♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT, I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: REMEMBERING 9-11, 20 YEARS LATER.

WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THE TERRORIST ATTACKS FROM TWO DECADES AGO, AND HOW THEY CHANGED AMERICA AND THE WORLD.

WHERE ARE WE, 20 YEARS LATER?

ARE WE SAFER NOW?

WE'LL DISCUSS THE RECENT U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN.

AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM TWO KENTUCKIANS WHO SURVIVED THE 9-11 ATTACKS.

OUR GUESTS ARE: AMBASSADOR CAREY CAVANAUGH OF THE UK PATTERSON SCHOOL OF DIPLOMACY; RYAN BAGGETT, PROFESSOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY; STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT COOK, A FORMER MARINE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND A CURRENT REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 72ND DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES BOURBON, BATH, NICHOLAS, AND PART OF FAYETTE COUNTY; AND AMY MCGRATH, A RETIRED US MARINE CORPS LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND FORMER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS AND THE U.S. SENATE.

WELCOME TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS TAPED EDITION OF KENTUCKY ATONIGHT ON FRIDAY PRECEDING 9/11.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TO COMMEMORATE THIS SOMBER OCCASION AND ALSO TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN THAT DAY, LOST THEIR LIVES AND FOR THOSE PARTICULARLY, THE SERVICEMEN WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND PROTECTION OF OUR COUNTRY.

SO, LET'S GET RIGHT TO THINGS.

LAST WEEK ON THURSDAY, I TALKED WITH Mr. MR. ERIK BELL, WHO WAS IN THE SECOND TOWER OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER FOR A COMPANY TRAINING.

HE SHARED WITH US HOW THE EVENTS UNFOLDED FOR HIM THAT DAY AND WHAT HE EXPERIENCED.

Mr. ERIK BELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LENDING A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: WHERE WERE YOU?

WERE YOU IN THE TOWERS ON THAT MORNING OF 9/11 AND WHAT DID YOU -- WHEN WERE YOU ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON?

>> CERTAINLY, I WAS ON THE 65th FLOOR OF THE SOUTH TOWER, WHICH WAS THE SECOND TOWER THAT WAS HIT BY THE PLANE.

WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN A BREAK BECAUSE WE STARTED AT 6:00 OR 7:00 A.M. THAT MORNING SO AROUND 9:00, WE WERE IN A BREAK AND OUR VIEW LOOKED OUTSIDE TO THE HUDSON AND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

AND WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOW THUD THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TRANSFORMER BLOWING OR SOMETHING, IF YOU'VE EVER EXPERIENCED THAT.

WHICH AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME WAS THE PLANE HITTING THE OTHER TOWER.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THERE WERE PAPERS FLYING FLEW THE AIR ON FIRE.

SO A FEW OF US GOT UP AGAINST THE WINDOW AND WAS LOOKING AND SOME PEOPLE CAME IN AND SHOUTED GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS!

THEY WERE ABOUT 250 TRAINEES ON OUR FLOOR.

SO AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO THINK WELL, THAT'S GOOD ADVICE TO GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS.

I'M GOING TO DO ONE BETTER AND I'M GOING TO START HEADING DOWNSTAIRS AND GETTING OUT OF THE BUILDING.

>> Renee: SO YOU THOUGHT ENOUGH OF THE SITUATION TO EVACUATE.

WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER TRAINEES WHO YOU MAY HAVE KNOWN?

>> WE STARTED MAKING OUR WAY DOWN THE FLOORS AND YOU KNOW, YOU ARE JUST COUNTING THE FLOORS AND THEN A STRONG SMELL OF KEROSENE, WHICH I WOULD LATER LEARN WAS JET FUEL, THEN WHEN WE GOT TO THE 20s, THAT'S WHEN THE PLANE TRUCK OUR BUILDING BUILDING AND THE STAIR WELL STARTED TO SWAY, PLASTER ON THE WALL STARTED TO CRACK.

AND PEOPLE REALLY STARTED TO PANIC AND GETTING OUT OF THE BUILDING.

>> Renee: AND WHEN YOU FINALLY LEARNED IT WAS A TERRORIST ATTACK, HOW DID YOU PROCESS THAT?

>> WELL, I ASSUMED IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY A TERRORIST ATTACK BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE BOMB AND I THINK IT WAS 1993, AND THAT PARTICULAR TIME, IN '93, THE EXPLOSION WAS IN THE BASEMENT UNDER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, SO THAT STARTED RUSHING THROUGH YOUR HEAD.

SO IF WE WERE ON THE 20th SOMETHING FLOOR AND THE PLANE HIT OUR BUILDING, YOU START SEEING FIREMEN GOING UP THE STAIRS, THE STAIR WELL STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE.

SO AT THIS POINT I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RUN THROUGH FIRE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE EXPLOSION WAS BELOW ME OR ABOVE ME.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU ASK HOW DID I FEEL WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS A TERRORIST ATTACK.

I WAS SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE TOWERS WHEN THE GUY SHOWED ME ON HIS TWO WAY PAGER THAT TWO PLANES FLEW INTO THE BUILDING BECAUSE I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A BOMB.

>> Renee: SO WHEN YOU FOUND OUT AND LOOKING BACK AT WHAT YOU SURVIVED, WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS DID YOU HAVE?

AND HOW DID YOU FEEL ON YOUR WAY BACK TO LOUISVILLE ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT BE CHANGED AND HOW THE COUNTRY MAY BE CHANGED?

>> A LOT OF FOLKS-- I SAW THE LOOK ON THEIR FACE, THEY WERE IN AWE OF WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.

AND WHEN WE CAME OUT OF THE BUILDING, I HAD A CELL PHONE THAT WOULD WORK.

I HAD CELL SERVICE THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE HAD IN NEW YORK AND I ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT HAD CELL SERVICE.

SO I HAD CALLED MY PARENTS AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE BUILDING BEFORE THAT HAPPENED.

SO ONCE WE GOT ON THE GROUND LEVEL, I CALLED MY PARENTS.

I HANDED MY PHONE TO MY FRIEND RONNIE AND LET HIM CALL HIS PARENTS.

BUT MOST PEOPLE WERE STANDING THERE IN AWE AND IN SHOCK AND LOOKING AT THE TOWERS.

WELL, WHEN I TURNED AROUND AND I SAW FOLKS JUMPING OUT OF THE BUILDING, LOSING THEIR LIVES, AND I TOLD RONNIE, I WAS LIKE, LET'S MOVE TOWARDS OUR HOTEL, WHICH WAS CLOSER TO MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

IT WAS VERY FAR AWAY AND FROM THAT WE STARTED WALKING AND GETTING AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.

>> Renee: SO HOW HAVE YOU SHARED THIS EXPERIENCE?

YOU ARE MARRIED AND YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF KIDS AND NOW THAT WE ARE PAST THE CELEBRATION BY THE TIME THIS ACER, OF THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11, WHAT ARE YOU SHARING WITH THEM AND OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO ARE WATCHING LOTS OF REMEMBRANCES OF THAT DAY?

>> CERTAINLY.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL SADDENED FOR THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE FOREVER BEEN CHANGED FROM THAT.

BUT AS I TELL MY 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THINGS SUCH AS SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND SOMEONE IN YOUR TOWN LOCALLY LOSES THEIR LIFE, I TELL MY DAUGHTER THAT EVERY DAY YOU GO OUT OF THE HOUSE, SOMETHING BAD CAN HAPPEN TO YOU OR SOMETHING GOOD CAN HAPPEN AND THAT'S WAS WE CALL LIFE AND WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING THROUGH LIFE, LIVING OUR LIVES, YOU KNOW, WITH COVID AND THESE THINGS, ME BEING WHERE I'M AT IN MY LIFE NOW.

