CNN National Security Analyst Speaks at 9/11 Museum

For more than 20 years, CNN national security analyst and author Peter Bergen has studied terrorism and written extensively about counterterrorism, homeland security and the Middle East. Bergen spoke last night at a public program at the 9/11 Museum and discussed his findings in his newest book, “United States of Jihad: Investigating America’s Homegrown Terrorists.”

The book focuses on the investigation that led to the identification and arrest of 330 people residing in the U.S., including some Americans, who were charged with crimes in support of global jihad. The cases ranged from sending money to foreign terrorist organizations to murder or attempted murder.

“They’re ordinary Americans, let’s start with that,” said Bergen. “That’s kind of surprising because if you think of signing up for a jihadi group like ISIS or al Qaeda, it’s not a secret about what their goals are and one of them is violence against Americans.”

Bergen wrote the “United States of Jihad” to highlight the success of the United States’ strong defensive and offensive barriers in response to terrorism and increased public knowledge of terrorism as a serious issue.

When asked about the various reasons behind terrorist attacks, Bergen cited opposition to American foreign policy, desire to belong to something larger than one’s self, desire to be a hero in one’s own story and cognitive opening to militant Islam, though there is not always a reason.

Bergen also co-produced the 1994 CNN documentary, “Terror Nation,” produced Osama bin Laden’s first television interview broadcasted to western audiences in 2007 and authored three New York Times bestselling books on bin Laden.

To learn more about upcoming public programs at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, visit our website here.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff