument to what human beings from around the world can accomplish within the borders of an exceptional and free country.
OUR HEROES
The attacks of 9/11 resulted in 2,996 deaths; 19 hijackers committed murder/suicide, killed 2,977 loved ones and left more than 6,000 injured. 265 died on the four planes that attacked the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania farmland. 2,606 were killed in the World Trade Center and surrounding areas, and 125 died at the Pentagon. One can only imagine the death toll had it not been for the brave passengers who thwarted the terrorist attack on the White House with United flight 93 by bringing it to an end in the fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In all, the 2,977 victims were free human beings performing the daily tasks they loved that made America great. For this, they were loathed by the hijackers who killed them…people from many countries, men and women, people of numerous faiths and ages, simply because they believed in freedom and the power of ideas. Instead of convincing others of the merits of their arguments, they chose to use force and terror in an attempt to impose their warped values.
Today we must never forget the 2,977 victims of 9/11, the more than 6,000 people injured and all family and friends. We must continue to support organizations like the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) that serves over 100,000 enrolled survivors suffering from physical, psychological, and emotional stressors from 9/11. And charities for victims families like Tunnel to Towers, which supports families of deceased and injured 9/11 first responders and families of fallen and injured soldiers who after 9/11 defended American freedoms and brought Osama bin Laden to justice.
WHY WE MUST BE CONCERNED
We must also not forget the negative impact the terrorist attack had on our economy; an economy that lost roughly $32.4 billion due to factors from business interruption to property loss, saw GDP growth reduced by roughly .05 percent or $50 billion and realized just under 600,000 American jobs lost to 9/11 in 2001.
Today, America is measurably different than it was when 9/11 took place and in some ways, less capable of defending itself and our allies around the world. The U.S. national debt is more than $28 trillion and almost 126 percent of U.S. GDP; compare that with our national debt of only 56 percent of U.S. GDP in 2000, with many of our allies debt ridden in 2021 as well. Today many more countries have or are working to acquire nuclear weapons. China and Russia have more powerful militaries today and have made expansionary moves on Hong Kong and the Ukraine with China speaking openly of taking control over Taiwan.
Since 9/11, the federal government has taken over even greater control of the medical side of the U.S. economy, with current calls by many in Washington for greater government control of community college education, the automobile industry and the energy sector, to name a few. We strongly believe a U.S. economy that is less free, less competitive, less diverse, and less market-driven, will produce higher taxes, fewer jobs, less GDP, reduced tax revenue, and a weaker country less capable of defending itself from threats foreign and domestic, along with a reduced role in championing and protecting the freedoms of many around the world.
PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH
Most recently, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has weakened the morale of our troops, veterans, and longtime allies. Their confidence in, and admiration for our foreign policy, and our resolve to be the world’s voice of liberty and the hammer of justice is now in question.
Let's celebrate our heroes of 9/11 and the American can-do spirit that allowed us to rebound from one of this country’s great tragedies. However, we must also be concerned for our future and ensure we have a strong American economy, one that is capable of defending itself and our allies against evil.
About the authors: Dr. Timothy G. Nash is director of the McNair Center at Northwood University, Mr. Allen West is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and a candidate for governor of Texas and Mr. Jimmy Greene is president of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Michigan.
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