I DON'T TAKE A LOT OF THINGS FOR GRANTED.

I TRY TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY NO MATTER THEIR POSITION IN LIFE.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN ALL GET TO THAT AND JUST REALIZE THAT WE ARE LIVING LIFE AND CHERISHING THE ABILITY TO BE ALIVE AND TO BE AMONGST OUR LOVED ONES, WE WILL ALL TREAT EACH OTHER BETTER.

>> Renee: WELL THOSE ARE WISE WORDS, Mr. ERIK BELL, NOT JUST FOR THIS OCCASION BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR LIFE'S JOURNEY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT PART OF YOUR JOURNEY WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Renee: SO AMBASSADOR KAVANAUGH, I WANT TO GO TO YOU FIRST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE COMMEMORATION AND I SAID CELEBRATION, EXCUSE THE SLIP OF THE TONGUE THERE.

YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THIS ANNIVERSARY ON MANY DIFFERENT PLATFORMS.

I REMEMBER WE WERE WORKING ON A PROJECT AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK AND WE WERE EXPECTING VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY TO ARRIVE THAT DAY.

AND ALL OF US REMARKED ABOUT THE BRILLIANT BLUE SKY OF THAT DAY.

I THINK-- YOU THINK ABOUT LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT YOU REMEMBER.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN REFLECTING ON THIS SOMBER ANNIVERSARY?

>> A LOT OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT WE LEARNED AND MANY OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T LEARN.

IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTION THAT BLUE SKY DAY.

I WAS IN SEATTLE THAT MORNING WITH A GROUP OF FOREIGN POLICY OFFICIALS WHO WERE ACTUALLY HEADED TO THE NORTH SLOPE OF ALASKA.

AND WE HAD STOPPED IN SEATTLE TO VISIT BOEING AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT CRAIFT MANUFACTURING-- AIR CRAFT MANUFACTURING.

AND WE WOKE UP TO THE SAME HORROR IN THE SKY AND THE NEXT DAY WE CHANGED THE MEETING.

WE WERE GOING TO GO TO BOEING THE DAY THEY STRUCK.

THE C.E.O.

SAID WE CAN'T.

COME TOMORROW AND WE WENT THE NEXT DAY TO SEE HIM.

AND HE HAD COME IN AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT THEY NEVER IMAGINED THEIR PRODUCT COULD BE USED AS A WEAPON AND HOW HORRIFIED THERE WORKERS WERE AND THEY WERE LITERALLY BUILDING 747s, AS THEY'RE WATCHING ON TV, PLANES THEY MADE KILLING AMERICANS IN NEW YORK.

AND THE NEAT PART OF THAT AND WHY I BRING IT UP IS THE NEXT DAY THEY ALL COME TO WORK, HOW DO WE FORTIFY COCKPITS?

HOW DO WE CHANGE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANES?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

SO ONE LESSON WE GOT INSTANT VERY POSITIVE PUBLIC RESPONSE ON PULLING TOGETHER.

WE SAW THEM WORKING ON THE PLANE, MILITARY RECRUITING STATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE STARTED LINING UP.

OUR NATO ALLIES, INSTANTLY CALLED FOR INVOKING ARTICLE 5, ATTACK ON ONE IS AN ATTACK ON ALL.

IS AN ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES WAS AN ATTACK ON EVERYBODY AND THEY LINED UP FOR THAT.

I WAS WORKING RUSSIAN AFFAIRS PEOPLE.

VLADAMIR PUTIN CALLS GEORGE W. BUSH, WE'RE READY TO HELP.

AND THEY DID HELP.

THEY HELPED FACILITATE LATER DELIVERY OF SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND TROOPS INTO AFGHANISTAN BY WORKING WITH THEIR PARTNERS IN CENTRAL ASIA TO SAY LET THEM USE THAT AIRFIELD THAT USED TO BE OUR AIRFIELD.

SO WE SAW, I THINK, IN THAT FIRST DAY, REALLY POSITIVE MESSAGE OF PULL TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER.

THAT'S THE POSITIVE PART.

AFTER THAT WE SEE SOME PRETTY NEGATIVE THINGS, WHICH I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT.

>> Renee: WE'LL DISCUSS THAT.

>> AND COLONEL McGRATH, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW THOSE EVENTS IMPACTED YOU AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT DAY CHANGED THE LIVES OF SO MANY AMERICANS.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

I FOUND MYSELF IN THE COCKPIT OF AN F-18 IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA OFF RUNWAY 24 LEFT WITH SIX AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES LOADED READY TO SHOOT DOWN AN AIRLINER THAT WE DID NOT KNOW IF AIRLINERS WERE GOING TO ATTACK LOS ANGELES OR SAN DIEGO, AND SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, FOUR HOURS OF JUST SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD DO, SOMETHING I DIDN'T TRAIN TO DO.

AND THEN OF COURSE AFTER THAT, AS WE CAME TOGETHER, AS AMBASSADOR KAVANAUGH SAID AS A NATION WE CAME TOGETHER AND THOSE OF US AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR WERE READY TO GO AND DEPLOY.

I WAS A PART OF THAT, RIGHT AWAY.

SOME OF THE BASES THAT THE AMBASSADOR CAULK TALKED ABOUT WAS KURDISTAN, AN OLD SOVIET BOMBER BASE AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES WERE WITH US AND RUSSIA WAS WITH US, NATO ALLIES WERE WITH US AND WE WENT INTO OUR-- OUR MARINE FIGHTER SQUAD WENT INTO THAT BASE AND DID MISSIONS INTO AFGHANISTAN ALMOST RIGHT AWAY IN EARLY 2002.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE EARLY DAYS WE FELT LIKE THE FIGHT WAS JUSTIFIED; THAT WE, AS AMERICANS, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THE PEOPLE THAT DID THIS TO OUR COUNTRY AND I WAS PART OF THAT AND I WAS PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW.

>> Renee: STATE REPRESENTATIVE COOK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU, TOO, SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND YOU RECENTLY CO-WROTE A POIGNANT PIECE ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN WHICH WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT.

BUT CAN I GET FROM YOU YOUR REMEMBRANCES OF THAT DAY AND YOUR SERVICE?

>> YES MA'AM.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS.

I REMEMBER THE DAY, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

REMEMBER IT PRETTY WELL.

I HAD AN 81-MILLIMETER BASE PLATE ON MY BACK AND WE WERE GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF ON A MOTOR SHOOT FOR A WEEK.

I DON'T THINK WE MADE IT OUT OF THE L.Z.

AND THEY CAME IN AND SAID DROP YOUR GEAR AND WE WENT TO THE ARMORY AND DREW LIVE ROUNDS AND ALL KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION IS FLYING AROUND.

WE WERE GOING TO BUST INTO THE CAPITOL, WE WERE GOING TO BACK AND FORTH.

WE ENDED UP PATROLLING THE FBI ACADEMY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

IMMEDIATELY FINISHED UP.

INFANTRY OFFICER COURT AT THE TIME, WE FINISHED UP OUR TRAINING THERE AND GRADUATION WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AND WE HAD OUR GRADUATION CEREMONY AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT HIT IN IN EARLY OCTOBER AND HIS SON WAS IN OUR CLASS AND JONES SAID YOU ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR, YOU ARE GOING OUT.

