9/11: A Lesson in Blowback

19 years ago, the United States was attacked by Saudi nationals bankrolled by elements within the Saudi monarchy acting on behalf of the terrorist organization led by Osama bin-Laden, al-Qaeda. The reason for the attack has always been clear: In short, because the United States government militarily occupied their land and starved and bombed their people for years prior.

Ron Paul was right in 2008 during one of the Republican presidential nominating debates.

And what has the U.S. government learned in the nearly two decades since September 11, 2001? Absolutely nothing.

They still maintain a military presence in Saudi Arabia, they're aiding the Saudi monarchy in committing genocide in Yemen, they're still militarily occupying Afghanistan and Iraq, they armed al-Qaeda and ISIS forces in Syria in an attempt to overthrow the secular dictatorship, and they successfully overthrew the dictatorship in Libya by arming al-Qaeda and ISIS forces there leading to tribal warfare, terrorism, genocide, and the return of slave-markets.

Rather than learn the lessons of 9/11, the United States government has doubled-down on their murderous foreign policy in the Middle East, and has made the world less safe for everyone in it. That's the real legacy of September 11th.