Remembering September 12
I don’t tell this story often as I am humbled by the courage and tenacity shown by so many others on that day. The small part played by the team I was on was just that, a small part. I am embarrassed to make it more than what it was. But this post is more about September 12th, than the 11th.
On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was 27 years old. I was also the Associate Deputy Director of the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and ran, along with my partner from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
By September 12th, I was part of a multinational counterterrorism initiative that changed the mission of IC3 to become the US federal government’s sole intake point for all electronic tips from the global public on the terrorist attacks that awoke America to the threat of international terrorism. Today — like every September 11th for me — I spend most of my time reflecting on what happened, and my small part in responding to the larger tragedy of that day.
For the preceding year and a half and leading up to September 11th, IC3 was known as the Internet Fraud Complaint Center. It’s mission was to receive from Internet fraud complaints from the public. Beginning on May 8, 2000, and announced by Attorney General Janet Reno on that day, IC3 spent the next 17 months taking complaints from victims of Internet fraud and referring them to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for investigation. At the time, it was a thankless job as most agencies had too much on their plate and had no interest in one more crime to investigate, especially one that was online. You have to remember that back in 2000–2001, crime on the Internet was not exactly a hot topic. Not only that, most law enforcement agencies had a little to no Internet presence and almost none had the capability to take any information from the public electronically.
But, by the evening of September 11th, the US government discovered it had a technical capability at IC3 that could enable it to not only receive tips about the attacks, but also could refer them out for investigation. Suffice to say that IC3, and all of the folks engaged in the effort at the time, prevented other planned terrorist attacks around the globe. The substance of what I want to talk about, however, is not the how and what and who and when of what happened on September 11th.
I want to talk about the America I woke up to on September 12th.
I want that America back.
You see, on September 12, 2001, America was united in its action to respond. I can personally attest to the desire by people and companies, individuals and groups, politicians and journalists, to put away their individual motives and put country above self. Over the next two years, there was not a soul who participated in the aftermath of 9/11 who was not fully bought in to America and what we stood for. Political lines disappeared. Geopolitical differences became more fluid. And the average American felt good about helping their fellow American.
Today, we are riven by political divide. Torn apart by hatred. Not for some foreign enemy; Americans hate each other. Politics matters more than kindness. Insults matter more than caring. Violence matters more than healing.
There are innumerable lessons to learn from 9/11 and we do those people who perished on that day, and the days that followed, a disservice by not learning those lessons, by not living up to the ideals of what it means to be American. We tell ourselves that we only get one shot at America, that democracy is fragile and can rot if we’re not careful. That we’re on the down slope of American values. I believe different. I believe each day gives us an opportunity to make the world better. To renew who we are and what we’re about. To be who we’ve always been: a nation striving for a more perfect union.
So, as you reflect on today and its meaning, join me in also showing kindness to your neighbor, providing help to someone who has trouble helping themselves, showing patience to those who don’t deserve it. Finding truth. Creating opportunities for others. Treating others as they would like to be treated.
Let’s never forget 9/11. But let’s also not forget 9/12. Not only for those lost, but for those of us still here.
