In a recent interview with WTOP, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer reflected on the September 11, 2001 attacks, describing the chaotic flow of information and the steady resolve of President George W. Bush and his team.

First reports arrive amid confusion

While standing near the president at an elementary school in Florida, Fleischer received a pager alert that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. A second alert followed moments later, confirming a second plane hit the second tower. “At that moment I knew the world had changed,” Fleischer said, noting that the information filters that normally block false reports broke down as everyone rushed to get accurate news to the president.

Air Force One and a cascade of false alarms

After leaving the school, the presidential party boarded Air Force One. During the flight, they learned that a third plane had hit the Pentagon and that six unidentified aircraft were still in the sky. Subsequent reports of a car bomb at the State Department, a fire on the National Mall, and an aircraft heading toward the president’s ranch all proved false. A call to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) warned of a possible threat to Air Force One, but the concern was later dismissed as another miscommunication.

President Bush’s composure

Fleischer recalled that, despite the emotional weight of the day, President Bush remained “steely resolved” and unemotional, setting the tone for the entire team. “There was no crying, no panic, no highs, no lows,” he said. The president’s calm helped the staff focus on their duties amid the national crisis.

Seeing the Pentagon smolder

When Marine One returned to Washington, the president observed the smoldering Pentagon from the air and remarked, “The mightiest building in the world is on fire.” Fleischer said this moment underscored the new reality of asymmetrical terrorism, where small groups can cause massive damage without traditional armies.

Long‑term impact on U.S. security policy

Fleischer believes the bipartisan template established after 9/11—aggressive pursuit of terrorists—has helped prevent a repeat of such attacks. He noted that subsequent presidents, including President Trump and President Obama, continued the strategy, leading to the eventual killing of Osama bin Laden and a reduced likelihood of large‑scale attacks on U.S. soil.

Reflections on lessons learned

While acknowledging mistakes, such as the missed opportunity to capture bin Laden earlier, Fleischer praised the decision to limit the U.S. military footprint in Afghanistan, which avoided massive American casualties. He concluded that the nation’s resilience and the decisive actions taken after 9/11 remain a testament to the leadership of President Bush and the unified response that followed.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.