Twenty-five years after 9/11, America is once again at war in the Middle East. So what—if anything—have we learned? This week on American History Hotline, Bob Crawford talks with Peter Bergen, one of the country's leading experts on Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda and America's post-9/11 wars. Bergen is the New York Times bestselling author of Manhunt and the new book All the President's Wars: Twenty-Five Years of America's War on Terror. Bergen takes us inside the warning signs before September 11, recalls interviewing Osama bin Laden years before the attacks, and explains why he knew almost immediately who was responsible when the second plane struck the World Trade Center. Then we follow the consequences: bin Laden's escape from Tora Bora, the decision to invade Iraq, the rise of ISIS, and the expanding power of American presidents to wage war. Finally, Bergen asks what those lessons can tell us about the latest U.S. war with Iran. After 25 years of the War on Terror, has America gotten better at deciding when—and how—to go to war? Have a question about American history? Visit AmericanHistoryHotline.com to send us a voice memo or video, and your question could be featured on a future episode.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related