WE GRADUATED AND WE WENT FROM THERE AND MY FIRST UNIT WAS OUT OF GARDEN CITY, NEW JERSEY, THEY ACTIVATED A LOT OF RESERVE BATTALIONS WERE ACTIVATED AT THAT TIME.

THEY ACTIVATE TODAY 25 OUT OF GARDEN CITY NEW JERSEY AND THEY NEEDED A LIEUTENANT AND I WAS PLUGGED INTO TO PICK UP THE SNIPER PLATOON AND ALL THOSE MEN, ALL THOSE MARINES, THEY WERE AT THE TOWERS, THEY WERE FIREFIGHTER, THEY WERE POLICE.

AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE GROUP WITH AN INCREDIBLE STORY TO TELL.

>> DEAN BAGGETT OO.

OF, I'LL TURN TO YOU FOR YOUR REFLECTIONS.

>> PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE SENTIMENTS WE NEVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE ANOTHER SEPTEMBER 11 BUT SEPTEMBER 12, WE WANT SOME OF THOSE EMOTIONS, THAT UNITY, THAT COURAGE, THAT PEACE TO RESURGE IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT WAS ONCE IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT TO A GROUP OF STUDENTS, WHAT WAS ONCE A CURRENT EVENT IS NOW A HISTORY LESSON AND IT'S HARD TO EMBRACE THAT EMOTION BECAUSE THOSE STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT EVEN BORN YESTERDAY ARE GOING TO BE YOUR EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS IN A FEW YEARS.

IT'S A GENERATIONAL MOMENT, A GENERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

I LIKEN IT TO THE ATTACKS ON PEARL HARBOR, AT SASS NATION TO J.F.K., TO THE CHALLENGER EXPLOSION AND NOW WE HAVE 9/11 TO GO FORTH.

SO WE TRY TO HARNESS THOSE EMOTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT, THE VERY TRITE STATEMENT THOSE WHO DON'T STUDY HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TEACHING THEM THE RIGHT THINGS, THE CRITICAL THINKING, THE SKILLS, THE POLICY ANALYSIS TO TRY TO PREVENT OR AT LEAST RESPOND TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AS WE GO ALONG.

>> Renee: SOME OF THAT SENTIMENT IS WHAT I GOT FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO WE TALKED TO ON THURSDAY U.S. ARMY SERGEANT MAJOR TONY ROSE, HE TALKED TO US ABOUT HIS REMEMBRANCE OF 9/11.

A SENIOR ARMY CAREER COUNSELOR AND WORKED IN THE PENTAGON.

HE WAS THERE THE DAY OF 9/11.

HERE'S HIS STORY.

SERGEANT MAJOR TONY ROSE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME... >> Renee: AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND ON THIS SOMBER REMEMBRANCE, WE ARE JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE SHARING YOUR STORY BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE PENTAGON ON 9/11 AND HAD HEARD ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH THE TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK.

TAKE US BACK TO THAT DAY FOR YOU, SIR.

>> WILL DO.

BEAUTIFUL DAY, MUCH LIKE TODAY, CLOUDS, IN FACT THE BLUE SKY TODAY WAS ALMOST REMINISCENT OF THAT DAY.

I WAS AT MY OFFICE ONLY ABOUT 2.

SECOND FLOOR C RING OF THE PENTAGON.

FROM THE GENERAL'S OFFICE AND I WAS TOLD SERGEANT MAJOR, YOU NEED TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON ON TV.

WE WATCHED THE REPLAY IN NEW YORK.

WHEN THE SECOND ONE HIT, WE KNEW THAT IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MADE DON'T MAKE THAT KIND OF MISTAKES.

WE HEADED BACK TO OUR OFFICE AREA AND BEFORE I COULD TELL MY OPTION C.O.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL, THE ENTIRE BUILDING SHOOK AS IF WE WERE IN AN EARTHQUAKE AND THAT DAY, HELL, IS WHAT I WOULD CALL IT, HAPPENED.

>> Renee: I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND, AT THIS TIME, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNEW IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

BUT YOU ARE TRAINED TO RESPOND AND NOT TO FLEE, RIGHT?

WHAT EMOTIONS WERE SUM OBJECTED UP IN YOU AT THAT-- WERE SUMMONED UP AND DID YOU SEE THAT WE WOULD BE ENGAGED IN A WAR FROM THAT POINT ON?

>> THINGS HAPPENED SO QUICKLY AND THE ADRENALINE KICKS THIS AND TIME SLOWS DOWN.

IT TOOK-- AS I WAS KNOCKED TO THE FLOOR IN THE BLAST, MY HEARING SLOWLY CAME BACK.

I REALIZED THAT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE.

I KNEW I WAS HURT.

DIDN'T KNOW THE EXTENT.

WE STARTED HEARING OTHER PEOPLE CRY FOR HELP AND STARTED THAT DAY BY EVACUATING THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE PENTAGON.

WE DID NOT KNOW IT WAS AN AIRPLANE UNTIL A LITTLE BIT LATER, OF COURSE.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE DOWN TO WHERE THE NOSE CONE HAD BLOWN THROUGH THE E.D.

AND C RINGS WHO REST AGAINST THE NOSE CONE AGAINST THE WALL OF THE B RING.

THAT'S WHAT WE KNEW IT WAS AN AIRPLANE.

THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY REALIZED SOMEONE HAD ATTACKED OUR COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHEN THE REAL SENSE OF ANGER BEGAN TO BOIL BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD ATTACKED OUR FAMILY.

THERE WERE PEOPLE DEAD FOR WHAT SEEMED TO BE NO APPARENT REASON.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET ABOUT THE HUMAN TOLL AND PEOPLE WHO YOU KNEW, I'M SURE, RATHER CLOSELY AND INTIMATELY WERE LOST THAT DAY.

>> 29 OF MY FRIENDS AND SOLDIERS DIED THAT DAY.

TOM DIED SUDDENLY.

VAPORIZED.

OTHERS DIED FROM BAD SMOKE INHALATION, BURNS, OTHER INJURIES AS PROJECTILES INSIDE THE BUILDING BECAME SHRAPNEL TIGHT, ASSET ACETYLENE TANKS AND TRUCKS WERE BLOWING UP FROM THE JET FUEL ONE MOMENT WE WERE TALKING TO PEOPLE WARM AND ALIVE AND IN THE NEXT MOMENT THEY WERE GONE.

>> Renee: YOU MENTION ANGER, SIR.

DO YOU STILL FEEL THAT ANGER EVEN AFTER 20 YEARS?

>> NO, 15 YEARS AGO I WENT TO GUANTANAMO TO SEE FIVE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WITH THE PLANNING.

THE TRIAL HAD NOT YET BEGUN.

I WAS ANGRY UP UNTIL THAT POINT UNTIL I SAW THOSE PEOPLE AND KNEW THAT I HAD TO FORGIVE THEM BECAUSE FORGIVENESS WAS MORE FOR ME AS A FORGIVER THAN TO HOLD A GRUDGE.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT GUANTANAMO THIS SEPTEMBER, THE TRIAL HAD STARTED FINALLY AFTER 20 YEARS AND CAN I SAY WITHIN MY HEART THAT I'M NOT ANGRY.

SAD IS MORE THE WORD.

>> SO I HAVE TO ASK YOU AS WE REFLECT ON THIS VERY SOMBER ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11, HOW WERE IMPACTED?

HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED FROM THAT DAY FORWARD AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE COUNTRY HAS CHANGED?

>> I'VE CHANGED IN MY PATIENCE WITH MYSELF AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

I AM A REAL TYPE A PERSONALITY WORKING TO GET THE JOB AND THE MISSION DONE AND YET SOMETIMES DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME JUST TO APPRECIATE A FRIENDSHIP OR THE TIME TO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE WITH PEOPLE AND JUST BE WITH PEOPLE.

