25 years later what did 9/11 do to America?

<p><strong>Blain’s Morning Porridge 9th, Sept 2026</strong></p><p><em>“This is who we are.”</em></p><p><em><strong>Friday is the 25th anniversary of 9/11. It was the worst of days. It changed the World forever. How has it changed America and what are the risks it raises for the future? America is a great and powerful nation – but is going through a painful period. What did Osama Bin Laden’s carefully calculated terror do to America’s future? The scars run deep. Who won?</strong></em></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><ul><li>9/11 was an asymmetric outrage designed to shock and trigger an over-reaction – yet America swiftly renewed itself, defining itself by its unity, resilience and determination.</li><li>The War on Terror defined the US for the early part of this millennium, and has cost trillions – with the negatives of rising debt and ongoing regional instability. It became a focus for growing resentment of the USA.</li><li>US public opinion has shifted against “<em>foreign entanglements</em>”, other nations wars, and become more inward looking. The initial unity soured – today the USA is more politically polarised than ever before.</li><li>What did the War on Terror achieve? Afghanistan is back in Taliban hands, Iraq is a basket case, ISIS Islamic radicalism still festers in the sands, and the War on Iran is going nowhere.</li><li>Decades of fruitless war and security operations have left the USA stretched, while China was able to build economic infrastructure, grow its economy and now challenge for hegemonic power.</li><li>There is a danger an overstretched America suffers a strategic setback of the scale of the Tet Offensive of 1968 during the Vietnam war which could trigger a further distancing of the USA from global alliances.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><u><strong>Friday will be the 25th Anniversary of 9/11.</strong></u></p><p>9/11 remains the most viscerally shocking event of our lifetimes. Any of us old enough know exactly where we were as it happened.</p><p><em>You can read the Morning Porridge by subscribing on </em><a href="http://www.morningporridge.com"><u>⁠</u><u><em>www.morningporridge.com</em></u><u>⁠</u></a><em>, and have it delivered fresh to your inbox every morning!</em></p><p><br></p>