George W. Bush: Americans Forget the Lesson of 9/11

Former President George W. Bush has said that Americans have stopped paying attention to the lesson of the September 11 attacks, as the country marks another anniversary of the tragedy.

Bush, who led the United States during the 2001 attacks, made the remarks in a reflection on the events of that day. He was joined by Condoleezza Rice, who served as his national security adviser and later as secretary of state, in remembering the aftermath of the attacks.

In their conversation, Bush spoke about the emotional weight of the moment, saying, "I didn't want us to lose our soul." The comment reflects his long-standing concern that the United States should not let fear or division define its response to terrorism.

Bush's remarks come at a time when public commemorations of 9/11 continue but, according to him, the deeper meaning of the attacks may be fading from public consciousness. He appears to be urging Americans to reflect not just on the loss of life, but on the values the country chose to defend afterward.

Meanwhile, communities across Bryan-College Station are preparing a series of remembrance events to mark the anniversary. Such events typically include ceremonies, moments of silence, and public gatherings that honor victims and first responders.

These local commemorations mirror similar events held annually across the United States, as Americans continue to observe the anniversary more than two decades after the attacks reshaped national policy, security, and public life.

Bush's comments add a reflective, personal dimension to the broader national conversation about how a country remembers collective trauma over time, particularly as new generations grow up without direct memories of that day.

His remarks, paired with Rice's reflections, offer a rare glimpse into how the leaders who guided the country through the crisis view its long-term meaning today.