NOW I REALIZE THAT THE MOMENTS I HAVE WITH PEOPLE ARE IRREPLACEABLE.

ONE MOMENT I WAS TALKING TO SOME OF MY SOLDIERS AND FELLOW WORKERS THAT DAY AND THE NEXT MINUTE THEY STEPPED INTO ETERNITY.

I THINK IT HAS HELPED ME TO REALLY REALIZE HOW VALUABLE TIME IS AND HOW PRECIOUS IT IS AND HOW FLEETING IT IS.

>> R. >> Renee: AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE PEOPLE NOW WHO ARE 20 YEARS OLD WHO WERE NOT EVEN CONCEIVED OR WERE INFANTS AT THE TIME OF 9/11 AND MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE AND HOW IT COULD HAVE CHANGED AMERICA.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE YOUNGEST GENERATION KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS ABOUT THAT DAY AND HOW AMERICA WAS CHANGED?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT ON THAT DAY OUR COUNTRY CAME TOGETHER, PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, ALL PLACES, CAME TOGETHER TO STAND UNITED AGAINST A COMMON ENEMY AND TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT AND TO HELPORY PEOPLE OUT A-- HELP OTHER PEOPLE OUT AROUND THE WORLD THAT NEEDED OUR HAND.

OUR FLAG IS THE SYMBOL OF HOPE.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT WANT TO COME INTO OUR COUNTRY AND IT IS SAID YOU CAN TELL THE GREATNESS OF THE COUNTRY BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO IT AND NOT GET OUT.

PEOPLE ARE NOT TRYING TO GET INTO AFGHANISTAN EXCEPT THE BAD GUYS.

BUT THEY SURE ARE TRYING TO COME TO AMERICA.

OUR FLAG REPRESENTS SO MUCH OF OVER 240 YEARS OF HISTORY, THOSE STARS AND STRIPES, THAT'S THE FLOOD, THE SWEAT, THE TEARS OF EVERY PERSON IN OUR COUNTRY IN THE PAST.

ONE THING THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

IT IS A SYMBOL OF HOPE.

OUR SOLDIERS WEAR IT IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE DELIVERING HUMANITARIAN AID AND HELPING OTHER PEOPLE TO BETTER THEIR LIVES.

I HOPE THE NEXT GENERATION REALIZES THE VALUE OF BEING FAMILY AND THAT OUR FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF HOPE AND THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT.

WE'VE NOT GOT IT ALL STRAIGHT YET.

WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

AND WE ARE DOING FAR BETTER THAN MANY PLACE AS ROUND THE WORLD.

AND THAT WE'LL TAKE THE TIME JUST TO REALIZE THAT THE PERSON NEXT TO US, STRANGER OR FRIEND, IS STILL FAMILY.

>> Renee: SOME WISE WORDS THERE AMBASSADOR.

CAN'T HELP BUT GET A LITTLE CHOKED UP IN LISTENING TO HIM.

I DO WANT TO KIND OF PIVOT TO WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT GUANTANAMO BAY AND WE KNOW THAT 20 YEARS LATER, THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE STILL WAITING FOR JUSTICE AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVEMENT HERE OF RECENT WITH AT LEAST FIVE, THE CASES OF FIVE SUSPECTS ACCUSED OF PLANNING AND AIDING IN THE ATTACKS AT GUANTANAMO BAY NOW.

THAT TRIAL IS RESUMING.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG?

>> A LOT OF BACKGROUND ON GUANTANAMO BAY AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS ABOUT AT THE PATTERSON SCHOOL.

WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS AT GUANTANAMO AND WHAT HAPPENS IN IRAQ AS A RESULT OF 9/11 OF HOW THAT HELPED AND HOW THAT HURT US.

LET ME GO BACK-- I TALKED ABOUT THE UNIFYING OF THE COUNTRY AND I THINK WE SAW THE RESULT OF THAT AFTER WE BEGIN THE INTERVENTION WITHIN AFGHANISTAN, WITHIN TWO MONTHS, TALIBAN LOST, AFGHANISTAN WON'T BE A PLATFORM FOR TERRORISM AGAIN.

WE ARE DOING GOOD THINGS AS YOU JUST HEARD DESCRIBED WHAT AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES CAN DO TO HELP THAT COUNTRY AND MOVE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

BUT WE ALSO, IN OUR RESPONSE TO 9/11, TO EUROPEANS THEY WOULD BRING UP AMERICA LOST ITS INNOCENCE.

WE ALWAYS THOUGHT TERRORISM, THAT'S NOT A BIG THING.

BUT INDEED WE HAVE HAD TERRORISM HERE.

IT WAS BROUGHT UP ALREADY, THE FIRST BOMBING AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN '93.

AND IN '95, WE LOSE THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA CITY SO WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE WITH TERRORISM, DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN.

THE VIVID EXAMPLE OF 9/11, THE WHOLE COUNTRY RALLIES BEHIND THAT.

BUT WE HAVE A DILEMMA THAT THE GOVERNMENT AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL, ALSO USES THE STRENGTH OF COUNTRY BEING UNIFIED TO GO AND DO SOME THINGS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE.

ONE, I WOULD SAY, IS THE INVASION OF RACETRACK AND I THINK THE WAY-- THE INVASION OF IRAQ AND THE WAY THAT PLAYED OUT IN HINDSIGHT, MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT ARGUE AGAINST THAT.

AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS GUANTANAMO IS WE WALKED AWAY FROM SOME OF OUR VALUES.

GUANTANAMO WAS PUT TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY IS TO WHERE COULD WE TAKE PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE PROTECTED BY U.S. LAW?

WHY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT U.S. LAW?

WE ACTUALLY ARE PROUD OF U.S. LAW.

IF WE HAD BROUGHT THEM HERE, THEIR CASES WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRIED.

THE VICTIMS WOULD HAVE GOTTEN JUSTICE.

INSTEAD WE TOOK THEM TO A PLACE OUTSIDE.

WE ALSO DECIDED, THE PENTAGON DID, THE TOP OF THE PENTAGON, AND THE WHITE HOUSE, THEY WOULDN'T BE VIEWED AS PRISONERS.

THEY WOULD BE DETAINEES.

THEY WOULD BE ENEMY COMBATANTS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO FALL UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION.

BUT TWO FORMER MILITARY PEOPLE, WE WANT ALL OUR SOLDIERS ALWAYS TO FALL UNDER THE GENEVA CONVENTION.

SO WE STARTED MOVING AWAY FROM THINGS THAT WE CHERISHED: AMERICAN LAW, AMERICAN JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS THAT WE WERE PART OF.

AND STARTED DOING OTHER THINGS PARTICULARLY IN GUANTANAMO AND ABU GHARIB THAT HAD US MOVING AWAY FROM OUR VALUES TO TORTURE AND WE SAW THE OVERREACTION TO 9/11 THAT HURTS US AND WE ARE OR DEALING WITH THAT TODAY AND GUANTANAMO IS ONE PIECE OF THAT.

>> Renee: STATE REPRESENTATIVE COOK, I WANT TO GET YOUR RESPONSE.

DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE TACTICS ARE OVER REACTION TO 9/11?

HOW DO YOU VIEW THAT?

>> I DON'T HAVE MANY COMMENTS ON GUANTANAMO BAY, MY JOB WHEN WE WERE THERE, WAS TO FIND THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED TO GO TO GUANTANAMO BAY.

I DIDN'T REALLY GET TO THINK ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT.

