Category: 9/11

Introduction:

It is undeniable that the September 11 (9-11) attacks were an extremely significant event. Specifically, 9-11 refers to the attacks on September 11 where al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked airliners and flew them into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon (Manar 2014). However, the significance 9-11 had and continues to have across a multitude of areas in not abundantly clear. Thus, what is the significance of 9-11? This paper will seek to explain what said significance is, exploring a number of areas that were significantly impacted and affected by 9-11. The impacts 9-11 had in areas such as security, trade, crime, counterterrorism and its influence on terrorism will be examined in both short-term and long-term contexts. Through exploring these areas affected by 9-11, it is clear what the significance of 9-11 is.

A summary of the events of 9-11:

Firstly however, it must be understood what exactly 9-11 was. On September 11 members of the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked 4 separate airliners in the United States (Manar 2014). The terrorist groups targeted the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon in Virginia and a third unknown target (Nacos 2002). The hijackers were successful in their attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon but failed to attack their third target as passengers on that plane were able to force the plane to crash in Pennsylvania (Bergen 2019). Ultimately, nearly 3000 people were killed due to the attacks, by far the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil (Williams and McDonald 2018). The 9-11 attacks are categorised as fourth wave attacks (Rapoport 2002). This fourth wave is categorised by terrorist groups that target military and government installations, frequently those belonging to the United States (Rapoport 2002). Ultimately, the scale of 9-11 was unprecedented and has had a significant impact on the world in a number of areas, thus revealing 9-11s significance.

Security:

The events of 9-11 have greatly affected security across the globe. Both national security and human security have been significantly affected by 9-11. National security refers to a nations ability to prevent adversaries from harming their people or national interests (Sarkesian et al 2008), whilst human security refers to a person’s ability to live “without having their survival threatened or their dignity impaired” (Sen 2000). The significance 9-11 had in correlation to national security is most evident when examining the United States. Following 9-11, major changes were undertaken by the United States to prevent further attacks. Greater emphasis was placed on national security by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security was established, and the Department of Defence increased its activity in attempting to identify terrorist threats in the United States (Waxman 2009). Furthermore, at local and state levels there was a change towards preventative measures and preparations in the event of further attacks (Waxman 2009). Evidently, 9-11 holds a large amount of significance pertaining to national security. Perhaps of most significance was the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a war against terrorism (Webster 2011). The invasion of Iraq was justified by the US as they claimed Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, an obvious threat to national security. The main reason behind the invasion however was to subdue al-Qaeda forces in Iraq, the same group responsible for 9-11, and remove Saddam Hussein from power (Webster 2011). Human security too was significantly affected. Human security encompasses a number of aspects, most fundamentally freedom from fear (Reinert 2018). The United States invasion of Iraq was thus an attempt to improve human security too. 44% of Americans believed the perpetrators of 9-11 to be Iraqi (none actually were), and 64% believed the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein to be linked with al-Qaeda (Webster 2011). Thus, the US believed an invasion was also in the interests of human security, to act and prevent further fear stemming. Therefore, it is evident that 9-11 holds a large amount of significance in relation to security, both national and human.

Trade:

9-11 also holds a large significance in relation to global trade. In essence, the 9-11 attacks drastically undermined any procedures and protocols in place to prevent such attacks. Many new policies and procedures were implemented, many of which significantly affected trade (Liebman 2003). One such change was the implementation of the Homeland Security Act which encompassed areas related to trade including customs (Liebman 2003). The position of Secretary for Border and Transportation Security was also established to oversee customs (Liebman 2003). Following this, customs also adopted the roles of import specialists, international trade specialists and more (Leibman 2003). The impact 9-11 had on trade is perhaps most apparent when examining trade between Canada and the United States in the years after 9-11. Immediately after the attacks, trade between the two nations crashed. It was only until 2005 that exports from the US to Canada returned to a normal level (Globerman 2006). Furthermore, imports into the US from Canada hadn’t even returned to normal levels by that time (Globerman 2006). This is evident in the fact that by 2003, US imports to Canada were 26% lower than normal and by 2005, imports into the US from Canada were still 12% lower than usual (Globerman 2006). There were also additional measures taken shortly after the events of 9-11 in relation to trade, such as the deployment of the National Guard to border crossings (not just for Canada) to manage trade and provide security (Globerman 2006). Thus, the significance 9-11 has in relation to trade is clear.

Hate Crimes:

The significance of 9-11 pertaining to crime rates is evident, specifically in the correlation between 9-11 and hate crime rates. Hate crimes can generally be described as crimes committed against an individual due to the group affiliation of the victim, this generally being race or ethnicity (Hall 2013). Thus, in the wake of 9-11, several groups became the targets of those looking to commit hate crimes in deluded acts of vengeance. These hate crimes can be divided into two categories of motivation, these being defensive and thrill (Levin 2014). Defensive hate crimes encompass crimes where an individual seeks to protect their land, community or other people from someone they perceive as a threat (Levin 2014). Thrill hate crimes are crimes committed by individuals seeking excitement or enjoyment from the act of committing the crime (Levin 2014). The events of 9-11 saw a significant rise in hate crimes, mostly defensive motivated ones (Levin 2014). In the year 2000, there were almost no hate crimes targeting Muslims and Arabs in America. However, following 9-11, 60% of all hate crimes were anti-Islamic focused (Levin 2014). This is reflected in a 1600% rise in anti-Islamic motivated hate crimes post 9-11 (Levin 2014). Notably, Arabs and Muslims were not the only groups to increasingly become the victims of hate crimes, as Latinos, African Americans and immigrants regardless of ethnicity all were increasingly targeted (Levin 2014). Ultimately, any group perceived as being outside of the mainstream was more likely to be a target of a hate crime, defensive or thrill motivated post 9-11 (Levin 2014). The impact 9-11 has had regarding hate crimes still remains, as anti-Islamic motivated hate crime rates still remain five times higher than they were in 2000 (Disha et al 2014). These anti-Islamic views are further seen in the controversy that arose when the construction of a mosque was proposed at a location not far from the site of the World Trade Centre’s, known as Ground Zero (Disha et al 2014). Overall, the anti-Islamic views that developed following 9-11 are still present in many Western nations today, most notably in the United States. These views are thus responsible for inciting hate crimes. Therefore, the significance 9-11 has in relation to hate crimes is evident.

Counterterrorism:

The significance of 9-11 is also apparent in relation to the change it triggered in counterterrorism efforts around the world. The most obvious counterterrorism response to 9-11 was Americas ‘War on Terror’ (Bossong 2013). America’s response was thus action orientated and was an immediate response to the al-Qaeda led attacks on September 11 (Bossong 2013). European nations, such as Germany and France responded differently however (Bossong 2013). Their response was not as direct as Americas and involved counterterrorism operations to stop terrorist activities before they actually occurred. This was achieved through the establishment of EU Counter-terrorism Strategy and the EU Plan of Action on Combatting Terrorism, created in 2005 and 2004 respectively (Bossong 2013). Thus, it is evident that the events of 9-11 triggered large and significant change regarding counterterrorism. However, not all these changes were so apparent in their implementation. More secretive responses also took place which also aimed to disrupt terrorist activity. Law enforcement agencies are heavily utilized when engaging in counterterrorist activities (Waxman 2009). For example, the New York Police Department had undercover officers monitor protesters who were members of religious groups, when the Republic National Convention was held in New York in 2004 (Waxman 2009). The United Nations Security Council also had a large response following 9-11 (Roach 2011). The Security Council responded by enacting Resolution 1373 just a few weeks after 9-11 occurred (Roach 2011). Resolution 1373 aims to hinder terrorist activity by criminalizing the funding of terrorism (Roach 2011). The resolution notes that respecting people’s human rights is essential, however it also defends nations who use repressive laws in an attempt to curb terrorism (Roach 2011). Ultimately, nations across the world and global bodies such as the United Nations had and continue to have large counterterrorism responses post 9-11. Thus, the significance 9-11 poses to counterterrorism is clear.

Influence on Terrorism:

The attacks carried out by al-Qaeda on September 11 have influenced many other terrorist groups. 9-11 remains the deadliest and most destructive terrorist attack to date on US soil (Mueller and Stewart 2012). Previous terrorist attacks such as the 1972 Munich Games Massacre (Large 2009) and the bombing of the World Trade Centres in 1993 (Asaeda 2008) were small in comparison. Thus, through the success of their attacks, al-Qaeda has had a significant influence on other terrorist organisations across the globe. One such terrorist group is Islamic State (ISIS). Following the invasion of Iraq in 2003 in response to 9-11, anti-American sentiment grew drastically among Muslims in the Middle East (Webster 2011). This resulted in many joining al-Qaeda to fight against the United States (Hove 2018). One such man who fought against the United States was Ahamd Fadhil Nazzal al-Khalaylah, more commonly known as Al-Zarqawi (Hove 2018). Al-Zarqawi fought with al-Qaeda against the United States in Iraq and also led the terrorist group, al-Qaeda in Iraq known as AQI. (Hove 2018). However, Al-Zarqawi was killed in an air strike in June of 2006 but was succeeded by Abu Ayyoub al-Masri (Hove 2018). AQI then became Islamic State in Iraq and later, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham or ISIS in 2013 (Hove 2018). Ultimately, the success of the 9-11 attacks by al-Qaeda enabled the group to gain support and resulted in the establishment of ISIS through Al-Zarqawi and Abu Ayyoub al-Masri. Therefore, the significance 9-11 has regarding its influence on other terrorist organisations is evident

Conclusion:

Thus, it is clear that 9-11 holds a large amount of significance to a number of areas. These areas that hold a large amount of significance in relation to 9-11 include security, trade, hate crimes, counterterrorism and its influence on terrorism. The long-lasting impacts and influences the 9-11 attacks had on these areas thus reveals the significance the attacks had and continue to have. Therefore, it is evident what the significance of 9-11 is.

