--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once we got hit by - on 9/11 and lost…" description: "\"Once we got hit by - on 9/11 and lost 3,000 people that day, we recognized, and it was one of the key decisions President Bush made, that this is not a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/dick-cheney-1810_adopted_once-we-got-hit-by-on-9-11-and-lost-3-00_2003909.jpg" --- # Once we got hit by - on 9/11 and lost 3,000 people that… ![“Once we got hit by - on 9/11 and lost 3,000 people that day, we recognized, and it was one of the key decisions President Bush made, that this is not a law enforcement problem, it is a strategic threat to the United States. It's a war. And based on that, we then adopted a whole set of policies…” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/dick-cheney-1810_adopted_once-we-got-hit-by-on-9-11-and-lost-3-00_2003909.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/dick-cheney-1810_adopted_once-we-got-hit-by-on-9-11-and-lost-3-00_2003909.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/dick-cheney-1810_adopted_once-we-got-hit-by-on-9-11-and-lost-3-00_2003909.jpg) > “Once we got hit by - on 9/11 and lost 3,000 people that day, we recognized, and it was one of the key decisions President Bush made, that this is not a law enforcement problem, it is a strategic threat to the United States. It's a war. And based on that, we then adopted a whole set of policies that flowed out of that proposition.” [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The 9/11 attacks were framed as a strategic threat, prompting a shift from law‑enforcement to military‑style policies. **In simple terms:** 9/11 was seen as a war, leading to new security policies. Key Takeaway Recognize the impact of framing on policy decisions. Themes security war rhetoric policy shift terrorism government response Mood critical analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - Counter‑terrorism planning - public communication - legislative action Key Concepts strategic framing national security policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - What are the consequences of treating terrorism as war? - How does framing affect public support for policies? A Different Perspective Framing can oversimplify complex issues, risking civil liberties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adopted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-bush/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Strategic Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic-threat-1188891/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Threat United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat-united-2834585/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-based-1208390/) ## Related quotes > [I think, in fact, the situation with respect to Al Qaida to say that, you know, that was a big attack we had on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-in-fact-the-situation-with-respect-to-al-qaida-to-say-that/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We must start to treat climate change as what it is - a threat to United States security. And we must not delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-speier/we-must-start-to-treat-climate-change-as-what-it-is-a-threat-to/) [Jackie Speier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-speier/) > [We're going to continue to try to find solutions to the North Korea problem. We see them as a strategic threat to our interests.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/we-re-going-to-continue-to-try-to-find-solutions-to-the-north-korea/) [Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/) > [ \[Insurgents\] pose no strategic threat to the United States or to the Coalition Forces. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bremer/insurgents-pose-no-strategic-threat-to-the-united-states-or-to-the/) [Paul Bremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bremer/) > [The Kennedy Administration's public pronouncements on the matter suggested that the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Castro's Cuba would represent an unacceptable strategic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-kennedy-administration-s-public-pronouncements-on-the-matter/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This was a war that was based on lies. It was wrong for us to invade Iraq. It's wrong for us to occupy Iraq…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/this-was-a-war-that-was-based-on-lies-it-was-wrong-for-us-to-invade/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [It's obvious that things aren't going well over there. This is a war based on lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/it-s-obvious-that-things-aren-t-going-well-over-there-this-is-a-war/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [All of man's wars are based upon TAKING. There could be no war based upon GIVING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/all-of-man-s-wars-are-based-upon-taking-there-could-be-no-war-based/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [All war is based on deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/all-war-is-based-on-deception/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Nothing could be a more serious violation of public trust than to consciously make a war based on false claims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/nothing-could-be-a-more-serious-violation-of-public-trust-than-to/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [War is based on deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/war-is-based-on-deception/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [My opposition to war is not based upon pacifist or non-resistant principles. It may be that the present state of civilization is such that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/my-opposition-to-war-is-not-based-upon-pacifist-or-non-resistant/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [What I could not support was a dumb war, a rash war, a war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-could-not-support-was-a-dumb-war-a-rash-war-a-war-based-not-on/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think war is based in greed and there are huge karmic retributions that will follow. I think war is never the answer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-think-war-is-based-in-greed-and-there-are-huge-karmic-retributions/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [President Bush gave me a tremendous opportunity to serve as the vice president. I enjoyed very much having the opportunity to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/president-bush-gave-me-a-tremendous-opportunity-to-serve-as-the-vice/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## More by Dick Cheney > [A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/a-little-tough-talk-in-the-midst-of-a-campaign-or-as-part-of-a/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/senator-kerry-says-he-sees-two-americas-it-makes-the-whole-thing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think the decision that's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-the-decision-that-s-been-made-with-respect-to-allowing-gays/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ \[In response to the question "Do you think that you underestimated the insurgency's strength?"\] I think so. I guess if I look back on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/in-response-to-the-question-do-you-think-that-you-underestimated-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/let-us-rid-ourselves-of-the-fiction-that-low-oil-prices-are-somehow/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think we need to significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the private sector. The Obama administration is doing the opposite. They're loading on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-we-need-to-significantly-reduce-the-regulatory-burden-on-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm often asked why I left politics and went to Halliburton and I explain that I reached the point where I was mean-spirited, short-tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-often-asked-why-i-left-politics-and-went-to-halliburton-and-i/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm one of those people who believes that part of the greatness of the United States is our private sector. It's what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-part-of-the-greatness-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-we-were-not-as-effective-in-the-second-term-dealing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Sarah Palin is an attractive candidate, but based on her background, she only was governor for what, two years. I don't think she passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/sarah-palin-is-an-attractive-candidate-but-based-on-her-background/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [My own belief is that the way we grow the economy, create jobs, create wealth is in the private sector. 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Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [A son or daughter in any human family is either born to or adopted by the parents. By definition, a child can't be both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/a-son-or-daughter-in-any-human-family-is-either-born-to-or-adopted-by/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [. . . by natural selection our mind has adapted itself to the conditions of the external world. It has adopted the geometry most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/by-natural-selection-our-mind-has-adapted-itself-to-the-conditions-of/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. 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