I remember it the other way around - I first heard about 24 from neo-cons saying the next 9/11 would never have happened if the government had more Jack Bauers willing to "do what needed to be done." Torture was already popular with the administration, at least.
Americans, meanwhile, were angry and many just wanted Muslims to suffer, and their government was telling them that torture (sorry, "enhanced interrogation") was not only just, but necessary and effective, and that opposing it was not only cowardice but borderline treason, and would lead to the next 9/11.