Many people can tell you in great detail exactly what they were doing at the exact moment, express to you their raw emotions, as well as convey their very real fears. This unspeakable crime had no target, did not discriminate or single any one group of people out, it had no real motive other than pure hatred. Although there are thousands of stories to tell about the terrorist attack that occurred September 11th, 2001 one factor remains consistent, this despicable act of terrorism has forever reshaped America. The policies of American security has changed, foreign policies has also been reformed, as well as the way many view Islamic people.

8:46 A.M. birthed the reconstruction of American security, flight 11 carrying hundreds of people plowed into the north side of the World Trade Center. Terror was ignited along with confusion and chaos what was believed to be an accident would become crystal clear in just 17 more minutes as the other Twin tower was also hit. More lives would be lost today than the attack on Pearl Harbor. The heartbreaking story would continue to unfold with another successful attack on the Pentagon and what would have been a fourth attack where members of the plane was able to successfully take down the terrorist and crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This attack was led by 19 young Islamic extremist, although there had been warnings, threats, and attempts in the past nothing could have prepared people for the loss of almost 3,000 lives.

There has been many changes since the attack beginning with American language. What was once just a day of the year is now a very distinctive date and when mentioned everyone knows what you are referring to with very little to no explanation. Terms like Al-Quida, ground zero, and radicalism has also been added to many people vocabulary. The biggest change came with all 19 individuals who had planned on carrying out the attack successfully making it in to the country and this was alarming for many. We needed stricter security measures and needed them immediately. Just two months after the attack congress implemented Transportation Security Administration or TSA would be created to help guard airports. You are now required to present idea, go through checkpoints, as well as your baggage is screened. Many items that you can take on a plane is now regulated or all together prohibited. Before the attack airports used their own private security company but this system as evidentially too relaxed and caused the airports to be federalized. Fortified cockpits were also implemented and many removed the curtains that had been in place to separate first class from other passengers. Along with these new policies pilots can now apply to be a federal flight deck officer, they would still be a piolet but they will act on behalf of the federal government and be permitted to carry a loaded gun on the plane. These new policies are the reason for the “government fees” that are now tacked on when you buy a plane ticket.

Legislator was also passed due to the terrorist attack, although a total of 130 related legislation acts and 48 bills were signed into law the most recognized act is the Patriot Act more formally referred to as “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism,” or USA-PATRIOT. Boarder control was also taken more seriously now requiring the State Department and Immigration facilities to share immigration and Visa information with one another. Health insurance was provided to those that worked at the affected areas during the time of the attack as well as the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill was signed for soldiers. Several agencies including Naturalization and Immigration services would ban together and create what is now Homeland security. 263 government groups were either formed or recreated after the terrorist attack. After 9/11additional security measures were also taken for skyscrapers. All structures that contained more than 42 stories would implement additional stairs, fire and impact preventative walls were also added.

U.S foreign policies were also modified. After 9/11 tougher regulations to visa issuance was put into place, Pakistan has been impacted the most. Tourist visas fell by 70% and immigration visas fell by 40% compared to the previous year. With this there was also a steep drop in the number of tourist leaving the country to visit other countries. Deportation was also a common theme in this era post 9/11. According to data collected by the Department of Homeland Security deportation rates raised 104%. Deportation for Central America alone raised 430%.

The terrorist attack was referred to as an act of war. Within days of the attack a plan was already set in motion to reshape this great nation, the focus was more of a military response than diplomatic. There was additionally development away from strategy that organized relations with the extraordinary forces of Russia and China. Prior events had contrarily affected relations with the two countries causing turmoil that stretched out past the Cold War period threats and desperation divided the East and West even more. Nonetheless, Americans wanted to make an anti-terrorism alliance that would be conveyed worldwide. This brought forward some peace between the countries and encouraged them to talk and interact with each other in the name of national security. This change gives proof of a quick move made for the US best interests and this showed in international strategy. All things considered, this is a critical change that happened post-9/11, particularly as it rose out of the main reaction to the attack and served to direct US activities abroad for over 10 years following.

The center of everyone’s focus moved from the great powers and towards psychological oppression and terrorism, it provided an appropriate to a safe space to address security dangers by means of the three pillars of the Bush organization’s national security strategy, which had turned into a basic component of international strategy since World War II. The attack on American soil brought both dichotomy and understanding of policy together. The leaders who focus was missile protection formed pre-emption and homeland security as a solution. In spite of the fact that components of this were established in domestic strategy, the pre-emption part of arrangement was likewise show in international strategy in light of the fact that foreign policy also feared terrorist and attacks. U.S. Foreign policy also played a major role in rebuilding the country after these awful attacks.

“The simple fact that the War on Terror was begun in the United States is an important reminder of the significance of the American context. The events of 9/11 took place in the US, and the War on Terror was born through the words of politicians situated within (a uniquely stunned) American society.” (Jack Holland). There has been very few wars that have been fought on American soil so this was very new to the American people as well as government leaders. The world watch these events unfold and there was a sense of disbelief that this would occur in America. The biggest changes came merely from the location of the attack, Lebovic wrote in his book Deterring International Terrorism and Rogue States: US National Security Policy after 9/11:

US policymakers have pursued policies that require the US to do everything without concern for resources, trade-offs, overreach, and the unintended consequences of policy. The “war on terrorism” has become the rallying cry for the US as it races off in multiple directions in the pursuit of open-ended policies.

Deterrence was the repetitive agenda for all, what could be done to ensure that this will never happen again while sending a message to other nations that the American people will not stand for this under any circumstances. Many critics are on edge in the US national security feud and have for the most part conceded to follow the decisions made by their nation’s leaders. The fight over US strategies toward supposed rebel states has been centered on execution of arrangement instead of upon its presumptions. The post-war feud over the 2003 US attack of Iraq diminished first to whether the US knowledge of Iraq’s weapons of mass obliteration was positive or negative, and afterward who was answerable for the inaccurate information that were utilized to legitimize US mediation. The issue of whether such weapons in the hands of Iraq required US military activity had been settled; and the alternative of preemptive activity against Iran and maybe North Korea stays on the table. These arrangements probably won’t work and can really undermine deterrence which was supposed to be the main goal, welcoming the outcomes that appropriation seem to fear. Unexamined suppositions additionally infest US security to go against rebel states. Policymakers neglect to recognize that aspiring US endeavors to protect against rebel state missile assaults can fuel prevention issues if driving US enemies to receive destabilizing countermeasures or to abuse the vulnerabilities of the security and in any case the adequacy of US safeguards will depend upon a US risk to rebuff guilty parties through a prevention system.

​Although there has been huge leaps forward in the right direction since 9/11 there has also been some drawbacks. The wrongdoing of 19 young men has affected Islamic people as a whole. The unfortunate events of 9/11 has essentially caused many people to be discriminated against, natural born as well as immigrants. A new term, Islamophobia was birthed. The president at the time George W. Bush encouraged people not to fear Islamic people, he urged people not to single the Islamic nation out for the acts of few. The controversy hasn’t mollified from that point forward, the Muslim crusade messages from political competitors, hearings on Muslim radicalization on Capitol Hill and the contention over a proposed Islamic building close to Ground Zero has fueled the fire. Understanding the impact of the Islamic community post 9/11 is a bit difficult being that they weren’t a group that were really studied before the incident.

​Islamic people come in many different shapes, sizes, and races being that Islam is a religion and not a race or ethnic group however, the target of most of these hateful motivated attacks are those that fall along the lines of the common stereotypes. Many women in hijabs have been attacked as well as those who have a bronze skin tone that are known to be “from the Middle East”. These attacks are still very much alive and current, they occur in schools, religious temples, discrimination at work, as well as everyday life. We all know how 9/11 has effect the US but no one ever wants to open the floor to discuss how it has also affected the thousands of innocent Islamic victims who beliefs do not align with extremist. Islamic people worldwide are held accountable for this attack and are now targets but the fact remains that there were only 19 guilty individuals involved. As a nation that is supposed to be united and preaches about “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” Our own nations beliefs is pretty biased when they determine who to grant liberty and just too.

​It is evident that the terrorist attack of 9/11 has forever reshaped the United States of America from security policies, to U.S. foreign policy and the way members of the Islamic faith are viewed. Tragedy is unfortunate but it is however a learning and growing experience, an experience that provided us an opportunity to shed light on where our country fall weak and to correct those imperfections. An opportunity to rebuild even stronger and band together. A opportunity to discuss the problems of the world on a global scale and insight change Many factors will continue to reshape our country and push us forward however through it all America will remain strong and true to our core values, a standing republic.

