and americans were united and most of the rest of the world stood with america. the taliban in power in afghanistan, who d harboured the al-qaeda terrorists, would be driven from power and the us would try to replace the warlords with democracy. but 20 years on, america has abandoned afghanistan. i think we re still the greatest democracy in the history of the world, but we are not shining the way we used to shine, and, yes, we are tarnished. i do think it has been a defeat for the pride of america and the respect that we have had around the world. 20 years ago, america was never more united. two decades on and the terrorist threat largely quelled, and america has never been more divided. the way we came together was. it was awe inspiring.
we can now speak to angus gillespie, a professor of american studies at rutgers university new brunswick and author of twin towers: the life of new york city s world trade center, he also teaches a course honouring the nearly 3,000 americans killed in the attack. 3,000 americans if 3,000 americans i make, could wejust are for if i make, could wejust are for those viewers perhaps who were not born who don t relive those moments like you and idea. i covered the attacks as well as other journalists, idea. i covered the attacks as well as otherjournalists, but just for them, perhaps, why the twin towers, why was the twin towers targeted? twin towers, why was the twin towers targeted? that s a good cuestion. towers targeted? that s a good question- it s towers targeted? that s a good question. it s something - towers targeted? that s a good question. it s something i ve i question. it s something i ve given a lot of thought to. i think in a way, the terrorists and i were on the same wa