Meaning: The quote, "It was Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda who attacked the U.S. on September 11, 2001, not Saddam Hussein and Iraq," by Peter DeFazio, a politician, is a reflection on the events that unfolded on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent actions taken by the United States in response to the attacks.

This quote is significant because it highlights a crucial distinction between the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent military intervention in Iraq. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government, under the leadership of President George W. Bush, initiated a global war on terror, which included the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The invasion was justified, in part, by claims that Saddam Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction and had ties to terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda.

However, as the quote emphasizes, the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden and the militant Islamist group al-Qaeda, not by Saddam Hussein and Iraq. This underscores the importance of accurately assigning responsibility for acts of terrorism and making informed decisions based on credible evidence.

In the years following the invasion of Iraq, questions and criticisms arose regarding the justification for the war and the intelligence used to support it. The absence of conclusive evidence linking Iraq to the 9/11 attacks and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction raised concerns about the legitimacy of the military intervention.

Peter DeFazio's quote serves as a reminder of the need for clear and accurate assessments of threats and the importance of distinguishing between different actors and entities in the context of international relations and security policy.

The quote also raises broader questions about the implications of the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks, including the global war on terror, the use of military force, and the impact of these actions on international relations and security dynamics. It prompts reflection on the consequences of conflating distinct threats and the complexities of decision-making in response to acts of terrorism.

Moreover, the quote underscores the significance of holding accountable those responsible for acts of terrorism while avoiding the conflation of unrelated actors or entities. By highlighting the distinction between the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent military intervention in Iraq, the quote contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the events and their implications.

In conclusion, Peter DeFazio's quote encapsulates a critical perspective on the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent actions taken by the United States. It serves as a reminder of the importance of accurately attributing responsibility for acts of terrorism and making informed decisions based on credible evidence. The quote prompts reflection on the complexities of international relations, security policy, and the implications of conflating distinct threats.