Blain’s Morning Porridge 9th, Sept 2026“This is who we are.”Friday is the 25th anniversary of 9/11. It was the worst of days. It changed the World forever. How has it changed America and what are the risks it raises for the future? America is a great and powerful nation – but is going through a painful period. What did Osama Bin Laden’s carefully calculated terror do to America’s future? The scars run deep. Who won?Key Takeaways9/11 was an asymmetric outrage designed to shock and trigger an over-reaction – yet America swiftly renewed itself, defining itself by its unity, resilience and determination.The War on Terror defined the US for the early part of this millennium, and has cost trillions – with the negatives of rising debt and ongoing regional instability. It became a focus for growing resentment of the USA.US public opinion has shifted against “foreign entanglements”, other nations wars, and become more inward looking. The initial unity soured – today the USA is more politically polarised than ever before.What did the War on Terror achieve? Afghanistan is back in Taliban hands, Iraq is a basket case, ISIS Islamic radicalism still festers in the sands, and the War on Iran is going nowhere.Decades of fruitless war and security operations have left the USA stretched, while China was able to build economic infrastructure, grow its economy and now challenge for hegemonic power.There is a danger an overstretched America suffers a strategic setback of the scale of the Tet Offensive of 1968 during the Vietnam war which could trigger a further distancing of the USA from global alliances.Friday will be the 25th Anniversary of 9/11.9/11 remains the most viscerally shocking event of our lifetimes. Any of us old enough know exactly where we were as it happened.You can read the Morning Porridge by subscribing on ⁠www.morningporridge.com⁠, and have it delivered fresh to your inbox every morning!

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

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