AND SOMETHING MARINES WERE PROUD OF, WE RAN 30 SOMETHING MISSIONS WITH SUCH GOOD INTELLIGENCE AND GOD OPERATIONS THAT WE NEVER FIRED A SHOT.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

GO IN, GRAB THE PERSON WE WERE LOOKING FOR, THE BOMB MAKER, I.E.D.

MAKER AND GRAB THEM.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT TIME AND WHEN YOU ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

IT'S UP HERE AND WE TRY TO STAY DOWN HERE AND DO OUR JOBS.

THE AMBASSADOR, I HEAR WHAT HE IS SAYING AND IT IS INTERESTING TO THINK BACK BUT AT THE TIME I REALLY NEVER-- WE HAD A JOB TO DO AND WE DID IT.

>> Renee: YOU AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, THAT YOU HAD WRITTEN A POIGNANT OP-ED RECENTLY ABOUT THE THE EVACUATION FROM AFGHANISTAN AND OUR TROOPS LEAVING AND I'M CURIOUS.

WE CAN PIVOT NOW TO THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW YOU VIEW THAT EXIT AND MANY PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, ARE WE SAFER NOW THAN WE WERE ALLEGEDLY SEPTEMBER 10 OF 2001 AND WAS IT ALL WORTH IT?

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION WAS IT WORTH IT?

>> IT WAS WORTH IT ABSOLUTELY.

FOR 20 YEARS WE HAVE KEPT AMERICANS SAFE.

WE, WITH THE ORIGINAL MISSION WAS TO KEEP TERRORISM FOREIGN FIGHTERS COMING TO AFGHANISTAN TO DO THE TRAINING, ABSOLUTELY IT WAS WORTH IT AND EVERY MAN AND WOMAN WHO WENT OVER THERE AND SERVED, ABSOLUTELY, YOUR TIME WAS WELL SPENT AND EVERYTHING.

THE OTHER QUESTION, ARE WE SAFER?

THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE MAYBE AS AMERICANS WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE AT WAR, BUT OLIVER NORTH.

1987 WAS WARNING US ABOUT OSAMA BIN LADEN SO WE HAD BEEN AT WAR FOR A LONG TIME.

YOUR AVERAGE AMERICAN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT.

SAD TO SEE THE WAY IT WENT DOWN OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IN THE OP OP-ED WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE TORN YOU WANT EVERYBODY OUT OF THERE AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU REALIZE THAT WHAT IS GOING ON WHEN WE LEAVE.

AND I THINK MY THOUGHT IS, AND TALKING WITH SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT WERE OVER THERE, THAT WE FELT WE COULD HAVE HELD BAGRAM.

WE COULD HAVE HAD A FORCE IN THERE AND BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS AND KEEP THAT STATUS AND HELP THEM GET ON THEIR FEET AND DO AFGHANISTAN THEIR WAY.

IT TOOK SOUTH KOREA, YOU KNOW, YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS TO GET IT RIGHT.

NOT THAT AFGHANISTAN COULD EVER BE SOUTH KOREA, BUT I THINK WE OWED IT TO THE AFGHANISTAN PEOPLE.

WE OWED IT TO THE INTERPRETERS THAT HELPED US AND, YOU KNOW, THE 100,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE EVACUATED OUT OF THERE.

WE OWED IT TO STAY THERE WITH SOME KIND OF FORCE AND GIVE THEM BACK BONE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU THINK AFGHANISTAN VIEWS AMERICA NOW?

>> PRETTY BAD.

WE ABANDONED THEM.

HOW COULD THEY BE HAPPY WITH US?

THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL BETRAYED.

>> Renee: COLONEL McGRATH, DO YOU THINK THE AFGHAN PEOPLE FEEL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BETRAYED THEM OR ABANDONED THEM?

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE AFGHAN PEOPLE.

THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER IN AFGHANISTAN.

THERE NEVER WAS.

WE HAVE MADE A NUMBER OF STRATEGIC ERRORS OVER THE YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICE AND THE SACRIFICE OF PEOPLE LIKE Mr. COOK, I MEAN WE HAVE KEPT OUR COUNTRY SAFE FROM ANOTHER 9/11-STYLE ATTACK IN 20 YEARS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE THAT AFGHANISTAN IS IN THE PLACE THAT IT'S IN TODAY.

NO ONE WANTED TO SEE THE TYPE OF WITHDRAWAL THAT WE DID AND WHAT HAPPENED, THE TALIBAN TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY AS QUICK AS IT DID.

IT'S JUST TRAGIC.

I THINK FROM THE AMERICAN SECURITY STANDPOINT, WE DID KILL OSAMA BIN LADEN.

WE DID DECIMATE AL-QAEDA OR DETERIORATED THEM QUITE A BIT.

WE DID KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THE LAST ADMINISTRATION HAD MADE THE STRATEGIC CALCULATED DECISION THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE WITHOUT TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND I FEEL THIS, TOO.

I FEEL VERY MUCH THAT WE HAVE A MORAL AND HONORABLE ONLY OBLIGATION TO THOSE AFGHANS WHO HELPED US AND PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE WITH THOSE OF US THAT WERE OVER THERE.

BUT FOR MANY VETERANS LIKE MYSELF, WE FEEL VERY CONFLICTED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE MANY OF US BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY AMERICAN LIVES IS IT GOING TO TAKE AND ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES OVER THERE WHEN YOU HAVE AN AFGHAN GOVERNMENT THAT WAS CORRUPT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

VERY DIFFICULT.

>> Renee: COLONEL McGRATH'S POINT, DEAN BAGGETT ABOUT THE DECIMATION OF AL-QAEDA, WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT AS SUCH BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE FRANCHISES OF AL-QAEDA IN OTHER TERRITORIES IN AFRICA, SYRIA, YEMEN.

ARE THEY AS STRONG AS THEY HAVE EVER BEEN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, RENEE.

WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS THE EXPANSE AT OUR THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES, CERTAIN CITIES HAVE NOTED THERE ARE FOUR TIMES AS MANY TERRORIST GROUPS THAT ARE NOW ACTING IN THAT AREA.

THEY'RE NOT AS STRONG POSSIBLY AS THEY WERE AT ONE TIME AFTER OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, AFTER THAT ONE MONTH THAT WE WENT OVER THERE AND TOOK THAT OUT.

BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN'T LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

CERTAIN WILL I WE CAN'T LET THOSE FOLKS REBUILD AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SITUATION ON OUR HANDS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE OBJECTIVITY FROM EMOTIONS.

AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY WE TRY TO TRAIN OUR STUDENTS AND TEACH THEM ABOUT HOW TO OBJECTIVELY ASSESS THE THREAT, LOOK AT WHERE OUR VULNERABILITIES ARE AS A COUNTRY, AS A JURISDICTION, WHATEVER THAT IS, AND LOOK AT THOSE CONSEQUENCES.

THE FACT IS, WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES IN THE WORLD.

THE FACT IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PLAN THOSE RESOURCES A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENTLY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO NOT GO INTO EVERY COUNTRY WHO IS HAVING SOME TYPE OF DISTURBANCE.

THAT'S HARD TO DO BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE SUFFER.

WE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COME INTO OUR OWN COUNTRY, IT'S HARD TO NOT SEEK IMMEDIATE AND GRANDIOSE RETRIBUTION.

SO WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO, AGAIN, USE THAT CRITICAL THINKING TO BE ABLE TO PLAN OUT WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO GO AND HOW WE NEED TO DO IT.