Planning 9/11

When someone says 9/11, what is the first thing you think about? Is it the images of the gaping hole in the World Trade Center? Is it the images of a plane deliberately slamming into the south tower of the World Trade Center? Is it images of people, covered in dust, looking up, into the beautiful blue sky, pierced with smoke thinking. Most people think of where they were on that fateful morning. But wait a minute, before you start thinking about where you were, let me ask you a few questions. When somebody asks you about 9/11, have you ever thought about the hijackers? Have you ever thought how, Al Qaeda planned one of the largest acts of terrorism on U.S. soil? I give you: Planning 9/11. Throughout this speech we will be examining 2 main points, first we will examine the first few months leading up to 9/11, then we will be examining the 30 days leading up to the attack. Without further ado lets dive right into point

1. Leading up to 9/11

To start, let’s go back a few years before 9/11, on October 31, 1991. All of the following information has been retrieved from the extensive report by the New York Times, unless otherwise stated. Egypt Air flight 990, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing everyone on board. Why did it crash? The NTSB (The National Transportation Safety Board) (Ntsb.gov, 2019), said after Egypt Air Flight 990, that the first officer essentially hijacked the plane. After the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, the word spread and eventually to the ears, of Osama bin Laden. Osama bin Laden, at the time was the most influential person in AL-Qaeda. When he learned that the first officer essentially hijacked Egypt Air flight 990, his first response was, “Why did he not fly it into a building.” That judge, just shows you how evil bin Laden was. Later investigators found out that the first officer on Egypt Air flight 990, downed the plane and according to the log, the first officer repeated, Tawkalt ala Allah, meaning, “I put my trust in God.” He repeated this until the plane hit the water. Interesting enough in the investigation of 9/11, investigators listen to the cockpit recordings, on flight 93 which was downed in Pennsylvania. The hijackers are chanting the entire time as they are descending, Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Both pilots chanting to Allah before death. But back to Osama bin Laden. After Osama bin Laden heard of Egypt flight crashing, his wheels in his head began to turn to develop a new strategy, one that would be the most evil and deadliest plans in modern history. Bin Laden, wanted to involve 10 planes, and attack the east and west coast. But before we get into that lets meet a man by the name of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Khalid was the Uncle of Ramzi Yousef. If that name sounds familiar to you, Yousef was the mastermind and the person who carried out the 1993 World Trade center bombings. Khalid is dubbed as the architect behind 9/11. He said that he planned to fly the 10th plane himself, but eventually Osama bin Laden ruled against that. So, they decided on four planes with 20 hijackers, 5, for each plane. If you know anything about 9/11 you’re probably thinking wait 20? Yes, in the original plans there was 20 hijackers. I will get to what happened to that 20th hijacker later in the speech. Khalid originally wanted 25-30 hijackers, but some just could not emotionally, kill themselves, and some were not granted VISAs to the United States. With the 20 hijackers chosen, most of the hijackers went to US to begin flight training. Next the timing, the timing was a real debate between the 9/11 conspirators, the first date that Osama bin Laden wanted, was on May 12, 2001. But once he learned that the prime minister of Israel would be at the white house in June. He pushed the date forward. Either date, Khalid disclosed that the hijackers were not ready. So, they decided to decide on what targets they were going to hit before they decided a date. They devolved a “preliminary target list” in the spring of 1999. The conspirators reverted back to that, to decide what to hit. The world trade center, pentagon, federal bureau of investigation, white house, capitol, were all on this list. There was some conflict on what they should have hit though for instance while everyone agreed on the capitol. Khalid wanted the world trade center, but Bin laden wanted the pentagon and the white house. Among Mr. bin Laden and his confederates, the Capitol was ‘the apparent wellspring of U.S. approach in help of Israel,’ while the White House was considered ‘a political image.’ Osama bin Laden asked Mohammed Atta the head hijacker, what he thought. Atta figured that the white house was to tough a target to hit, He said it was better to hi the capitol, Osama agreed. It is still unclear to this day, why it would be difficult to hit the White house. But hastily, they concluded on both World Trade Centers, The Pentagon, and the Capitol building. Atta decided the second week of September, because the Congress would be in session at the Capitol. Again it is not entirely known, how they knew that the congress would be in session. But now with the date set, the targets set, and the hijackers finishing up training in the US, everything begin to fall into place, right under America’s nose. So now let’s examine the

2. Days leading up to 9/11

It is early August 2001, America is at no warning that in just under a month 2,996 people will perish. But now let’s not forget the purpose of this speech, to show how they did it. So back to the hijackers. Mohammad Atta and 2 other hijackers board a plan to fly to Las Vegas, there they will meet with the other 16 hijackers. For the first planning session. Now let’s meet that 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui. He already started to raise suspicion, while he was at his flight training school, he said he wanted to learn how to fly a 747, but not get a piloting license. At the time of the meeting of the conspirators, President Bush’s national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice, fails to do any action regarding warnings from the counter-terrorism officials. The CIA counter-terrorism finally tells the department of defense, “We are going to be struck soon, many Americans will die, and it could be in the US.” It is now August 16, 2001. Zacarias Moussaoui is in for a rough night, he is pulled over by police and arrested on immigration charges, the 9/11 conspirators just lost one of the hijackers. He is deported the next day, while the FBI scrambles to get a court order to search his computer. Mohammed Atta has one more test flight, before he is done with flight school. The flight instructor overhears Mohammed Atta over the radio shout “God is great” as he is descending to land. And yes, that’s what the person in the Egypt flight said. Its now 20 days before the attacks will happen, A Jordanian is in prison and he tells FBI agents, ‘Something big is going to happen.’ On August 24, 2001, the FBI finally puts 2 of the hijackers on its FBI terror watch list. The next day Khalid al-mihdhar, one of the hijackers who was put on that list, books his seat for American Airlines flight 77, to depart at 8:20 a.m. from Dulles international airport on September 11, 2001. This is the first ticket purchased by the conspirators. Then the other hijackers begin to follow. Mohammed Atta purchase his and another hijacker, then Marwan al-Shehhi buys his. The next day 4 more hijackers reserve their seats for the morning of September 11, 2001. On August 31, 2001, all the hijackers have purchased their tickets except for Hani Hanjor, he purchases his on this day. Hani Hanjor then meets the other hijackers who will be on his flight in Laurel, Maryland they will stay there until the attack occurs. It is Labor day now, The hijackings are 8 days away and all the hijackers have remained undetected. The four hijackers who will operate the planes have all received FAA pilot’s licenses. The FAA also warns the FBI that Zacarias Moussaoui may have been training to hijack a 747 aircraft at JFK airport. The FBI overlooks this threat. With 5 of the 19 hijackers in place, 2 of the flight 11 hijackers check-in at the Park Inn in Boston, they will remain there until Tuesday. The hijackers who will hijack flight 93, fly together from Florida to Newark where they will spend there remaining nights at the Marriott hotel in the airport. 3 days before 9/11 most of the hijackers empty their bank accounts and give it all to Mohammed Atta, this was never explained. Mohammed Atta finally meets up with the rest of his hijackers who are in his plane. On September 9, 2001, al Qaeda assassinates Ahmad Shah Massoud, the FBI, intercepts a message saying: Bin laden is appeasing the Taliban. Now the big one is coming. On September 10, 2001, likely to ease the stress, Mohammed Atta drives to Portland, Main, where they will catch connecting flights in Boston. That night the FBI intercept a message saying, the match begins tomorrow, and Tomorrow is zero day. They will not be translated until September 12.

3. Conclusion

Now the next day we all know what happens, the hijackers successfully complete their mission. But what they thought would hurt the US or destroy the US, did not it empowered us, it awoke the sleeping giant. Since 9/11 security has tightened, and we have successfully killed Osama bin Laden. So, I leave you with this, 9/11 is one of the darkest days in the US, but did we give up? Did we stop fighting? No, it made us remember, that’s why you think of where you were on 9/11. Because you remember the things that mean the most. 9/11 empowered the US to destroy evil. We will never forget.

The events that occurred on September 11, 2001, are still discussed to this day as there is no consensus regarding what had really happened. Because of this, several conspiracy theories are surrounding the tragedy, with the possibility of an inside job being at the forefront. The adherents of the 9/11 Truth movement believe in a conspiracy theory that the building of the World Trade Center began blowing up even before the impact of the airplane, which points to the possibility of bombs being implanted there, thus increasing the collapse. The conspiracy theory also mentions that there was not enough official information that could explain the occurrences, which can point to a cover-up as well as insiders’ complicity.

In an article for BBC, Bell mentions that the conspiracy theory of 9/11 being an inside job developed hours after the Twin Towers’ collapse, and remains relevant for more than a decade. Those who witnessed the attack on the World Trade Center believed that they had seen the tower blowing up, not because of the impact of the crashing plane. It is thought that the towers were intentionally destroyed. In planned building demolition, explosives are placed strategically.

