A wise proverb holds that “vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” Our bipartisan 9/11 Commission worked precisely because we practiced both vision and action. Our vision was motivated by the personal loss and trauma of the attacks and by the high expectations of the American people. Vitally important, we benefitted from the counsel, expertise and occasional criticism of the 9/11 family members, who both prodded and inspired us. Our action was motivated by a clear and precise mandate from Congress with statutory instructions to investigate the facts surrounding the attacks and make recommendations to keep the country safe. We followed through on that commitment—and then leaders from Congress, from the 9/11 families and from the Executive Branch followed through as well by fighting to pass most of the 41 recommendations into law.
While there is still work to be done, we have learned a great deal from the failures of ten years ago and achieved many successes. Consecutive administrations have significantly degraded Al Qaeda's leadership and strength, including capturing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in 2003 and killing Osama Bin Laden in 2011. Our human intelligence, joint sharing and training operations, sophisticated technology, and creative use of imagination have improved. Moreover, we have successfully protected the American homeland from another catastrophic attack.
This can be partially attributed to the creation of the National Counterterrorism Center, which has placed personnel from relevant agencies side by side. And we have seen drastic improvement in sharing and collecting information with the development of 105 Joint Terrorism Task Forces and 72 fusion centers. Yet what method of terror will Al Qaeda turn to next? Staying ahead of them is essential.
Bold leadership is not simply understanding history but anticipating with our imagination the next set of threats, from cybersecurity to self-radicalization to emerging new global terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (the violent extremist group based in Pakistan). On September 11, I am hopeful that we will also recall the profound sense of American pride and national purpose that motivated us to donate blood, fly the flag, and work together as a united community. We have many challenges still to conquer. We will need those strengths.
Tim Roemer, who formerly served as U.S. ambassador to India and as a U.S. congressman from Indiana, was on the 9/11 Commission.
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