>> Renee: AMBASSADOR, I DON'T KNOW IF I HEARD THE PHRASE FROM SECRETARY OF STATE OR ANYONE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

>> YOU DID NOT.

I DON'T THINK YOU WILL.

>> Renee: AND IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> I THINK IT IS.

I THINK IT'S A RECOGNITION IN GOING BACK TO WHAT AMY McGRATH SAID.

THERE WERE STRATEGIC ERRORS MADE IN THE PAST 20 YEARS THAT WE PAY A PRICE FOR.

WE'VE LEARNED THAT WAS ONE.

AND I THINK ANOTHER THING WE'VE LEARNED AND WHY YOU WON'T SEE THAT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED STATEMENT IS THE POWER OF THE UNITED STATES IS FAR MORE THAN ITS MILITARY POWER.

IT'S EASY TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY THOUGH.

IT'S EASY TO THINK WE HAVE ENORMOUSLY POWERFUL ARMED FORCES.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND YOU REACH IN THE TOOL BOX, THE TOOL BOX IS FULL OF MILITARY TOOLS.

BUT SOME OF OUR STRONGEST TOOLS, DIPLOMATIC INFLUENCE, PARTNERS, EUROPEAN PARTNERS, ECONOMIC LEAVERS, OUR CULTURE AND OUR VALUES.

YOU HEARD IN THE EARLIER VIDEO CLIP ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR FLAG; THE POWER OF OUR REPUTATION.

I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SEEING UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN AND IN PART ANTHONY BLINKIN IS A RECOGNITION WE NEED TO USE THOSE TOOLS NOW.

MORE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN AFGHANISTAN BUT WE HAVE THINGS THAT AFGHANS WANT AND THE TALIBAN WANT AND THEY INCLUDE THESE ECONOMIC LEAVERS.

>> Renee: IS IT REALISTIC TO TRANSITION FROM A MILITARY STRATEGY TO A DIPLOMATIC ONE?

CAN YOU SHUTTLE DIPLOMA WITH THE THRAN TALIBAN IS THAT A REALISTIC GOAL?

>> YOU CAN.

I HAVE A CLASS ON THIS, TOO.

THERE IS ALWAYS THE QUESTION SHOULD WE TALK TO BAD PEOPLE.

>> Renee: SHOULD WE TALK TO OUR ENEMY.

>> BUT IN BANK ROBBERS COME AND ROB A BANK AND WE'VE SEEN THIS FROM 100 HOLLYWOOD MOVIES.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS?

THE POLICE SURROUND THE BANK AND THE PHONE RINGS AND THEY ASK WHAT DO YOU WANT, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

HOW DO WE RESOLVE THAT THE?

NOBODY WHO CALLS THE GUY IN THE BANK SAYS THAT'S A GOOD GUY.

IT'S AN AWFUL GUY AND I WILL SAY FROM THE DIPLOMATIC SIDE, THEY ARE SO NICE WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM.

THE BANK ROBBERY EXAMPLE.

THE PHONE CALL MAY BE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE VERY CALM AND LOOK DOWN AND YOU WILL SEE THESE LITTLE RED DOTS ON YOUR CHEST.

THAT'S WHERE THE BULLETS ARE GOING TO GO.

IT MAY BE A HARSH COMMUNICATE TIFF ENGAGEMENT BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MILITARY.

IT COULD BE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND I THINK WHAT BLINKEN IS GOING TO TRY TO DO BEFORE YOU HEAR MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IS HOW DO YOU USE THOSE LEAVERS TO GET THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED US IN AFGHANISTAN OUT AND GET ANY REMAINING AMERICANS THAT MIGHT BE THERE.

MANY DECIDED THEY WANTED TO STAY.

THEY'RE DUAL NATIONALS THEY MAY NEVER HAVE LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IF THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND, THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE TALIBAN.

HOW DO WE GET THEM OUT AND OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS ARE LOOKING TO DO THE SAME THING.

HOW DO WE STAY ENGAGED DIPLOMATICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY AND AT THE SAME TIME WORK ON THOSE THINGS WHICH WE FEEL WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO.

>> Renee: IS THIS THE NEW TALIBAN?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW TALIBAN?

I'LL USE THAT TERM BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY A CIVILIAN LIKE ME KNOWS HOW TO CHARACTERIZE IT?

BUT WHAT DO THEY STAND FOR?

>> THAT'S INTERESTING RENEE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THEY UNDERSTAND TO A CERTAIN DEGREE WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

THE AMBASSADOR'S POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN, BUT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT LACKS A RATIONAL THOUGHT, THAT LACKS A FRAMEWORK, A PLAN OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THOSE VALUES WHEN ONE DAY, FOR EXAMPLE, NO ONE IS LEAVING, NO ONE IS LEAVING THE COUNTRY AND THE NEXT DAY THEY ALLOW PLANES OUT.

SOMEWHAT ON A WHIM, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS THAT HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO DEFINE THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT THEM AS A CREDIBLE GOVERNMENT TYPE OF ENTITY OR ARE THEY GOING TO CONTINUE PREVIOUS BEHAVIORS?

AND WE'VE SEEN, FROM AL-QAEDA, ISIS, ISIS WHATEVER LETTER YOU WANT TO FOLLOW AFTER THAT, WHAT IS GOING TO LEGITIMIZE THEIR STRENGTH AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO INTERACT WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.

THAT'S TO BE SEEN.

>> Renee: AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT ISIS AND IT'S-K.

WHICH-- ISIS-K WHICH IS A NEW TERM TO ME AND NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF, THE RESURGENCE OR POWER THAT THESE GROUPS MAY NOW ASSUME, THAT'S A REAL THREAT.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS.

AND IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE, ALTHOUGH AL-QAEDA WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO SEPARATE ISIS AND AL-QAEDA WERE FROM EACH OTHER.

THE STRATEGIC LOSS OF OUR 13 SERVICE MEMBERS AND THAT ISIS-K WAS AT THE HANDS OF IT BUT AL-QAEDA HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

THAT'S HARD TO STOMACH AT THIS POINT IN TIME BECAUSE IF YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THAT GOVERNMENT AND YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE POLICING PIECE OF THAT AND THE ENFORCEMENT, THEY INVADED THAT TERRITORY AND KILLED OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN AND THAT TRAGEDY IS IN THE MINDS AND THE FOREMOST MINDS OF MOST OF OUR VIEWERS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ULTRAENGAGED IN THIS BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION.

AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION.

MAYBE IT WAS THE LEAVING OF TROOPS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS DOESN'T COME TO OUR OWN HOMELAND AND ATTACK US HERE.

>> Renee: CAN YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT COLONEL McGRATH?

>> I AM.

I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD NEWS, IF THERE IS ANY GOOD NEWS IN THIS, IS THAT WE'VE HAD 20 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AND DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATION AS ROUND THE WORLD.

AND WE HAVE OVER THE HORIZON CAPABILITY.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS IN PLACES LIKE SYRIA, LIBYA AND THE HORN OF AFRICA AND THERE IS AN ASSESSMENT OBVIOUSLY AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS THAT MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO BE ON THE GROUND IN AFGHANISTAN TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY.

THIS, OF COURSE, WAS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S IDEA WAY BACK WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, IN THE DEBATE DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, DO WE DO ANOTHER SURGE LIKE IN IRAQ, DO WE BRING AND DO MORE COUNTERINSURGENCY WHICH REQUIRES A LOT OF TROOPS, WINNING THE HEARTS AND MINDS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

OR DO WE DO MORE COUNTERTERRORISM, WHICH IS SORT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, TERRORIST POPS UP, YOU GO GET 'EM.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

AND OF COURSE THAT WAS NOT WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA CHOSE TO DO.