While one may not see many explosions, the correct placing of bombs can have a severe impact on the building’s structure, leading to its collapse. Furthermore, the speed with which the Twin Towers collapsed also raised concerns among conspiracy theory proponents. The buildings were falling at a very high rate, and the mere collision with an airplane could not provide the necessary impact.

The reasons why the terrorist attack happened may vary within the inside job conspiracy theory. While some believe that the government insiders contributed the bombings to some extent, others think that the officials knew about the imminent danger and failed to warm others or prevent them from happening. Moreover, the responsibility of the US government for the inside job could be associated with providing a reason for starting military action in the Middle East. The attacks could serve as the trigger for the government to begin serious military actions, and having a justification for invading Iraq and Afghanistan was seen as hugely beneficial.

It is also important to note the contribution of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Inc., which is a non-profit organization promoting the theory of an inside job-controlled demolition. The organization has repeatedly demanded the government to conduct an independent study into the collapse of the Twin Towers as they were initially constructed of fireproof steel frames that should have prevented the spread of fire.

The theory that 9/11 could be an inside job is believed by many because there is a high degree of secrecy surrounding the explanations of what had happened on that day. The government, thus, should have provided more evidence to the public to reduce the impact of the conspiracy. While there is a consistent governmental version of coordinated terrorist attacks implemented by al-Qaeda against the US, there is evidence that remains unexplained to this day. The lack of transparency is the main issue that supports the conspiracy theory to this day, which concerns the public that believes in an inside job. The fact that the attacks provided a pretext for military action in the Middle East is also questionable and continues fueling the conspiracy theory.

Work Cited

Bell, Chris. “The People Who Think 9/11 May Have Been an ‘Inside Job’.” BBC. 2018. Web.

World conspiracies have been acting in ways that contradict the majority rule. The American administration is presented as a world conspiracy that has fueled civil wars across the globe following deep state lies. Various authors including Griffin and Woodworth who wrote on the 9/11 unmasked and Dr. Graeme MacQueen, who presents concrete evidence on the anthrax deception by the administration have attributed the administration as a conspiracy that has lied to its citizens. Global administrations have been attributed to deep secrets that are perpetrated from inside as a way of governance. The United States administration failed to intercept the 9/11 attacks even though it had enough information. Similarly, the anthrax deception that ended killing many was known to the administration but failed to counter-attack it.

A panel of experts highlights the problem connected to all significant claims of the 9/11 attacks. The foreign policy since 2001 has been a major fail to Americans as it has resulted in many deaths, a deception. The authors critique how the administration has been vital in propagating lies, including the Twin Towers and the World Trade Center (KPFA 94.1FM/Pacifica Radio, 2006). Griffin and Woodworth (2018) highlight the deception that the administration has been propagating, including the claims that al Qaeda hijackers controlled the 9/11 planes. This work explores the justification of the 9/11 attacks as presented in the book 9/11 unmasked. The work shall also engage highlighted by Dr. Graeme MacQueen, who presents concrete evidence on the anthrax deception by the administration.

The American administration is alleged to mass murder people and leaders who were not as bad as it alleged. Civilians in countries like Afghanistan died in civil wars, which were justified. The 9/11 attacks were based on the annex of the American empire even though it had been the largest since the 1960s (KPFA 94.1FM/Pacifica Radio, 2006). It was not as a result of protecting the American citizens. The authors attribute this to a statement made by the American government in 2002 as the undisputed state. These imperial projects have been propagated by the military in which Americans have been in support. It was a way of increasing military spending and made the administration one of the greatest empires in history.

Based on the evidence produced, the military failed to intercept the hijacked airliners. The military did not scramble the jets and got at the scene late. The authors present this lie in different claims made by the military. The authors present the military as a department that the administration has used to propagate its lie. This is presented in both the Bush and Obama administrations that orchestrated various wars in civilizations that were not guilty as perceived. The aim was to make America one of the greatest empires (KPFA 94.1FM/Pacifica Radio, 2006). Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is presented as a complete failure that never collaborates with the Military. FAA intercepted the first airliner late, and it did not inform the military on the other three airliners.

The other reason presented is that the official attack on the Pentagon is absurd. The American FAA has sharp pilots and showcased their skills by flying past the Pentagon without making a mere scratch (KPFA 94.1FM/Pacifica Radio, 2006). They could have used such skills to intercept the airliners. The administration could not connect Bin Laden to the 9/11 attacks as they did not have any evidence.

Dr. Graeme MacQueen presents concrete evidence on the anthrax deception. The anthrax letter that occurred in November 2001 killed five and wounding many and connected to Muslims (Corbert, 2014). The letters were the basis of Afghanistan and Iraqi invasions that were done later. They were used to justify the passing of the Patriot Act, support withdrawal from the Antiballistic Missile Treaty, which the neoconservatives sought. The main agenda was to pursue political wishes without obstruction from the small states. However, the mainstream media was quick enough to hypothesize that Iraq had supplied soldiers with sophisticated anthrax spores while al-Qaeda foot provided soldiers with the letters (Corbert, 2014). The letters were sent to new agencies and later to the administration. The administration could have acted fast to intercept the letters from reaching people. This makes it accurate that it was an inside job since the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) tried to diminish anthrax poison.

In conclusion, the American administration has been attributed to the murder of innocent civilians and lying to its citizens. The administration perpetrates the lie by the military who invade nations perceived to be United States enemies and launch the attacks. The 9/11 Unmask presents various evidence that depicts the 9/11 attacks as an inside job with the military and FAA failing to intercept the hijacked airliners. In the “Anthrax deception,” Graeme MacQueen acknowledges that the administration was not fast enough to intercept the letters while it was aware of them.

References

Corbert. (2014). Interview 944 – Graeme MacQueen reveals the anthrax deception [Video]. Web.

Griffin, D. R., & Woodworth, E. (2018). 9/11 Unmasked: An international review panel investigation. Olive Branch Press.

KPFA 94.1FM/Pacifica Radio. (2006). 9/11 and American Empire: Intellectuals speak out [Video]. Web.

Among the tragic and influential events that have altered the course of American society, the events of September 11^th, 2001, remain one of the most seminal. Also known as the ‘9/11,’ the long-brewing attack on the Twin Towers forced many Americans to reconsider their perception of the safety that the government can provide (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). It can be argued that nationwide changes commenced due to that reconsideration. Thus, this work’s research question asks how 9/11 altered American society’s socio-cultural, economic, and political dimensions. Ultimately, the 9/11 events brought a profound change to all aspects of society, creating heightened domestic security emphasis and ‘terrorism anxiety,’ resulting in policies designed to uphold American safety over privacy.

First, the literature reviews the socio-cultural aspect manifested on collective and individual levels. On the collective level, a shift occurred from prioritization of privacy to prioritization of safety: governmental structures were increasingly more willing to infringe on one’s privacy to surveil the actions of ‘high risk’ persons (Hahn, 2019). On the individual level, many Americans began to appreciate and emphasize their familial relations and friendships, gradually becoming more family-oriented (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). Additionally, there was a shift in spirituality, with more people becoming religiously active and willing to live in the moment (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). Thus, as with many shocking and traumatic events, the people and the government responded by focusing on safety and comfort.

As the government-oriented its efforts toward homeland security and surveillance, the economic stability has been impacted. The government’s economic response was to dissolve trading connections with Afghanistan and Iraq (Hahn, 2019). Consequently, the nation’s GDP decreased, and the unemployment rate exceeded the previously attained average (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). However, the US has managed to recover from the dip in the economy and structure alternative imports by now.

Lastly, the long-term political effect of 9/11 is felt to this day. One of the most apparent changes manifested itself in the form of ethnic prejudice that stems from trauma-induced hatred toward Arabs. Since the US citizens hold the democratic power to influence legal processes, that prejudice has had a profound effect on internal and external politics in the form of sanctions and restrictions (Gaibulloev & Sandler, 2019). Some of these effects persist today, although the emphasis has weakened.

References

Gaibulloev, K., & Sandler, T. (2019). What we have learned about terrorism since 9/11. Journal of Economic Literature, 57(2), 275-328. Web.

Hahn, P. (2019). What caused 9/11 – and the consequences that linger. Ohio State Insight. Web.

Introduction

After the aftermaths of the 11^th September, 2001 terrorism attacks, many questions become unanswered as to the mystery behind this act of terrorism. On a mission to solve these mysteries, a commission was formed; The Bipartisan 9/11 Commission to investigate the base of al-Qaida. Countries such as Afghanistan and suspects such as Osama bin Laden became famous to the public. It was because of these events that Lawrence attempted to answer questions about the 9/11 mysteries through a series of investigations.

Wrights accomplishment

With a similar mission like the commission, Lawrence Wright, the American journalist, sought to investigate the reason as to why three thousands Americans lost their lives, who attacked them, why did the attackers hate them, and why did the American government avoided or was unable prevent these attacks. In his investigation, he traced the roots and linage of the al-Qaida. These were the main suspects of the attack as evidence revealed later.

