9/11 Led Them to Enlist. Here’s What They’re Saying Now.
A woman in Kabul reports that life in Afghanistan feels like a "mistake to be a woman" five years after the August 2021 withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO troops. Under the rule of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, approximately 22 million women and girls have lost previously held rights. This testimony highlights the current state of gender-based restrictions in the capital following the return of the Taliban.
What changed
A Kabul resident provided firsthand testimony on the status of women's rights five years after the 2021 NATO withdrawal.
Live updates
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Afghan Woman Describes Life Five Years After NATO Exit
A woman in Kabul reports that life in Afghanistan feels like a "mistake to be a woman" five years after the August 2021 withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO troops. Under the rule of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, approximately 22 million women and girls have lost previously held rights. This testimony highlights the current state of gender-based restrictions in the capital following the return of the Taliban.
Why it matters
The 2021 NATO exit ended a long-term military presence in Afghanistan. This shift restored Taliban control and triggered a systemic removal of rights for the female population.
What is confirmed
- U.S.-led NATO troops exited Afghanistan in August 2021.
- Roughly 22 million women and girls have had their rights stripped away under the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Still unconfirmed
- A woman in Kabul claims Canada is abandoning her.
What to watch next
- Official reports on the current legal status of women in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
- Updates on Canadian government assistance for Afghan nationals
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (7)
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Veterans Reflect on Post-9/11 Service During 25th Anniversary
The United States is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks through memorial events at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. President Donald Trump and four former presidents joined these commemorations. The milestone has led veterans who enlisted after the 2001 attacks to share how their service in post-9/11 wars shaped their lives. These reflections coincide with ongoing national discussions regarding the domestic legacy of the era, specifically the rise of Islamophobia.
Why it matters
The 2001 attacks triggered a global war on terror and a surge in military enlistment. This 25-year mark serves as a period of reflection on the long-term human and social costs of those conflicts. It highlights the transition from immediate crisis response to the enduring psychological and societal impacts on veterans and minority communities.
What is confirmed
- President Donald Trump participated in 9/11 commemorations at the Pentagon.
- Four former presidents gathered at the World Trade Center memorial site for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
What to watch next
- Further testimonies from post-9/11 veterans regarding their service
- Official government reports on the 25-year domestic impact of the 2001 attacks
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (9)
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America Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks
America is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with solemn memorial events across the country. President Donald Trump and other leaders participated in commemorations at the Pentagon, while four former presidents gathered at the World Trade Center memorial site. The milestone has prompted widespread reflection from veterans who enlisted in the wake of the 2001 attacks, detailing how their service through post-9/11 wars shaped their lives, alongside discussions about the enduring domestic impacts of that era, including a resurgence of Islamophobia.
Why it matters
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, fundamentally transformed American foreign policy, national security, and military recruitment, sending a generation of citizens into decades of war in the Middle East and elsewhere. Twenty-five years later, veterans and civilians alike are assessing the personal and societal toll of those conflicts. Commemorations serve as both a national remembrance of the lives lost and a focal point for assessing the long-term reverberations of the post-9/11 security apparatus on American society.
What is confirmed
- President Donald Trump and other leaders participated in memorial events across the country for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
- Four former presidents were present at the World Trade Center memorial site for the commemorations, while President Trump spoke at the Pentagon.
Still unconfirmed
- Young Muslims in America are experiencing a return of the intense Islamophobia that followed the September 11 attacks.
- Veterans of the post-9/11 wars are reflecting on the meaning of their service as the 25-year mark is observed.
What to watch next
- Further official statements and security assessments stemming from the 25th anniversary commemorations
- Ongoing public discussions and veteran reflections regarding the legacy of the post-9/11 wars
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (18)
- The New York Times — 9/11 Led Them to Enlist. Here’s What They’re Saying Now.
- Inquirer.com — After 9/11, these Pennsylvanians went to war. Here’s how their lives changed.
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- USA Today — I guarded Ground Zero and served in Middle East. Then I saw a pattern.
- qcnews.com — ‘Your life can change in an instant’: How the September 11 attacks pushed one man towards service and purpose
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- The War Horse — The Global War on Terrorism Is Over—Except for the Veterans Who Fought It
- Yahoo — Revenge, rescue and recovery: Aiken-area residents recall their responses to 9/11