Did the Terrorists Win?
The United States and international partners are addressing terrorism through legal action and diplomatic declarations as the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks arrives. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court ordered its first deportation of an Afghan woman following a Department of Justice agreement. Simultaneously, BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 13, which condemned terrorism. In the US, Bill Maher criticized the media and Democrats for avoiding the term terrorism when describing the 9/11 attacks while using the word genocide for the Israel-Hamas War.
What changed
The update adds the first-ever ATRC deportation order and the BRICS New Delhi Declaration's condemnation of terrorism.
Live updates
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Global and Legal Responses Mark 25th Anniversary of 9/11
The United States and international partners are addressing terrorism through legal action and diplomatic declarations as the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks arrives. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court ordered its first deportation of an Afghan woman following a Department of Justice agreement. Simultaneously, BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 13, which condemned terrorism. In the US, Bill Maher criticized the media and Democrats for avoiding the term terrorism when describing the 9/11 attacks while using the word genocide for the Israel-Hamas War.
Why it matters
These events occur amid a broader debate over whether social cohesion or political strength is the proper response to terror. The anniversary highlights a divide between international diplomatic efforts and domestic political friction over terminology and security.
What is confirmed
- The Alien Terrorist Removal Court ordered the removal of an Afghan woman after an agreement with the US Department of Justice.
- BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 13, 2026, which condemned terrorism.
- Bill Maher criticized the refusal to call 9/11 attacks terrorism.
Still unconfirmed
- Val Venis claims Sami Zayn's WWE title win is linked to a CIA and Mossad 9/11 conspiracy.
- A Serbian bus driver told members of the U-19 Team USA that their nation bombed specific locations.
What to watch next
- Implementation of the ATRC deportation order
- Further reactions to the New Delhi Declaration from BRICS member states
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (7)
- www.nbcnews.com — Meet the Press – September 13, 2026
- sports.yahoo.com — "I just wanted to show you what y'all did… y'all bombed this" - Michael Beasley recalled his U-19 Team USA squad getting scared by their Serbian bus driver
- www.aol.com — Bill Maher Issues Scathing Takedown of Democrats & the Media
- www.jurist.org — Secret court orders deportation of Afghan woman accused of terrorism
- www.ringsidenews.com — Val Venis Claims Sami Zayn’s WWE Title Win Is Connected to CIA and Mossad 9/11 Conspiracy
- news.webindia123.com — BRICS Declaration draws BJP praise over Pahalgam terror condemnation, Opposition questions govt's handling of border issues with China
- www.wfae.org — Politics chat: Trump's $5,000 promise to voters, Vance invokes Charlie Kirk
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Public reflections mark 25th anniversary of September 11 attacks
Public discourse on the legacy of the September 11 attacks persists through personal narratives and political commentary. Broadcaster and peer Ayesha Hazarika argues that the best way to avenge the attacks is by constructing a strong, tolerant society. Meanwhile, Bill Maher has criticized Democratic politicians as cowards in contrast to the 9/11 terrorists. These perspectives emerge as the United States marks the 25th anniversary of the event, reflecting a split between those focusing on social cohesion and those debating political fortitude.
Why it matters
The anniversary occurs amid a long-standing debate over the effectiveness of the war on terror. Experts and citizens remain divided on whether the U.S. achieved its goals or left itself vulnerable to future threats.
Still unconfirmed
- Bill Maher described Democratic politicians as cowards compared to 9/11 terrorists.
- Ayesha Hazarika stated that avenging the attacks requires building a tolerant, strong society.
What to watch next
- Official government reports on current counter-terrorism preparedness.
- New polling data on public perception of the war on terror's outcome.
confidence 70%Sources used for this update (5)
- www.bostonherald.com — BC rides emotion of Red Bandanna Game to needed win over Rutgers
- www.mediaite.com — Bill Maher Says Democrat Politicians Are ‘Cowards’ — Unlike 9/11 Terrorists: ‘You Don’t Know Sh*t’
- www.mirror.co.uk — ‘I was ashamed to be Muslim after 9/11 – then realised terrorists would hate someone like me’
- www.yahoo.com — Yankees win, but N.J. couple with horrific but amazing 9/11 story steal show on 25th anniversary
- www.inquirer.com — Temple just honored its 2016 team. A few of them offered advice on how the Owls can reclaim success
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Assessing the War on Terror 25 Years After 9/11
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, public and expert assessments remain sharply divided over whether the United States won the war on terror or if the nation has let its guard down. A CBS News poll shows most citizens view the country as fundamentally changed while acknowledging some success in fighting terrorism. Conversely, policy analysts and experts warn of institutional neglect and argue that the United States remains unprepared for the next wave of terrorism. The ongoing debate spans analyses of military strategy, institutional preparedness, and the long-term impact on global politics.
Why it matters
The September 11 attacks fundamentally transformed domestic and international politics, leading Western democracies to reshape security and immigration policies over a quarter-century. Disagreements persist over whether subsequent counter-terrorism efforts and foreign military engagements achieved their strategic goals or generated new vulnerabilities. Observers continue to evaluate the enduring legacy of the conflicts that followed the 2001 attacks.
What is confirmed
- Twenty-five years have passed since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
- A CBS News poll indicates most people see a changed country and some success in fighting terrorism.
- Some experts and analysts have raised concerns regarding institutional neglect and U.S. counter-terror efforts.
Still unconfirmed
- The United States is entirely unprepared for terrorism's next wave.
What to watch next
- Further polling data and government security reviews regarding counter-terrorism readiness
- Subsequent expert analyses on the long-term outcomes of post-9/11 military strategies
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (13)
- The Dispatch — Did the Terrorists Win?
- theguardian.com — ‘Institutional neglect’: 25 years on from 9/11, experts sound alarm over US counter-terror efforts
- The New York Times — Opinion | The War on Terror Did Not Fail
- Council on Foreign Relations — Twenty-Five Years After 9/11, the United States Is Unprepared for Terrorism’s Next Wave
- CBS News — CBS News poll: 25 years after 9/11, most see a changed country and some success fighting terrorism
- MS NOW — 25 years after 9/11, some experts believe the U.S. has let its guard down
- The Washington Post — Opinion | The 9/11 response got the most important thing right
- CNN — Analysis: How Trump has failed to learn the lessons of the wars that followed 9/11
- www.rollingstone.com — Bill Biggart Was on Site to Document the Terror of 9/11. Only His Cameras Made It Home
- www.bbc.co.uk — Did America win the ‘war on terror’?
- www.orlandosentinel.com — Kimmel says interview with James Talarico won’t air on TV under pressure from the FCC
- www.foxnews.com — I witnessed the horror of 9/11 firsthand. Here's what I learned about God, courage and life