Dozens of writers have written very many books on the 9/11 attacks and the attempts of the United States intelligence to stop them. However, the author of this book having lived in Cairo for two years, he had adequate knowledge about the Islamic environment and that is how easy it was for him to dig deeper in his investigations than the rest by relating his ideas and proving evidence of his data support. He screens and investigates the actions of many of those who were partially and impartially involved in the attacks.

One of his key findings was that all through there has been a crash between the west and the Arabs. The author creates his title from the 9/11 quote in the Quran by Osama bin laden. It occurred at a wedding and the words were ‘death is everywhere and can find you even in the looming tower’ (Wright 9).

Analysis

The book authored by Wright is based on a research that took five years to complete, with interviews from men such as the counterterrorism chief John O Neil, Osama bin Laden, and Al-Zawahiri. He also based his research on documentary reviews and took into account what was the reason behind the formation of the al-Qaida and what was like in the inner circle of the al-Qaida.

He took interviews with over one thousand Arabs. His project was able to track down former friends of Osama as far as Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Behind the scenes, he draws his attention to Sayyid Qutd, the intellectual activist in the Islamic regime. In his findings, the ideologue returns to Egypt after a trip to the US with anti west Islamic movements. The influence was what has typically led to all these terrorist attacks (Wright 24).

The reason is that his two year stay in Colorado collage made him hate the United States due to their modern way of living. He could not understand the reason as to why there was sexual freedom, more enrollments of the girl child in college Judaism, and active Christianity.

He considered this to be secular and colonialism since most people from his native Islamic world were being assimilated into this culture. After his return to Egypt, he became so radical due to his opposition and dislike of the secular regime in his homeland. His plan to overthrow the government fails, which leads to his imprisonment and execution in 1966. The failure is what made him a martyr (Kakutani 1).

He introduces his next character, DR. Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor and an admirer of Mister Sayyid works. He is an evil mentor and goes on forming the jihad. Wright thinks that were it not for Mister Zawari, Osama bin laden would not have turned his mind to jihad.

In his investigations with some of the close friends of Osama bin Laden, he is able to learn that Osama was not more into politics as well as Muslim opposition, but due to the influence of Mister Zawahri. Again, in his wealthy position, he was able to join the fight against the soviets. It was from this military success that Osama and his group gained their roots in religion. He frequently mentions Saudi Arabia which was Osama’s homeland and the country that was responsible for financing the most notorious groups.

Wright emphasizes that Al Qaeda was so limited on its objectives in its early development stages (Madison 12).It was seen as a harmless organization with an aim of fighting communism in Asian countries so as to restore hope to the people. America through the CIA was ignorant and ended up supporting some of the anti communist Muslim groups in order to fight the communists. Little did they know that these groups would take on them later.

Through the different actions, way of thinking, and policies taken by his characters, Wright tries to portray that the base of Islamic militancy is anti-modernly, anger, and pride for murder. He is not against the Islamic religion since it has played its roles in nurturing people to do what is right, but against some of its mentors who negatively interpret the word. They use religion to lie about Islam humiliation and degradation in an attempt to create enmity, militancy and achieve dominance.

However, his blame to the September 11^th terrorist attack does not go to Islamist militant alone. He is also concerned about his government’s failure to delegate its duties. He is almost convinced that they undermined the existence of Al-Qaida though they had some basic ideas about them.

To criticize the fact that the 9/11 commission findings tried to favor the CIA and the FBI, he develops his argument through investing some of the security agents. He shows how ignorant the government was on John O’Neil’s report and how the CIA and the FBI lacked co-operation.

Notably, these are the dominant events and character traits that Wright uses to convince as to how we arrived at the September 11^th 2001 booming and other attacks. That is from the rapid and complex growth of the Islam fundamentalism to the rise of the al-Qaeda and finally the failures of the intelligence services. The explanation reveals how he relates his ideas to give us a basic overview of his investigations.

Why al-Qaeda attacked the United States

Wright argues that the attack began in the sixties after Qutb was upset with the western culture. He considered these cultures to have elements of godlessness and materialism. For instance, he does not understand why the girl child exposes most of her body with more priorities for her.

Sexual freedom is allowed to an extent where one could see the inside instinct of screaming in these women with an arousing smell of their feminine bodies. In the Arab countries, it was a taboo for women to expose their bodies or share the same environment with men. It is this hatred of modernization, materialism, Judaism, and culture that became the base of these conflicts (Fouda and Fielding 73).

Wright creates suspense to the reader of whether it would have been possible to have similar attacks were it not for Osama. He is partly convinced but his opinion can be contradicted to Huntington’s thesis, which shows that most conflicts in the post cold war were brought about by cultural differences between people. According to him, it is because of culture that the west is seen to undermine Islam. Other factors could be economical, ideological or political factors.

The theory of MacWorld versus jihad urges that the Islamic civilization and revolution is spurred by their religion, the western beliefs, political systems and values change with globalization, technology, and modernization (Barber and Benjamin 29). However much Osama would have been absent, conflicts could still have risen. They still could have looked for ways of justifying themselves to achieve an end and degrade the secular empire.

Another reason that would have motivated the attacks was failure of the Arabs to defeat the western dominance. Osama had an ambition of creating a Muslim modern world. That is why he used clerics to twist words in the Koran with the aim of recruiting militants for the mission.

The attack on the US would become a break through to victory against their cultural rival forces in Israel and America. Away from cultural rivalry, the September 11^th attacks could be more of revenge against the American policies (Gertz 1). Maybe, the US backup policy in support of Israel or the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia or the libel lion against the Iraq sanctions would have triggered the attacks

However, I believe that the way Wright brings out the personalities of these characters and their ways shows an element of degrade that biases the reader. Osama is created as an idealistic, spoilt, and ignorant fellow who is horrifying. Wright goes ahead to explain that the formation of these groups was an escape to jealousness and humiliation to accepting the facts of the real world. However much his story is persuasive, critically it is not easy to believe that such an international conflict can be ruled in favor of one side.

The reason why the United States did not stop the 9/11 attack

Another major finding that Wright developed in his work is that the United States has no one to blame for the attacks. The failure to stop the 9/11 attacks began from the homeland securities to the intelligent services. He mentions the holding of very vital information by the CIA from the FBI (Diamond 150).

He does not understand the reason as to why the CIA was hiding the identity of the hijackers and why they never reported them to have been residing in the USA before the attacks. A fascinating scene is shown in the book through photos of FBI agents having a conversation with two of the men about their identities. Cultural differences, personal conflicts as well as fear of loosing intelligence are some of the reasons Wright puts down that led to the failure of these agencies.

However, there is a major contradiction that lies in this chapter of the novel. Wright is very well convinced that only the FBI and the CIA can deal with terrorism. He argues that the September 11^th plots would have been prevented if and only if the United States had weeded out suspects such as Osama bin laden, Al-Zawahiri, and the hijackers.

Evidently, this is rather weak finding for Mister Wright because it is just a short term solution whose investigations do not touch the base of the conflict. Alan Dershowitz contrasts Wright’s ideas by suggesting that even though we would have prevented these attacks, these people who are bound by oaths, beliefs and ready to die would still have continued with their mission.

The act would have continued even with the death of their leaders (Dershowitz and Alan 33). He comments that, “the Al-Qaeda movement is an all rounded movement, very complex and clustered all over the world and has back up to fill any loss of a leader”( Dershowitz and Alan 46).

Dershowitz suggests that effectual dealing with these threats and attacks can only be successful if we stop potential terrorists. The attempt would involve creating international policies that discourage and heavily penalize those who benefit from terrorism. The endeavor would include suppliers of terrorist materials and sympathizers.

He advocated for other strategies such as increasing and creating new agencies that specialize in intelligence over the aAl Qaeda, liberating the Middle East, giving voice to those who need to be heard in the Islam world, and getting hard on nations that sympathize with terrorism. Wright focus on the FBI and the CIA is not a very efficient approach.

It limits the critical thinking of the reader who is led to think of the FBI and the CIA as the core saviors of this situation. It is not fully satisfying to submit his opinion since no intelligence can address these future attacks fully in the US if the Middle East issues are not addressed. The reason is that Islam is a religion that has followers everywhere and Al Qaeda easily uses some of their sympathizers to militate for their war.

Strengths of the book

In an opinion count, Wright can be seen to have a special way of conducting his search. When going over his work, the reader can have a clear background of what terrorism means. Having lived in Cairo in Egypt for two years, he has adequate knowledge on the roots of al Qaeda that developed from Egypt.

He designed his books in such a way that it outlines the main characters in a ten page list, a summary list of interviews, held and a clear bibliography of those in this investigation. He also attaches picture of those addressed so that the reader can have a clear picture of who is being addressed. Another unique aspect is his ability to compress such a bulk of information into a simple narrative that greatly provides the satisfaction of the readers urge to acquire the investigations and events of the 9/11.

Wright creates his work in two sets, the story of Osama and his counterparts, and on the opposite tries to explain the US anti terrorism effort to stop this. As you read along the book, Wright creates a flow of information from learning about the life of the characters such as Osama bin laden. To find the roots of the matter, he takes us back to the understanding of how the ant west policy was developed and the reason behind the birth of al-Qaeda.

