Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001, attacks, columnist Peter Hitchens argues that the events of that day triggered a global shift toward a "new age of repression," characterized by diminished freedoms and altered foreign policy.
Hitchens asserts that the "nightmare of 9/11" became a justification for widespread surveillance and what he describes as "stupid wars." He points to increased security measures at airports, where travelers are subjected to intrusive scans and are compelled to remove clothing, as a visible manifestation of this change. He also notes instances where making jokes about security procedures could lead to arrest.
The column suggests that the panic following the destruction of the Twin Towers enabled the erosion of ancient rights, such as the right to silence during interrogation and the protection against being tried twice for the same offense. Dissent on foreign policy, Hitchens claims, is now often conflated with treachery, implying a singular government-approved viewpoint.
Hitchens posits that the West ultimately conceded to key demands of the 9/11 hijackers, citing the attacks' understood aims in the Middle East: weakening US support for Israel and forcing the withdrawal of American troops from Saudi Arabia. He notes that US troops were indeed withdrawn in April 2003, and that President George W. Bush announced support for a Palestinian state in October 2001, a notable policy shift.
Furthermore, Hitchens contends that intelligence agencies were aware within hours of the attack of connections between hijackers and officials of a Middle Eastern Islamic state, a link he suggests has strengthened over time but which authorities have not publicly acknowledged. This, he argues, was used to justify a perpetual "war against terror" that has trumped arguments for liberty, leading to increased bureaucracy and state power.
He criticizes subsequent military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, questioning the rationale behind them. The column concludes with a lament for the loss of freedom, light, joy, and humor that Hitchens believes existed before 9/11, expressing doubt about their return.