George W. Bush calls on People to confront home violent extremists on 9/11 anniversary

In a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Bush mentioned the US has seen “rising proof that the hazards to our nation can come not solely throughout borders, however from violence that gathers inside.”

“There may be little cultural overlap between violent extremists overseas and violent extremists at dwelling,” Bush mentioned. “However of their disdain for pluralism, of their disregard for human life, of their dedication to defile nationwide symbols, they’re kids of the identical foul spirit.”

“And it’s our persevering with obligation to confront them,” he added.

Bush’s speech on the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, got here eight months after violent insurrectionists breached the US Capitol on January 6 in an try to cease Congress from certifying the 2020 election for President Joe Biden.

Read former President George W. Bush's speech at the Flight 93 memorial service

The previous Republican President has been outspoken about condemning the violent mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol that day. “That is how election outcomes are disputed in a banana republic — not our democratic republic,” he mentioned in a statement on the time, including that he was “appalled by the reckless habits of some political leaders for the reason that election.”

Legislation enforcement officers are bracing for potential clashes and unrest throughout a right-wing rally in Washington, DC, scheduled for September 18, which is supposed to assist insurrectionists charged within the Capitol riots, in line with an inside Capitol Police memo reviewed by CNN.

Bush on Saturday lamented the division in america, contrasting the present political local weather to the spirit of unity that he mentioned he noticed within the wake of the September 11 assaults. “A malign power appears at work in our widespread life that turns each disagreement into an argument, and each argument right into a conflict of cultures. A lot of our politics has develop into a unadorned enchantment to anger, worry, and resentment,” Bush mentioned. “That leaves us fearful about our nation and our future collectively.”

He mentioned he did not have “explanations or options,” however went on to recount what he mentioned was the America he noticed within the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist assaults.

“At a time when non secular bigotry might need flowed freely, I noticed People reject prejudice and embrace individuals of Muslim religion. That’s the nation I do know,” Bush mentioned.

“At a time when nativism might have stirred hatred and violence in opposition to individuals perceived as outsiders, I noticed People reaffirm their welcome to immigrants and refugees. That’s the nation I do know,” Bush added.

His feedback come as some in his own party have raised concerns about Afghan refugees being resettled in america after the US withdrew from Afghanistan final month.

Biden later Saturday provided reward for the previous president’s remarks, telling reporters throughout a go to to the Shanksville Volunteer Fireplace Division that he thought Bush “made a extremely good speech right now, a genuinely good speech, about who we’re.”

Along with Biden and Bush, former President Barack Obama participated in memorial occasions Saturday, bringing collectively all of the US leaders of the post-9/11 period besides former President Donald Trump, who visited the New York Metropolis Police Division’s seventeenth precinct in Manhattan’s Midtown East neighborhood later Saturday.

Trump, who’s offering commentary on a boxing match Saturday, commemorated the twentieth anniversary in a brief video by which he praised first responders, and likewise lambasted Biden for the dealing with of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Many issues have been displayed that day, together with most significantly the bravery of our police, hearth and first responders of each form. The job they did was really unbelievable,” Trump mentioned of September 11 within the video. “It is usually a tragic time for the best way our warfare on people who did such hurt to our nation ended final week.”

It was the Trump administration that signed the February 2020 settlement with the Taliban for the US to take away troops in Afghanistan.

CNN’s Donald Judd contributed to this report.

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