I WAS PART OF THE SURGE IN 2010 IN AFGHANISTAN WHICH WE ALL HOPED WOULD WORK.

WE SAW THAT IT WORKED IN SOME RESPECTS, BROUGHT SECURITY TO IRAQ.

WE ALL HOPED IT WOULD WORK IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE AND SAD TO SEE IT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR COUNTRY IS NOT AS SAFE AS WE WERE ON THE DAY BEFORE 9/11.

I THINK WE ARE SAFER BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE COOK, I WANT THE ASK YOU ABOUT THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE AND HAVING TROOPS THERE VERSUS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE ENHANCEMENTS IN COUNTERTERRORISM AND OUR OFFENSES AR MORE SOPHISTICATED NOW THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

WITH ALL OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND TECHNOLOGIES, DOES IT REQUIRE PHYSICAL PRESENCE TO MAINTAIN SOME LEVEL OF PEACE TO USE THAT WORD?

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> YOUR PRESENCE BEING THERE AS I POWERFUL THING.

HAVING TROOPS ON THE GROUND IS A GREAT MORALE FOR YOUR AVERAGE AFGHAN ARMY COMMANDER THAT IS GOING TO BE THERE AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A LARGE FORCE.

IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND SAW THAT OUR SMALL PRESENCE OF 2500 TROOPS IN BAGRAM, AND I THINK IT COULD POSSIBLY BE SMALLER THAN THAT, I THINK THAT COULD HAVE-- WE COULD HAVE SUSTAINED THAT FOR SOMETIME.

ALSO THINKING ABOUT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

NOT REALLY RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN, BUT JUST TERRORISM IS NOT GOING AWAY.

WE ARE AWARE OF IT NOW, ON ANY LEVEL, TERRORISM IS NOT GOING AWAY WHETHER IT'S DOMESTIC TERRORISM OR RADICAL GROUP THAT'S OUT THERE, IT IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

WE ARE AWARE OF IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL ULTIMATELY TOTALLY DEFEAT IT, BUT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY TOUGH, PRETTY TOUGH THING TO SAY RIGHT HERE AND YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT WORRIES ME NOT HAVING SOME KIND OF PRESENCE THERE IS CHINA.

CHINA HAS RENEWED INTEREST-- NOT RENEWED BUT CHINA IS LOOKING AT BAGRAM RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE REPORTS SAYING THAT.

THAT BOTHERS ME.

IF WE KEPT A SMALL PRESENCE THERE, WE COULD HAVE STOPPED THAT.

>> Renee: TERRORISM DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE IT DID ON SEPTEMBE.

IT COULD LOOK LIKE CYBER ATTACKS AND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING THAT WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED.

>> IF THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL WERE TO GO WITHOUT THEIR IPHONE FOR A MORNING, OR FOR A DAY, THINK ABOUT THE DISRUPTION THAT THAT WOULD CAUSE IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE ARE FACING MUCH LARGER THREATS FROM THE CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE NOW THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO FACE.

WE'VE PUT A GREAT DEAL OF RESOURCES TOWARDS THEM.

WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE AS Ms. McGRATH WAS TALKING ABOUT, ON THESE ISSUES BUT IT'S AN EVOLVING THREAT.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FINGERS ON THE PULSE AND TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND THERE HAS HAS ALSO BEEN TERRORIST THREATS SINCE 9/11.

THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 60 DIFFERENT MISSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN THWARTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND SOME THAT HAVEN'T.

TALK ABOUT THE SAN BERNARDINOS, THE BOSTON BOMBING.

WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.

SO DEFINITELY TO YOUR POINT, REPRESENTATIVE, THAT TERRORISM IS ALIVE AND WELL.

I THINK WE ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR THAT.

9/11 BROUGHT ON THE CREATION OF THE THIRD LARGEST GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

IT BROUGHT ENHANCED INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES THROUGH THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

WE'VE MADE SOME POSITIVE STEPS ON THAT, BUT WE CAN'T LET UP AS A NATION AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING OUR CITIZENS SAFE.

>> Renee: YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE VULNERABILITIES.

YOU HAVE TWO EDITIONS OF THOSE THAT ARE, I THINK, NINE YEARS APART.

AND I ASKED YOU BEFORE WE STARTED THE TAPING, WHAT WOULD A 2021 EDITION LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE THE NATION'S KEY VULNERABILITIES?

>> CERTAINLY.

WHEN WE TALKED POST 9/11 WORLD, WE TALK VERY MUCH ABOUT BOMBINGS AND THINGS THAT WE COULDN'T IMAGINE BEFORE.

IN FACT, THE 9/11 COMMISSIONS REPORT WAS ENTITLED A FAILURE OF IMAGINATION BECAUSE WE WE WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT PLANES WOULD BE FLOWN INTO OUR BUILDINGS.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT PHYSICAL SECURITY, ABOUT PUTTING UP BARRIERS AND GUARDS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT.

THE NEW NORMAL FOR US IS GOING TO BE MORE OF AN ELECTRONIC SECURITY PIECE.

EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVERY INTERNET OF THINGS IS CONNECTED TO A CYBER NETWORK.

IF THE NATION WOULD GO TO A VERY DARK PLACE IF THE POWER GRIDS, IF ALL OF THESE THREAT ACTORS ACTED UPON CYBER PIECE SO THAT WOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THAT AND MOVING FORWARD.

>> Renee: WE KNOW THAT INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREME EXTREMISM HAS BECOME THE GREATEST TERRORISM THREAT TO THE U.S.

THERE IS ANY ARGUMENT AGAINST THAT, AMBASSADOR?

>> I AGREE WITH THEM ACTUALLY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS 9/11 BROUGHT ABOUT WAS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LARGELY ACCEPTED DEFINITION OF TERRORISM BY COUNTRIES.

IN THE EARLIER ERA, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, ONE COUNTRY'S TERRORIST IS USED AS ANOTHER COUNTRY'S FREEDOM FIGHTER.

YOU DON'T HEAR THAT EXPRESSION ANYMORE.

>> Renee: UBIQUITOUS UNDERSTANDING.

>> WE MENTION CHINA AND AFGHANISTAN.

CHINA AND RUSSIA DIDN'T POP CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES WHEN WE LEFT BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF TERRORISM OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

THEY'RE WORRIED THESE GUYS WILL BE UPSET ABOUT HOW CHINA TREATS ITS WIGGER POPULATION OR RUSSIA TREATS ITS CECH ENPOPULATION.

WE ACTUALLY, DESPITE A POOR RELATIONSHIP, THE BEST WORD I CAN DESCRIBE IT, BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUCH A, WE COOPERATE ON COUNTERTERRORISM.

SO ON THIS INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, WE'VE CREATED NEW STRUCTURES AND NEW UNDERSTANDINGS.

THAT HELPS THAT'S PART WHAT HAVE PROTECTS US.

ON THE DOMESTIC LEVEL, WE AS YOU CAN TELL, WATCHING WASHINGTON, ARE VERY FAR FROM THE COMMON VIEW OF WHAT IS A THREAT, WHAT IS A PROBLEM?

CYBER TECHNIQUES, WHETHER IT'S THE MAIN LIBRARY IN DES MOINES OR TIMES SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE EXPECT TO SEE BARRIERS TO PREVENT BARRIERS, I BELIEVE TODAY NEW FENCING IS GOING BACK UP ON CAPITOL HILL AND THE IDEA OF GOING TO WASHINGTON AND SEE IS THE FENCING I ASSOCIATE MORE WITH WAR ZONES, WITH CONSTANTINO WIRE WRAPPED AT THE TOP OF IT.

