Nineteen years ago today, I was in New York City, on my second day of grad school, when 9/11 took place.
I remember the fear, the sounds of sirens headed downtown, the F-16s that flew overhead, and later, the sound of the bagpipes accompanying the remains of first responders.
Our country was forever changed by those events, as was my life. This day, 19 years ago, was what started my career in national security. A year later, I was recruited by the CIA to be a Middle East analyst.
Each year, we mark 9/11 by remembering those who were lost. It was a generational event.
But this year, we mark this day in the middle of yet another generational event, the COVID-19 crisis.
We were not the same country after 9/11 –– and it may be quite the same with COVID.
But what I also remember so vividly after 9/11 was the way the country came together in the months after the attacks.
We were united in respecting the sacrifice of the first responders, and in answering the call to come together as Americans.
Today, in a time of division, I hope this anniversary reminds us of lessons from that day: that fear & anger are powerful, but not as powerful as courage & unity. That serving others and our communities is the highest calling.
That our greatest strengths are the ideals we share.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
I've worked at the White House for both Democrat and Republican Presidents and I've never seen this kind of mishandling of classified info. It's sloppy at best and puts the military involved in these sensitive operations at risk.
Our most senior government officials -- including the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, CIA Director, and National Security Advisor -- planned a military strike via group chat on Signal, an unclassified texting app.
They shared details on specific targets U.S. troops would try to hit, and what specific weapons they would be using.
That’s a problem even before they accidentally looped in a journalist.
I served for over 15 years in the federal government, working to protect the country from terrorist threats.
A short 🧵 on Elon Musk:
The targeting across our federal govt of law enforcement, to flight safety inspectors, to weather forecasters or those who test our drinking water, to doctors conducting clinical trials for children with cancer, is not just wrong – it will result in Americans being less safe.
I have no problems cutting fat from the system, but this approach is way too broad, and risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to professions that Americans rely on, whether they know it or not.
I plan to vote for the Laken Riley Act, just as I did last year in the House. Like many bills, this one isn’t perfect, and I'm hopeful there will be an amendment process. 🧵
No matter what, this bill certainly doesn’t address the root causes of our broken immigration system, which we need to do to ever truly deal with immigration issues writ large in this country.
Michiganders have spoken loudly and clearly that they want action to secure our southern border. We must get past petty partisanship that continues to dominate the immigration debate.
What’s a lame duck session? For the next month or so you’ll hear the term a lot. It’s the time between the election and the swearing-in of new or returning elected officials for a new term.🧵1/7
Until the end of the year, my colleagues and I will spend time finishing business before the 118th Congress wraps up. And let’s be clear: that’s serious business we’re talking about. Here’s some of what we have on our plate: 2/7
In September, Congress passed a measure extending government funding through December 20, 2024. Now, we must pass a new budget or another extension before that date to avoid yet another government shutdown. 3/7
Important update for U.S. citizens in Lebanon: @StateDept has begun making commercial airline seats available to help U.S. citizens and their immediate families depart the country.
See below for more information on the options available, how to request help, and eligibility.🧵
What is available: help securing air travel from Beirut Airport to Germany and Turkey. Flights have approximately 300 seats.
NOTE: Citizens and their dependents won’t need to pay up front, but there will be a process to reimburse the State Department for the flight.
For those who need help covering the cost, @StateDept offers repatriation loans. These can be requested by contacting @usembassybeirut with the information in the link below. lb.usembassy.gov/security-alert…
The return of Michigander Paul Whelan, along with Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and others, is tremendous news. 1/5 cbsnews.com/news/us-russia…
They and their families have suffered horribly, and now they will be reunited thanks to determined diplomacy by the Biden team of negotiators and the advocacy of @RepHaleyStevens and others in Congress. 2/5
Special appreciation goes to Paul’s family, who refused to let him be forgotten, and were relentless in the visits and calls with officials in Washington to keep hope alive for Paul. 3/5