I'm Brian Lehrer. This is my daily politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Tuesday, August 31st.

On September 11th, 2001, that's 20 years ago next week, members of al-Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center,

the Pentagon, and other targets inside the United States. You know that. Less than a month later,

on October 7, 2001, President George W. Bush made this announcement. On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al-Qaeda terrorist training camps

and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the

military capability of the Taliban regime.

President George W. Bush announcing the beginning of the war on October 7, 2001. Here is Secretary

of State, Anthony Blinken, yesterday.

A new chapter of America's engagement with Afghanistan has begun. It's one in which we will

lead with our diplomacy. The military mission is over. A new diplomatic mission has begun.

So the war in Afghanistan, as far as the U.S. is concerned, is over. Now, before we bring in our

guests, New Jersey Congresswoman and former Navy pilot, Mikey Cheryl, here's another clip of

President Bush just after he announced those first airstrikes. At the same time, the oppressed

people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America

and our allies.

As we strike military targets, we will also drop food, medicine, and supplies to the starving

and suffering men and women and children of Afghanistan.

Then President Bush on October 7, 2001.

We have yet one more clip of Bush from that speech that will

play in a couple of minutes. You'll hear why. But with us now is New Jersey Congresswoman and

former Navy pilot, Mikey Cheryl. She was in the Navy from 1994 to 2003, so that included September 11th

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