THIS ISN'T THE FUN FILLED TRIP TO THE CAPITOL I REMEMBER.

NOW AMERICANS ARE USED TO THAT.

IT'S A NEW AMERICA IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

WE UNDERSTAND THIS TERRORISM IS REAL.

AND ONE OTHER POINT IF I CAN.

YOU BROUGHT UP OF THE TALIBAN AND IS IT THE OLD ONE OR THE NEW ONE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE ON THAT.

ONE THING I THINK THE TALIBAN IS DISCOVERING THIS WEEK, A DIFFERENT AFGHANISTAN.

20 YEARS OF AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT.

20 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN ARE USED TO HAVING RIGHTS.

THERE ARE WOMEN THAT WERE JUDGES, LAWYERS, GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, ANCHORS ON NETWORK TELEVISION.

THEY'RE NOT ALL DISAPPEARING INTO THE WOODWORK.

AND WE SAW ALREADY THIS WEEK WOMEN'S PROTESTS IN KABUL AND KANDAHAR A TALIBAN STRONG HOLD.

SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SORTING OUT HOW, WHAT CAN WE DO THAT WE WANT TO DO?

WHAT CAN WE DO THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO ACCOMMODATE WHERE THE PUBLIC IS?

AND I THINK THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

>> Renee: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT POINT UP.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU, DEAN, ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WAS DEVELOPED AND DRIVEN TO ADDRESS THESE THREATS OVERSEAS.

BUT HAS IT EVOLVED TO ALSO HONE IN ON THESE DOMESTIC TERRORIST THREATS?

HAS IT SHIFTED IN ITS PARADIGM TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE?

>> CERTAINLY.

HOMELAND SECURITY BROUGHT TOGETHER 22 EXISTING AGENCIES.

SO FOLKS LIKE THE COAST GUARD, FEMA OTHER FOLKS, SO IT WASN'T A COMPLETELY GROUND-UP APPROACH TO DEVELOPING A NEW FEDERAL AGENCY.

THESE DOMESTIC THREATS FROM INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS DEFINITELY HAVE PIECES AND PARTS IN OUR HOMELAND SECURITY DESIGN.

MOST OF THE INTEL THAT WE GET FROM THE HOMELAND SECURITY ENTERPRISE IS GEARED AT INTERNATIONAL TOWARDS DOMESTIC.

SO WOULD I SAY YES, THAT OVER THE COURSE OF 20 YEARS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, THEY HAVE TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES SO WHAT WE FOUND AFTER 9/11, WE GEARED UP FOR BOMBINGS.

WE GEARED UP FOR TERRORIST ACTS AND THEN CAME HURRICANE KATRINA AND WE SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

THE NATIONAL HAZARDS, WE LEFT THAT UNCHECKED.

SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE BEEF THAT UP.

SO YOU SEE A LOT OF EBB AND FLOW WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

BUT SLOWLY BUT SURELY THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING THEIR FEET UNDER THEM.

THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING THE PLANS IN PLACE, GETTING THE RESPONDERS IN PLACE SO IT'S A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY.

>> Renee: AND WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA IN BAD TERMS AND WILL DO SO IN THIS CONVERSATION.

HOW HAS THAT FED AND FUELED DOMESTIC TERRORISM SOME.

>> IT'S AMAZING THAT EVERYONE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AROUND THE WORLD IS NOW AN EXPERT.

IT BLOWS MY MIND THE FOLKS WHO HAVE HAD THAT TAKE A CERTAIN NEWS OUTLET OR A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE FROM AN ONLINE PIECE AND THEN MAKE IT THEIR OWN WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE FACTS BEHIND IT.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN DO AS CITIZENS IS BEING INFORMED.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO LOOK FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE, LOOK FOR THE FACTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS AT EKU.

WE SHOULD TEACH THE WORLD THAT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OPINIONS ARE BASED UPON THE ACTUAL FACTS AND NOT A VIEW POINT OF SOMEONE ON TELEVISION WHO ARE SOMEWHERE, ANOTHER PLACE.

SO AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CRITICAL THINKERS IN THAT.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK, JUST MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU THINK IS BASED ON FACT.

$REPRESENTATIVE COOK, IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK THAT YOU FIGHT AN ENEMY OUTSIDE BUT THAT SOMETIMES WE FIGHT THE ENEMY WITHIN, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU VIEW OUR CONFRONTATION AND APPROACH TO COMBATING DOMESTIC TERRORISM?

>> KNOWLEDGE IS KEY.

GETTING THE RIGHT INFORMATION OUT THERE IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO.

AND WE'VE ALL GOT TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

IT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO AND POLICE OUR OWN.

>> Renee: SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I ABSOLUTELY THINK DOMESTIC TERRORISM IS AN ISSUE.

AND WE'VE SEEN INCREASES IN IT.

YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AGO AFTER 9/11Y, WE WERE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOREIGN THREATED TO OUR COUNTRY.

I THINK NOW IT'S QUITE CLEAR IF, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, THAT A LOT OF IT IS OUR OWN EXTREMISTS WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY, OUR FELLOW AMERICANS WHO HAPPEN TO BE, YOU KNOW, EXTREMISTS.

AND THAT IS A REAL CONCERN.

I ALSO THINK, AND HERE WE ARE 20 YEARS AFTER NINE 9/11 IF YOU TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT THE THREATS MOVING FORWARD TO OUR COUNTRY.

YOU MENTIONED CYBER.

YOU HAVE 650,000 AMERICANS DEAD IN A YEAR AND A HALF FROM COVID.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE TERRORISM, WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK NOT ONLY ABOUT MANMADE THREATS BUT SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THE NATURAL THREATS TO OUR COUNTRY.

AND ARE WE TACKLING THAT?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HOMELAND SECURITY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING BETTER?

I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GIVE THE LAST WORD TO OUR FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS ON THE PANEL.

I'LL GO TO YOU FIRST STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT COOK AND ASK YOU IN 30 SECONDS, AS THE ANNIVERSARY WOULD HAVE PASSED BY THE TIME THIS AIRS ON MONDAY EVENING, WHAT WAS THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH YOUR KIDS?

ABOUT 9/11?

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT A LOT LATELY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY KNEW I WAS COMING ON THE SHOW HERE AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND YOU KNOW, FIRST THING WE DID WAS GET OUT A MAP AND FIND AFGHANISTAN, YOU KNOW AND WE TALKED ABOUT GOING OVER THERE AND EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON.

AND OLD PICTURES OF THE TOWERS.

WE WENT AND SALUTED THE FLAG AND WE TALKED ABOUT PATRIOTISM AND LOVING YOUR COUNTRY AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEING OKAY TO DEGREE AND DISAGREE AND BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE ENEMIES.

TALKING, YOU KNOW, TO US AND EVERYTHING.

THEY SAY A LOT WITH THE POLITICS.

IT'S OKAY TO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.

AND THAT WE CAN RALLY TOGETHER.

WE TALK ABOUT SEPTEMBER 12, THAT SEPTEMBER 12 FEELING.

>> Renee: YEAH I THINK WE'LL END IT THERE AND I APPRECIATE THE NOTE THAT YOU LEFT US ON AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION TO APPRECIATE THIS COUNTRY AND THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR IT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SPECIAL EDITION OF KENTUCKY TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

REMEMBER TO TUNE IN FRIDAY NIGHT WITH BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF WORKING JOURNALISTS TO DISCUSS THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON COMMENT