Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. While much of the focus rightly goes to the catastrophic attacks on the World Trade Center, Americans must remember that the attacks were strategically coordinated to target the Pentagon, as well as a planned attempt on a target in Washington, D.C., possibly the U.S. Capitol.

The heroic intervention of the crew and passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 thwarted the attempt on the final target. The attacks involved 19 al-Qaida terrorists who escaped detection by U.S. intelligence networks and resulted in nearly 3,000 American deaths.

Twenty-five years later, we must ask: Did we take the right lessons from that moment?

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the U.S. embarked on a punishing military mission to cripple global terror networks. The “War on Terror” escalated into a long-term occupation of Afghanistan, which the U.S. only recently withdrew from.

Legislation such as the Patriot Act restructured guidelines around domestic surveillance. Precautionary agencies, including the TSA, were established that fundamentally altered air travel. Certainly, the 9/11 attacks generated a response from the government. What remains to be seen is whether that translated into true vigilance.

Being sensitive to the threat of attacks from terrorist agents comes loaded with cultural risks. The 9/11 attacks triggered a rise in Islamophobia that swept up many innocent adherents of Islam, who were lumped together with violent extremist groups far removed from the U.S. The mere choice to wear religious clothing came with the risk of being associated with terrorism. Too many people mistook prejudice for vigilance.

While most adherents of Islam in our nation love this country, there are many places in the world that do not have the benefit of living, working and playing with Americans. Many of the war-torn nations in the Middle East associate our nation with relentless bombardment, drone strikes and overwhelming military presence. Generations of people grow up believing that the U.S. is evil incarnate. These individuals can be targeted by radical groups such as Hamas or ISIS, trained and deployed to strike back at our nation.

In 2026, that threat is still very real, as the U.S. is involved in open conflict with Iran, a nation that funds and supports terrorist groups, including the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas. A spike in U.S. antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict leaves the ground ripe for radicalized youth from all backgrounds. The threat of terror attacks from Islamic radicals remains a present danger.

Americans would be wise to remember that this nation is not universally loved. There are people who plot every day to find ways to strike fear and anxiety in the hearts of Americans. This is not a justification for hatred of any form. This is simply a sober reminder that we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves on true threats and to be watchful in all things.

Being vigilant means more than making lazy assumptions or falling into hysteria. Rather, it requires a careful evaluation of our surroundings, suspicious circumstances and unfamiliar behavior. The heavy work — gathering intelligence, tracking threats and coordinating a response — belongs to those we entrust with this nation’s safety. The Sept. 11 attacks taught us the immense price we pay when warnings go unheeded and we fail to prepare for the worst.

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