On the opposite he is quick to investigate the US counter terrorist squad leader, John O’Neil, whose interest on the activities of Mister Bin laden aroused as early as 1990. However, he finds out that his investigations were greatly ignored by the then president Mister Clinton. He brings out the bureaucracy in the CIA and the FBI which gambled with the lives of many.

The facts in this book are backed up by background materials so as to bring sense to the reader. Reading this book is emotional as you imagine the collapse of the twin towers. It creates a distressing experience as one pictures the cries and loss of loved ones.

People do not see any sense in the al Qaeda tactics and with their counterparts. However, Wright helps his readers to understand the driving forces behind the al Qaeda from the history connections of events which are based on tribal rivalry to the terror attacks. Wright creates an undertone that contrasts and compares the American and Islamic cultures to try and show that these differences are the core to the 9/11 attacks.

Limitations

Throughout his arguments, Wright places his blames mostly on the failure of the US security, the intelligence agencies and a limited number of individuals. The argument is not a solution to the fight against terror attacks as he puts down. He is so narrow in his thoughts since this is not a long term solution. In addition, he does not clearly explain the cause of these conflicts.

The way he portrays some of his characters really distracts the readers understanding. By always having so many negatives for the al-Qaeda, he is always ruling in favor of the Americans. Hence, he becomes so limited in finding a solution. He sees the counterparts of the al Qaeda group as spoilt, murderous, idealistic, radicals, and ignorant.

However, this is not the solution because these people have their own way of thinking that is created by their own culture and environment that tend to differ with the western values. That is why they see the westerns as seculars, godless and materialistic yet the westerns are God fearing.

Learning about different cultures across generations can help resolve these global conflicts among the upcoming generations. His argument can never allow the readers to appreciate the position of these people in the society. For instance, if the trend was to continue, young Muslims would be born with this or more anti western attitude and easily become assimilated in these militant groups even though they are born in America.

In contrast, their Christian brother would grow with the knowledge that Muslims are horrifying and murderous so they will have to do their best to eliminate them. However much his arguments seem to be highly persuasive, these elements of being one-sided lead to the distraction of the readers understanding of the occurrences.

It would be practically possible to end global conflicts through negotiations. The point is an aspect that Wright left out in his recommendations and failure to stop the 9/11 attracts. Research has shown that only one out of ten negotiations fail (Neumann 254; Bolton 66). The remaining nine either have their grievances fulfilled or moved to dominant level with little violence.

Relevance of Mister Wright’s works in relation to terror threats in the US

The looming tower can be considered to be a deep research on the events of the 9/11 attacks from the numerous eyewitness stories, recommendations, and interviews from different personalities, some of who are close personalities of the suspects of these attacks. Wright was able to expose many of the riddles behind the 9/11 through his artistic portrayal of the main players.

It is from his findings that the government can learn that most of its intelligence and security agencies are not cohesive. They tend to be bureaucratic, non cooperative, divided by politics and culture. According to Wright, if the CIA had been cooperative with the FBI, they would have stopped the hijackers from entering the American soil. However, the CIA knew the existence of the people yet they were adamant.

It explains how easy three thousand lives were lost. Mister Wright is highly persuasive on this matter and goes ahead to show the repercussions of ignorance by Mister Clinton and President Bush on John O’Neil’s report in the 90s. According to Mister Wright, it is relevant to set policies and strategies that promote co-operation and teamwork amongst agencies because division means failure.

Wright shows the effects of religion especially the Islamic religion which the militants use by twisting it in a mission to recruit young militants. He shows how these men fear no death and are determined to do acts of terror with a feeling that they are doing gods work.

To offer answers to Jason’s analysis about centralization of the Al-Qaida, Wright finds out that the Muslim has a lot of cohesion amongst its followers. It is due to this cohesive nature of the Islamic religion that brings about effective co-operation among members even in the US born Muslim citizens. The weakness explains why we have a very complex decentralized network of al-Qaida groups.

Conclusion

Mister Wright’s accounts have very strong back up support which makes him more unique than other writers of the 9/11 attacks. He is able to enhance the reader’s quest by having a detailed narration of the biography of each of his characters and facts about their actions.

However, his bias towards al Qaeda does not respect the position of these men in the society the core reason as to why they are fighting. It would have been fair if he reflected on the western part too. His evidence about the failure by the FBI and the CIA is not fully addressed. It does not offer solutions either.

The reason is that even though they eliminated the Al-Qaida leaders or the plane hijackers, their network is very complex and others would have taken into their foot steps. The finding is very limited as a solution. Inured to create a wider scope of recommendations, he would have widened his investigations by looking at aspects such as culture, race, environmental factors liberation, and international relations.

Works Cited

Barber, Fred, and R. Benjamin. Jihad vs. MC World Course Materials; a Faculty of Political Science, London, UK: University of British Columbia, 2007. Print.

Bolton, Kent. U.S. National Security and Foreign Policymaking after 9/11: Present at the Re-Creation, New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield, 2008. Print.

Dershowitz, John, and M. Alan. Why Terrorism Works, New haven, US: Yale University Press, 2002 .Print.

Diamond, John. The CIA and the Culture of Failure: Us Intelligence from the End of the Cold War to the Invasion of Iraq, New York, NY: Stanford University Press, 2008. Print.

Fouda, Yolk, and N. Fielding. The truth behind the Most Devastating Terrorist Attack New the World has Ever Seen, New York, NY: Arcade Publishing, 2004. Print.

Gertz, Bill “Inside the Ring: New al Qaeda threat.” The Washington Times. 30 January 2013. washingtontimes.com. Web.

Kakutani, Michiko. “The Evolution of Al Qaeda and the Intertwining Paths Leading to 9/11.” The York Times .1 August 2006. nytimes.com. Web.

Madison, Jonson, 2006. “BOOK REVIEW: Lawrence Wright’s The Looming Tower” New York Review of Books. 19 October 2006: 12 & 14-16. ufppc.org. Web.

Neumann, Peter. Joining Al-Qaeda: Jihadist Recruitment in Europe, London, UK: Routledge, 2008. Print.

Wright, Lawrence. The Looming Tower: Al-Qaida and The Road To 9/11, New York, US: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2007. Print.

Introduction

The terror attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States, popularly known as 9/11, changed the world’s view of terrorism forever. In the aftermath of these attacks, the Bush administration declared war on terrorism, this war was aimed at capturing Osama bin Laden and smashing al-Qaeda operations around the world.

These actions were taken in order to prevent future terrorism attacks and to avoid the emergence of other terrorism networks. The US received support for the right to defend itself around the world, and even by the UN Security Council Resolution 1368.

Stringent measures aimed at law enforcement and fighting terrorism were implemented in the wake of these attacks, most of which had not been applied prior to the attacks. Domestic response to these attacks included the enactment of several legislation that have proved successful in curtailing terror activities. Notable legislation amendments included the creation of the Department of Homeland Security whose main aim was to combat terror. Improvements in aviation security have been successful too in the fight against terror.

The response of the US government in the wake of September 11 was important and has proved to be effective in averting terror acts. It is our obligation to support the government in its attempts to fight terror, as this will make our streets, buildings, and the transport industry safe.

Legislation that have been successful in Averting Terror Activities

Domestic response to 9/11 led to the amendment and enactment of several legislation aimed at fighting terrorism. The President signed into law the Homeland Security Act of 2002.This created the Department of Homeland Security, which was charged with the responsibility of identifying and combating terrorism acts. Congress again passed the Patriot Act, the legislation would help perceive and fight terrorism and other offenses.

The Bush administration also instigated a National Security Agency operation to “eavesdrop on telephone and e-mail communications between the United States and people overseas without a warrant” (Smith & Li Ching, Pp 58). The Patriot Act has been instrumental in the US’ fight against terrorism, however, it has received widespread condemnation from what critics term as loopholes that may lead to the abuse of human civil rights. The following portions of the law have drawn criticism:

• One section nicknamed “sneak-and-peek,” gives anti-terrorism personnel the power to search property without informing the subjects of their intentions until they have conducted the search;
• The second portion, nicknamed the “library records” legislation, allows personnel to possess business and personal records without giving reason or linking their seizure or the subject to terrorism.
• The final portion redefines domestic terrorism in a manner that Americans worry will consist of anti-abortion protesters.

Provisions of the Patriot Act that have led to a Reduction in Terrorism Acts

The Patriot Act was signed into law on October 26, 2001. The Act had far-ranging control on law enforcement agencies’ capacity to search telephone and e-mail correspondences, and other personal records. It also widened the Secretary of the Treasury’s power to control financial transactions, particularly those concerning foreign nationals and corporations, and widened the ability of law enforcement and immigration agencies to keep immigrants in custody and deport those accused of terrorism-related activities (Scheppler, pp. 73).

Title 1 of the Patriot Act outlined measures to assist in combating terrorism. It set up a fund to maintain and run anti-terrorism activities, this section also increased financial support for the FBI. Funding of anti-terrorism activities would be extended to other areas outside America and would be in form of military training, supply of weapons and other military equipment, and money. This move increased the amount of resources available to law-enforcement agencies in combating terror.

