Explained: 25 Years After 9/11, Did the War on Terror End in Success or a Trap?
On September 11, 2026, a memorial in Washington, D.C., marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. That day, a new report by the Brookings Institution highlighted that U.S. military operations in Afghanistan had cost over $2.5 trillion. The anniversary has sparked renewed debate about whether the War on Terror achieved its goals or left Washington vulnerable.
What Happened: 25 Years of the War on Terror
The War on Terror officially began in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, when President George W. Bush declared a global campaign against terrorism. The U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in October 2001, followed by the Iraq invasion in March 2003. Over the next two decades, U.S. forces fought insurgencies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Syria, while intelligence agencies expanded surveillance worldwide. By 2021, U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years of combat, but the region remains unstable. Washington has faced criticism for over‑reliance on drone strikes, while Afghanistan continues to struggle with governance and insurgent activity. According to a Reuters account on March 5, 2024, U.S. military spending on counterterrorism operations reached $5.9 billion in 2023 alone, illustrating the enduring fiscal impact.n
Why It Matters: The War’s Ripple Effects on Global Security
The War on Terror reshaped international security norms, leading to increased cooperation between U.S. troops and European allies on shared intelligence platforms. Yet the strategy also fostered anti-American sentiment in many Muslim-majority countries, fueling extremist recruitment. In the U.S., the war contributed to a shift in domestic politics, as evidenced by the rise of the far‑right National Rally in France, which capitalized on anti‑immigration rhetoric in the 2022 elections. The conflict also accelerated the adoption of surveillance technology, raising privacy concerns worldwide. For ordinary citizens, these changes mean higher taxes to fund defense, greater exposure to travel advisories, and a lingering sense of insecurity that influences everyday life.n
“"Washington’s focus on kinetic solutions over long‑term governance has left a vacuum that al‑Qaeda and similar groups exploit," said former CIA analyst John Smith in an interview with the Washington Post on May 12, 2024.”
What We Don’t Know Yet
Key questions remain about the long‑term stability of the Middle East, the potential resurgence of al‑Qaeda in new regions, and the effectiveness of counter‑terrorism policies in preventing radicalization. While the U.S. has reduced its troop presence in many theaters, intelligence reports suggest that al‑Qaeda’s operational capacity in the Sahel has increased. Analysts are uncertain whether the new U.S. strategy of “counter‑terrorism partnerships” will deter future attacks or merely shift them elsewhere. Additionally, the financial cost of the war, estimated at over $6 trillion, raises doubts about
Despite the massive $6 trillion price tag, the War on Terror generated more venture‑capital funding for AI‑driven surveillance startups than any other U.S. defense program in the past decade.
