The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were undeniably a horrific tragedy that left an indelible mark on the United States and the world. However, the U.S. response, driven by a desire to “counter” this act of terror, has unfolded into a grim legacy of collective punishment and systemic violence that must be recognized for what it is: a form of genocide. The invasion of Iraq, a country with no connection to the 9/11 attackers, stands as a stark example of how the rhetoric of counterterrorism was twisted into a justification for mass violence, indiscriminate suffering, and profound geopolitical instability.
The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, premised on false intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, was not a counteraction to the terror of 9/11 but rather a misdirected and devastating military campaign. The subsequent occupation led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, the displacement of millions, and the shattering of a nation. This military intervention was a war of choice, not necessity, driven by the strategic interests of those in power rather than by any legitimate self-defense need against the actors responsible for 9/11.
When we look closely, the so-called counterterrorism efforts were never about “countering” the specific act of 9/11; that singular, horrific event could not be undone or avenged through war. Instead, what followed was a broad application of violence against civilian populations under the guise of national security—a textbook example of collective punishment. In reality, this approach mirrored the very principles of terror it sought to combat: indiscriminate harm to innocents, fear as a tool of control, and the erasure of humanity from those deemed “the other.”
Genocide is not solely defined by mass killings; it also encompasses actions intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The U.S. military actions in Iraq and beyond, characterized by widespread civilian casualties, destruction of critical infrastructure, and long-lasting destabilization, fit within this framework. The human toll of these actions—lives lost, families shattered, communities displaced—reflects a grim reality: counterterrorism, as executed, has been less about preventing terror and more about perpetuating cycles of violence that disproportionately impact the innocent.
It is time to acknowledge that the response to 9/11 has not been a defense of freedom or safety, but rather a campaign that has inflicted terror on entire populations. Emphasizing the narrative of 9/11 while ignoring the unjust wars and their massive human toll obfuscates the true nature of these conflicts. It denies the lived experiences of millions of Iraqis who have suffered not because of their actions, but because of the geopolitical machinations of more powerful nations.
We must confront the uncomfortable truth: the real terror lies not just in the initial act of violence, but in the state-sanctioned responses that follow, which often operate with impunity under the banner of counterterrorism. These actions have perpetuated a form of genocide, leaving a legacy of destruction that continues to reverberate across generations.
As we reflect on the events of 9/11 and their aftermath, we must move beyond the simplistic narrative of retaliation and instead engage with the full scope of what has been wrought in its name. Only by doing so can we begin to dismantle the cycles of violence that have defined this era and seek a path forward that prioritizes genuine justice, accountability, and peace. The real counter to terror is not more violence; it is the courage to acknowledge past wrongs and commit to a future that values human life above all else.
References
Packer, G. (2005). The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Chandrasekaran, R. (2006). Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone. Alfred A. Knopf.
Ricks, T. E. (2006). Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. Penguin Press.
Mearsheimer, J. J., & Walt, S. M. (2003). An Unnecessary War. Foreign Policy, (134), 50-59.
Daponte, B. O. (2008). Iraq War Mortality Estimates: A Systematic Review. Conflict and Health, 2(1), 1-13.
Human Rights Watch. (2003). Off Target: The Conduct of the War and Civilian Casualties in Iraq. Human Rights Watch Report.
Chalk, F., & Jonassohn, K. (1990). The History and Sociology of Genocide: Analyses and Case Studies. Yale University Press.
Lemkin, R. (1944). Axis Rule in Occupied Europe: Laws of Occupation, Analysis of Government, Proposals for Redress. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Broader Impacts of U.S. Counterterrorism Policies:
Sifton, J. (2015). A Brief History of Drones. The Nation, 300(10), 1-4.
Cole, D. (2003). Enemy Aliens: Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism. The New Press.
Risen, J. (2006). State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. Free Press.
Scahill, J. (2007). Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. Nation Books.
Greenwald, G. (2014). No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State. Metropolitan Books.