Title II of the Act gave law enforcement agencies the authority to use a number of surveillance procedures to prevent terrorism activities. Among these methods were tracking of mobile phone conversations and messages, and email. Internet users were also tracked for any signs of terror activity.

For the first time in the history, the CIA was permitted to extend their operations beyond the US borders in tracking phone and internet users. The power to intercept oral, wire, and electronic communication increased the amount of resources available to law enforcement agencies in the wake of 9/11.

Effectiveness of the Patriot Act and other Legislation

Save for a few complaints, the Act has been effective in preventing terrorist activities. The most notable case or terrorism aversion occurred in New York City when the NYPD and federal officers prevented al Qaeda operatives from bombing the Brooklyn Bridge, the exercise also led to the arrest of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, a senior member of the al Qaeda, and Iyman Francis, the person who was supposed to carry out the bombing.

Increased Screening of Arab and Muslim Nationals

In the aftermath of the attacks, Muslim communities, who had previously enjoyed much freedom, were under close surveillance by law enforcement officials. More than 80,000 Arab and Muslim migrants were fingerprinted and their names recorded for further checks. 8,000 Muslim and Arab males were interrogated, and another 5,000 foreigners kept in custody under the act that permitted the use of military force to deter terrorism activities.

Screening of Arab and Muslim was initiated because all 19 hijackers of planes that were used in the 9/11 attacks were Arabs and also Muslims. This process, referred to as racial profiling by critics, has been actively practiced at border points and entry points such as airports.

Critics have asserted that the increasing screening of Arab and Muslim nationals amounts to racism. Racial profiling is said to occur whenever “a law enforcement officer questions, stops, arrests, searches, or otherwise investigates a person because the officer believes that members of that person’s racial or ethnic group are more likely than the population at large to commit the sort of crime the officer is investigating” (Gross & Livingston, pp. 1414).

Racial profiling has been extended outside the US borders into European nations such as England and Germany. However, most cases of these inspections have always failed to find any terrorism links and instead led to humiliation and detention of the so-called suspects (Johnson, pp. 93).

Several incidents have been reported around the world since September 11, for example, on August 10, 2006, an English national, Amar Ashraf, was bundled out of a Continental Airlines’ flight from UK to New Jersey before the plane took off, Mr. Ashraf was a Muslim. It turned out that he was returning to his job as a pilot in the US and not a terrorist.

Yet in another incident, on August 17, 2006, a Canadian doctor, Dr. Ahmed Farooq, and his two friends were hauled off a United Airlines’ flight from US to Canada because the passengers had said they were behaving suspiciously as they had been offering payers, a fundamental pillar in Muslim religion.

The increased screening of Arab and Muslim individuals in the wake of 9/11 has not been an effective tool in the fight against terrorism. Instead, it has caused an increase in racism in the Americas and Europe.

Increase in Aviation Security

Since planes were used during the 9/11 attacks, security measures implemented in response to the attacks had to improve security in the aviation industry. All the 19 hijackers had managed to go through security checkpoints and boarded the planes. Some of the changes implemented are as outlined below.

Prior to the attacks, private firms were contracted to handle airport screening. A new body, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was formed two months after 9/11 to perform all airport screenings at airports around the US. Entrance to the cockpit was made bulletproof and impenetrable by non-authorized persons (Price and Forrest, pp. 128). Some planes have been fixed with CCTVs so that the pilot can monitor whatever is going on in the cabin (Elias, pp. 122).

Penknives had not been considered as weapons prior to the attacks. Since the hijackers had used the knives to intimidate pilots, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibited any kind of knife from being allowed into a commercial plane.

Other substances banned from planes included gels and aerosols that weighed more than 3 ounces, and all containers must be put in transparent bags and screened separate from other luggage. Several airports have now upgraded their screening systems and now include full body scans, x-ray scans, metal detectors and liquid identification scanners (Zellan, pp. 25).

In the 9/11 attacks, some hijackers did not have adequate documentation, but had entered the planes. Changes were made after the attacks that require all passengers to have valid identification documents approved by the government. Once on-board, cabin crew can check any passenger’s ID to make certain that the information on the ID matches those given while entering the plane.

Increase in aviation security after the 9/11 has greatly improved security and in numerous instances, prevented terrorists from carrying explosive material inside planes. Body scanning machines have frequently revealed concealed weapons before they find their way on board.

Conclusion

The response of the United States September 11 terrorist attacks were so severe that some critics termed them to be “harsher than the effects of the attacks.” However, the responses were essential if it was to win the war against terror, and to prevent future attacks.

Despite the fact that a few actions have drawn criticism from various groups, most of them have been successful in curtailing terrorism and crashing terror groups around the world. Improvement of security in the aviation industry has been instrumental in the fight against terrorism, besides, the Patriot Act has been vital in fighting terrorism within the US.

Works Cited

Elias, Bartholomew. (2009). Airport and Aviation Security: U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Age of Global Terrorism. London: CRC Press

Gross, Samuel R., Livingston, Debra. (2002). Essay: Racial Profiling Under Attack. Columbia Law Review, 1413.

Johnson, Kevin R. (2004). Racial Profiling after September 11: The Department of Justice’s 2003 Guidelines. Immigration and Nationality Law Review,85- 109.

Price, Jeffrey C., and Forrest, Jeffrey S. (2009). Practical aviation security: predicting and preventing future threats. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Scheppler, Bill. (2006). The USA Patriot Act: antiterror legislation in response to 9/11. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.

Smith, Cary Stacy, Hung, Li-Ching. (2010). The Patriot Act: issues and controversies. Illinois: Charles C. Thomas Publishers.

Zellan, Jennifer. (2003). Aviation security: current issues and developments. New York: Nova Publishers.

Introduction

The attacks on the world trade center and pentagon on September 11 2001 were tragic and devastating not only for the victims and the people of the United States of America; they came as a shock to people around the world. Today after six years have passed, the effects of the tragedy are felt by people. The effects of the event were not only social and political, but were also psychological, mental, and health-related. In addition, there has been an economic impact also. This paper will look at the various impacts of the 9/11 attacks.

Political

Today the world is a changed place as the reaction of the American government after the attack has been very aggressive as president George Bush has been active all over the world in trying to find the mastermind behind the attack, he has attacked and invaded, Afghanistan and Iraq and hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives in this fight against the terrorists who attacked the on 9/11. Although the Americans have not been very successful in finding Osama Bin Laden but the initial sympathy for the Americans have been changed to confusion and total opposition to the killings and invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, especially now it has been found that there is no connection between the terrorists and Saddam Hussein as was said by the US government.

Psychological and Health-Related Risks

According to research the rescue teams and other workers at the sight of the tragedy are still suffering from health and psychological impacts. It was reported that 70% of the rescue personnel had lung problems. And these problems were not short-term but had a long-term impact. And even after five years, people report new or deteriorating nasal and sinuses problems. In addition, many of them face psychological distress. More than half the survivors report respiratory problems and all of them have a strong possibility of mental and emotional distress, while 10% of the screened tested positive for psychological distress. It is thought that the debris from the falling tower was toxic and can cause serious diseases like cancer. (Medical Research News, 2006).

Economic Impact

The economic impact although there was not that great. The policies adopted by the government were able to keep in check the possible problems. However, in the short term, there were major falls in the stock market and the losses were huge. In addition, tourism and airlines have been adversely affected as people have become more cautious especially when traveling to certain parts of the world. A majority of the economic problems that resulted were not the direct result of the 9/11 attack but a result of the policies and the regulations that were taken by various governments to protect against more terror attacks in the future.

Conclusion

9/11 attacks have turned out to be a major world tragedy and the impact of the events of that day have been serious and far-reaching. It is not wrong to say that the world has changed forever after these attacks. The political turmoil has been tremendous and mostly in the Islamic world as two countries have been attacked as a result of 9/11 and those people who have witnessed or experienced the attacks have also suffered many health and psychological problems. And this is not the end as the effects even today are being experienced.

References

World economic effects arising from 2001 attacks. Web.

Lingering and Long Lasting Effect of 9/11. (2006). Medical Research News. Web.

Introduction

Lawrence Wright’s book The Looming Tower Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 is aimed at examining at the origins of Al-Qaeda, the development of this terrorist organization, and the main events that preceded the September 11 attacks. To a great extent, this text can show why intelligence agencies failed to avert this threat.

This text can also illustrate the inefficiencies of many law-enforcement organizations. The readers can understand the underlying causes of their inability to respond to potential risks as quickly as possible. Moreover, the examples offered by the writer can show what kind of roles that intelligence agencies should play, especially in the world in which globalization becomes more and more important.

Overall, this book contains many examples which are important for describing the work of intelligence agencies. However, this work can throw light on the individual narratives of people who were involved in these events. Much attention should be paid to such people as John O’Neill or Ali Soufan. These narratives can have an indelible impression on the readers who may want to learn more about the underlying causes of the September 11 attacks. These are the main aspects that can be identified.

The failure to prevent the September 11 attacks

The central question which the author explores is the failure of various governmental organizations to recognize the threat and avert the attack which took a great number of lives. One of the main problems that the writer identifies is the lack of cooperation between agencies that could possess information about the activities of Al-Qaeda or its supporters.

