George W. Bush says Americans "don't pay attention to the lesson of 9/11"

Former President George W. Bush cautioned Americans on Wednesday, marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, that they fail to grasp the importance of the lessons derived from that tragic day. Bush, who was in his first term at the time of the attacks, observed that during periods of isolationism, "people just don't pay attention to the lessons of 9/11."

This, he argued, is because what happens overseas holds significant consequences for national security at home. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, who served as national security adviser during the attacks and later as secretary of state, spoke at the former president's presidential library in Dallas. Bush emphasized that the U.S. should stand with those fighting against tyranny, as seen in Afghanistan, where the country developed a democratic government after years of Taliban rule.

However, he disagreed with those who claim Afghans are unaware of what it means to live under freedom, noting that young girls attending school and women pursuing higher education recognize the difference between freedom and tyranny. Bush recalled the moment he learned of the attacks, becoming a wartime president and urging the nation to rally together and take necessary actions to protect its citizens.