Calls to Expand 9/11 Remembrance to Include War on Terror Victims
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, commentators urged broader recognition of civilian deaths linked to the ensuing War on Terror, citing estimates of millions of casualties and ongoing issues such as drone strikes and detention policies.
As the United States marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, some observers are urging that the commemorations also acknowledge the civilian toll of the subsequent War on Terror. They note that while roughly 3,000 Americans died on 9/11, independent estimates place the total number of deaths attributable to U.S. military actions, drone strikes, and related policies at between 4.5 and 4.7 million.
The argument references a 2003 photograph taken by war photographer Chris Hondros that shows children at an amusement park in Fallujah, Iraq, before the city’s destruction in 2004. The image is used to illustrate the human impact of the conflict on civilians, particularly children.
Critics also point to the continued operation of detention facilities such as Guantanamo Bay, the use of surveillance and immigration enforcement measures, and the displacement of millions of people as further evidence of the war’s lasting consequences. They cite reports from organizations like the Costs of War Project at Brown University to support the casualty figures.
"If there is a list of tyrants in the world, to me, Obama will be put on that list by his drone program," said Faheem Qureshi, a survivor of a 2016 drone strike.
The commentary suggests that the current political narrative surrounding 9/11 emphasizes national victimhood while downplaying these broader humanitarian costs. It calls for a more inclusive remembrance that acknowledges both the American victims of the attacks and the civilians who have died as a result of the ensuing military and security policies.