It should be kept in mind that the people, who perpetrated this attack, did not go completely unnoticed by the intelligence officers. In particular, they knew that in 2000, some members of Al-Qaeda had a meeting in Malaysia (Wright, 2007, p. 310). Moreover, two of these people, named Hazmi and Mihdhar later went to the United States (Wright, 2007, p. 312). In their turn, CIA officers failed to inform FBI about the arrival of these people in to the country.

The main tragedy is that Hazmi and Mihdhar were the terrorists who were directly involved in the September 11 attacks. There were several factors that contributed to this fateful error. It is important to speak about the conflicts between such agencies as FBI and CIA. The senior officers were unwilling to share information with one another because these organizations had slightly different roles and priorities.

For instance, CIA officers regarded Hazmi and Mihdhar as potential sources of information about Al-Qaeda. This is why they did not want them to be arrested immediately. Nevertheless, they were not aware about the intentions of these people. This is the main mistake that they made while planning their operations. To a great extent, they failed to assess the danger that these people could pose. Furthermore, very often they treated the FBI agents as inferiors.

They did not believe that their colleagues could cope with Al-Qaeda (Wright, 2007). So, the lack of cooperation is probably the main problem that can be distinguished. It seems that Lawrence Wright provides in-depth insights into the bureaucratic inefficiencies and personal conflicts which resulted into the eventual catastrophe which changed the lives of many people. This is why this book is worth attention.

On the whole, these bureaucratic problems become even more evident if one looks at the frantic struggle of John O’Neill. This person was able to evaluate the potential threat that could be posed by Al-Qaeda. Nevertheless, he did not possess the necessary information and authority that could enable him to pinpoint the source of threat. This is the man difficulty that he had to cope with. By focusing on the experiences of this person, Lawrence Wright is able to highlight the destructive nature of bureaucracy.

Moreover, it is possible to mention the story of Ali Soufan who was an FBI undercover agent. He was working hard to learn the names of Al-Qaeda members in the United States. He had to work only this task only because the CIA officers failed to inform FBI about Hazmi and Mihdhar. The main problem is that his efforts proved to be fruitless because he found the necessary information when it was too late.

Furthermore, Soufan was virtually destroyed when he learned that the names of some terrorists had been familiar to intelligence officers for a long time (Wright, 2007, p. 362). The stories of John O’Neill and Ali Soufan can produce a very strong impression on the readers since they show how individuals may be forced to struggle with organizational deficiencies and bureaucracy. This is why these problems should not be overlooked.

Moreover, John O’Neill and other law-enforcement officers were working in an environment when criminal groups began to operate at an international level. These groups did not work within the jurisdiction of a single country.

In turn, governmental agencies were not ready for this change because they did not have the authority to transcend national borders. So, they did not adjust to the process of globalization. This is one of the underlying factors that should be taken into account. The September 11 attacks prompted many countries to join their efforts in order to cope with terrorism.

One can say that this book can be important for understanding the nature of organized crime and the struggle against it. This challenge can be effectively overcome only if intelligence and law-enforcement agencies become less bureaucratic. They have to maintain closer contacts with one another; otherwise, they may not respond to potential dangers as quickly as possible. This is one of the most important themes explored by Lawrence Wright in his work. It seems that the author’s discussion is detailed and interesting.

The role that should be played by intelligence and law-enforcement agencies

Additionally, this book can demonstrate the roles that intelligence agencies should play in order to protect the national security. First of all, they should closely monitor every person who can be related to any terrorist organization. This task has to be one of their topmost priorities because this surveillance can reduce the risk of potential attacks.

This is one of the aspects that can be identified. The officers should keep in mind that terrorist organizations have become very complex. For instance, Al-Qaeda is a decentralized institution in which agents and coordinators have the capacity to plan operations and choose the methods that are most optimal for some terrorist attack (Wright, 2007, p. 318). In other words, these individuals are relatively independent of their commanders.

Overall, in his book Laurence Wright examines the organizational structure of Al-Qaeda, and his comments are insightful. One should not assume that by arresting or killing the main leaders of terrorist organizations, they can eliminate possible threats. Such a view can only lead to the delusion of security.

Thus, one should not assume that the assassination of Osama bin Laden can render Al-Qaeda harmless. In his book, Lawrence Wright illustrates the complexity of terrorist organizations. This issue should be considered by policy-makers who attempt to ensure the security of American citizens. This issue is relevant to the governments of other countries that are exposed to the threat of terrorism.

Moreover, in this book, Lawrence Wright shows that the activities of terrorist organizations cannot be easily localized. For instance, the author shows that the bank accounts of Al-Qaeda could be found in various places such London, Khartoum, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Dubai, and so forth (Wright, 2007, p. 186).

Furthermore, many terrorist are closely familiar with the western culture. In this case, one can speak about internationalization of crime. Thus, they have derived benefits from the process of socialization. One can effectively struggle against such organizations if, there is cooperation between intelligence agencies of various countries.

The necessity of this cooperation is emphasized by Lawrence Wright who notes that CIA received valuable inside information from the intelligence services of other countries such as Saudi Arabia (Wright, 2007, p. 315).

This is one of the points that can be made. This issue remains relevant nowadays. At present, many countries have to struggle with the threat of terrorism. If the law-enforcement agencies of these countries share information with one another they can be more effective in their struggle against these militant groups. This is one of the tasks that policy-makers need to take into account.

Additionally, intelligence officers must focus on individuals or states that provide funding to terrorist organizations. It should be taken into account that Al-Qaeda as any other terrorist group is dependent on the availability of financial resources. Bin Laden was able to assume the positions of authority because he achieved significant results as a fund-raiser for Al-Qaeda (Wright, 2007, p. 97).

Thus, it is important to limit the flow of money to terrorists. Financial assets are essential for recruitment and training of terrorists, housing, ammunition, and many other things without which these groups cannot function effectively. Lawrence Wright is able to demonstrate that this aspect of counter-terrorism must not be overlooked.

When speaking about Lawrence Wright’s book, one should pay attention to the powerful and authentic narratives created by the writer. The author speaks about the life of people who played an instrumental role in planning the September 11 attacks. Among them, one can distinguish Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. These people began to express anti-American views long before the September 11 attacks.

Moreover, it was clear that these people could pose a potential danger to the national security of the United States. In this case, one can speak about the bombings of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi (Wright, 2007, p. 270). Moreover, Ben Laden declared a fatwa against the United States in 1996. In other words, he began to position himself as the enemy of America. Thus, every step taken by Al-Qaeda should have been scrutinized with great caution.

This argument may appear to be self-evident, but this principle is often overlooked even by experienced officers. As it has been mentioned before Hazmi and Mihdhar were allowed to enter the country. So, it is critical to mention that intelligence officers should timely identify such individuals and render them harmless. This is the most crucial task that they have to cope with. It is essential for averting potential terrorist attacks that may be staged by people who can act as skillful administrators and coordinators.

Much attention should also be paid to the ideological aspects of terrorism. For instance, it is possible to speak about the role played by Sayyid Qutb who supported the idea of jihad against the United States. This person attempted to give ethical and rational justifications for killing American people. Much attention should have been paid to his book called Milestones which is important for justifying Islamic fundamentalism (Wright, 2007, p. 29).

To a great extent, his hatred of the United States can be explained by the irrational fear of every society that can differ from his highly ideals. His writings influenced the worldviews of Osama bin Laden. Thus, one could assume that the danger of this person could not be underestimated. Besides, it is vital to understand the ideological motives which can influence the actions of a militant group. In his book, Laurence Tower attaches importance the ideological dimensions of terrorism.

So, it is important to mention that intelligence agencies have to perform the following roles and functions: 1) surveillance of people who can be related to terrorist activities; 2) cooperation with other law-enforcement agencies; 3) limiting or eliminating the funding that can be available to terrorist groups; 4) arrest of people who pose a threat to the United States or its allies. These functions are critical for the protection of American citizens.

In the book, Lawrence Wright does not try to offer step-by-step solutions to the challenges faced by intelligence and law-enforcement professionals.

Nevertheless, the examples that he offers are very eloquent and thought-provoking. The problems discussed by the writer have profound implications for international relations and the functioning of many governmental agencies, especially those ones that are responsible for the prevention of crime. This is why this text can be of great use to many officials who must safeguard the homeland security.

Conclusion

Thus, one can say that Lawrence Wright identifies very important problems which remain relevant to many contemporary societies which can be exposed to the threat of terrorism. There are several aspects that can distinguish this book among others. First of all, the author gives a detailed analysis of the inefficiencies that could have made the September 11 attacks possible. However, the examples provided by Lawrence Wright can illustrate the roles that intelligence and law-enforcement agencies should play.

These are some the main issues can be singled out. Overall, Lawrence Wright’s book can be of great interest to many readers. For instance, it can of great value to people who want to learn more about the work of law-enforcement organizations. However, this text is also a powerful narrative of people who were directly or indirectly involved in the September 11 attacks. These are the main arguments that can be put forward. The main strength of this book is it combines detailed analysis with interesting stories.

Reference List

Wright, L. (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.