9/11 - Terrorist Attack That United The Whole Nation
“Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror,” is what President George Bush had to tell the American people, the afternoon of September eleventh. Prior to that, on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the United States and its civilians’ lives would be changed forever. Broadcasted live, a series of four planned terrorist attacks occured by the Islamic group, al-Qaeda.
The Sunni Islamist multinational organization was founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden. This was the first foreign attack on U.S. soil in nearly sixty years (Perrin 167). The news spread like wildfire. Within minutes of the attack, the whole nation knew, and in complete shock and awe. The attacks resulted in 2,996 taken lives, along with over 6,000 injured victims (Perrin 168).
The four passenger airlines involved were operated under two major U.S. air carriers; United Airlines and American Airlines. The four planes traveling to California were hijacked by nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists. American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were crashed into the North and South towers, otherwise known as The World Trade Center building, in New York City. The third flight, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon shortly after. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially was meant to hit Washington D.C, but after it’s passengers tried to overpower the hijackers, it crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania (Perrin 168). In only an hour and forty-two minutes, both the North and South towers collapsed. The collapsing caused so much debris and fires that it eventually took down the whole entire forty-seven story World Trade Center complex. September eleventh is a day that will eventually go into our future history books, the books that will educate our future children and be talked about for the rest of our lives. This tragic event will forever have a lasting impact on all of us who live in America, no matter a person’s age, race, or religion.
The attack on the World Trade Center clearly left its mark on America. It was a time in history where it didn’t matter what political party you, or the person next to you, sided with. The tragic event that was meant to rip America apart, brought us together and only made us stronger than before. Since then, not only has the social way of life changed, but also foreign policies, and domestic policies (A. Anderson 120). Specifically, America’s security and defense against foreign enemies. Since the 1960’s, America being the economic leader of the world, has always been a prime target for international terrorism (Bolechów 786).
“Anti-Americanism” is a very popular attitude towards the United States in foreign countries (A. Anderson 122). The Vietnam War significantly provoked the “anti-americanism” status from multiple left-wing terrorists like the Red Army Faction, the Japanese Red Army, and the Red Brigades (Bolechów 3). Left-Wing and Right-Wing terrorism, religious fundamentalists, radical ecologicalists, and anti-globalists often blame the United States as to why they can’t pursue their outrageous beliefs (Bolechów 784). It is clear that America’s great influence on the world has shaped today’s modern terrorism. The world of politics was forever changed directly after 9/11. Immediately after the attack, on September 12, 2001, an emergency meeting was held under the United Nations. The United Nations stated, “a terrorist attack on one country was an attack on all humanity.” For the first time ever in United States history, Article 5 of the Washington Treaty was invoked (Eisinger 118). A total of eight hundred and thirty members of thirteen NATO countries patrolled and flew the skies over three-hundred and sixty different countries. This was the first time military action was ever taken under Article 5.
In the age of 2017 America, flying on an airplane and boarding an airplane is no longer stress-free. And a simple walk through a metal detector is long gone. Not only is there a threat towards airlines, but also in malls, restaurants and public places all over the country.
There is a constant threat everywhere you go. On November 25, 2002, a little over the one year anniversary of 9/11, The Homeland Security Act was founded and put into place to administer security, and a prevention to terrorism (Eisinger 117). The HSA wanted to make American citizens feel safe from the aftermath paranoia of 9/11. The USA Patriot Act was also put into place in October 2001 (Eisinger 116). This act granted law enforcement officials to eavesdrop on phone calls, enter houses and property without warrants, and keep track of peoples’ financial transactions. It’s no secret that the attack caught the United States off guard. But, the HSA was it’s way of putting itself back together. The Homeland Security Act portrayed the new face of National Security in the United States. The four hundred and forty-eight document was the biggest revision ever made in the federal government in over fifty-years (Eisinger 117). The document was formed by integrating the attempts, and dominating powers of over twenty federal agencies into a single passage. Hence, why it’s four hundred and forty-eight pages long. A few of the many federal agencies include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
The secretary of the HSA has the authority to access any protected health information (PHI) and other personal information associated with acts of terrorism (Eisinger 116). The unintended consequences of 9/11 exchanged in our freedoms, for our safety. In other words, sadly, complete privacy of an individual has vanished, in order to keep as much terrorism out of the United States as possible.American legislature has done more than just pass the Homeland Security Act in the past sixteen years. To identify high-risk travelers and suspicious passengers, Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data have been put into place at airports, prior to departure (Department of Homeland Security). In 2008 and 2009, PNR was involved in more than three thousand cases involving potential ties to terrorism due to the system identifying possible culprits, such as terrorists (Department of Homeland Security).
In 2010, about one quarter of those accused were not granted entry into the United States due to the fact that they were previously identified through PNR. The implementation of the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data has benefitted the workplace in air transportation and the safety of others, while also helping the government track down possible suspects of terrorism tremendously. Not only did changes in national security change, but the relationship between Republicans and Democrats. After the attack, American views were not shy and quiet about what we as a country should do next. Both parties wanted new and strengthened anti-terrorism policies (L. Anderson 305). And long story short, we were more than ready to go declare war. The 9/11 attack set a fire of patriotism inside of every American.
Considering Democrats and Republicans have opposing views, hence why they’re completely different parties, they started to become more alike than ever before. Military action was a big question following the attack. Many questioned what kind, if any, action should be taken, and how to go about it. A poll was taken among United States citizens of both parties immediately after the attack, and the results were surprisingly similar. About 85% Democrats and 96% of Republicans voted they’d send in military action, even if it meant war (L. Anderson 304). They were also supportive about sending troops to Afghanistan. Surprisingly, about seventy-six percent of Americans voted “Yes,” on sending ground troops and eighty-six agreed on expanding the fight to other countries that might be hiding terrorists (L. Anderson 310). Yet today, the conflict between the United States and North Korea is slowly driving us back apart as tension rise. It is sad that something so tragic had to happen in order for both political parties of America to finally come together as one.
In conclusion, the attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, forever changed our outlook; socially and politically. Security in the United States has never been stricter. There is a constant threat felt everywhere we go. But, this country does not live in fear, and never will. September eleventh is a day that will eventually go into our future history books, the books that will educate our future children and be talked about for the rest of our lives. This tragic event will forever have a lasting impact on all of us who live in America, no matter a person’s age, race, or religion.
