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A few years ago, I read an account by a Grand Canyon river guide who was on a raft trip down the Colorado River in September 2001. She was “off the grid” and unaware of the 9/11 attacks for more than a week.

My own 9/11 experience wasn’t that extreme, but it was unusual.

In September 2001, I had reservations for a hike at Grand Canyon that started on 9/14. Air traffic was grounded nationwide, so I had to drive to Arizona. (When I got there, my hike abruptly ended when I got food poisoning.)

On the drive west, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, I listened to the news until I couldn’t bear it, then turned off the radio. For the next two weeks, I was pretty much “off the grid,” too. I didn’t get fully up to date again until I got home.

In the long run, I didn’t miss anything except the first-hand experience of watching the saturation news coverage on TV.

But I do remember thinking as I drove that the country was not reacting in a measured, intelligent way. We were simply freaking out and lashing out.

Those were terrible, painful, scary times. Mostly, I try not to think about them. But then, earlier this month, the murders at the offices of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo happened. And all the memories of the 9/11 days came flooding back.

The Charlie Hebdo killings on January 7 were atrocious by any measure. We all know the background, the issues, and the reason for the attack.

Yet, equally disheartening is how the reaction in Europe, especially France, has been so eerily similar to the U.S. crackdown after the 9/11 attacks.

It’s the same overreaction — stupidly wrong-headed and counterproductive.

America’s panicky “war on terror” that began after 9/11 solved nothing. What it did was lead us into two nasty and costly wars, get us into the torture business, give rise to the Surveillance State, shoot holes in our civil liberties, and multiply the number of people who hate us.

Immediately after the Charlie Hebdo murders, the French Prime Minister declared that the times call for “exceptional measures.” 10,000 troops and 5,000 extra police, all in riot gear, fanned out across the country.

The French Minister of Justice ordered prosecutors to act with “firmness” when they encounter the crime of apologie du terrorisme — defending terrorism.

Within a week, 60 or 70 such prosecutions were underway. Some of the accused are minors. Already, people have been convicted and sentenced.

A comedian who had the audacity to call himself “Charlie Coulibaly” on Facebook, combining the name of the magazine with the name of one of the now-dead conspirators, is facing terrorism charges as a “preacher of hate.”

Politicians, demonstrate your leadership! Bureaucrats, show your resolve! Round up the usual suspects!

So depressingly familiar.

Three days after the 9/11 attacks, Congress passed the “Authorization to Use Military Force” resolution that allowed the President to go after whomever he declared was responsible.

The resolution said this:

That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

Congress approved the resolution in a virtual stampede. In the Senate, not a single no vote was cast. In the House, the vote was 420-1.

That one vote against launching the kafkaesque “global war on terror” was cast by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), one of the few voices of reason to be heard anywhere.

Her explanation on the floor of the House was brief. As she spoke, her voice quaked.

————

Mr. Speaker, Members, I rise today really with a very heavy heart, one that is filled with sorrow for the families and the loved ones who were killed and injured this week. Only the most foolish and the most callous would not understand the grief that has really gripped our people and millions across the world.

This unspeakable act on the United States has really — really forced me, however, to rely on my moral compass, my conscience, and my God for direction.

September 11th changed the world. Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet, I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States. This is a very complex and complicated matter.

Now this resolution will pass, although we all know that the President can wage a war even without it. However difficult this vote may be, some of us must urge the use of restraint.

Our country is in a state of mourning. Some of us must say, let’s step back for a moment. Let’s just pause, just for a minute and think through the implications of our actions today, so that this does not spiral out of control.

Now I have agonized over this vote. But I came to grips with it today, and I came to grips with opposing this resolution during the very painful, yet very beautiful memorial service. As a member of the clergy so eloquently said, “As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore.”

————

After the resolution passed, Lee elaborated on her objections.

— Congress should never abdicate its responsibility to be a part of the process of deciding when we wage war and against whom.

— No country should embark on open-ended war with no specific target and no exit strategy.

— No President should be given a blank check to attack anyone, anywhere, with virtually no restraints.

We didn’t listen to Barbara Lee. We panicked, like frightened children, and listened to Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz.

That choice perpetuated a cycle of violence that is still costing us today in the loss of lives, resources, and international respect. We didn’t win. The terrorists didn’t win. Halliburton and the defense industry did.

Last week in Paris, the French Parliament debated whether to continue anti-ISIS air strikes in Iraq.

One lone lawmaker rose to object. He protested that more bombing would only incite more violence — more Charlie Hebdo-style attacks.

Like Barbara Lee, he was ignored. Parliament voted 488-1 to continue bombing ISIS targets.

So depressingly familiar.