Impact On America: The Deadly September Attacks
America is a great country, but it has its difficulties. This includes natural disasters of all sorts but even worst, terrorism. In fact, from 9/11/2001 through 12/31/2014, 2,961 people died from terrorism in America. Most of those people died on 9/11/2001. During the 9-11 tragedy, there were 2,902 deaths and there has been more over the years from diseases. (Miller and Jensen) America has never been the same since the 9-11 incident, due to the change of security, the mass of people lost, and the fear of terrorism in the hearts of Americans. The days that Americans could fly in an airplane without fear of hijack are long gone. September 11th was the most terrible well-planned act of terrorism in history, which the world watched in horror from their homes. We all stood in shock, wondering what was next as we watched the attacks unfold.
The deadly September attacks were made up of airline hijackings and suicide in 2001 which started from a group called al-Qaeda originating in Israel. They wanted war against America and this was their type of warfare; attacking regular American citizens. (Bergen) This was all planned and strategized under Osama bin Laden, the leader of the Islamic military group, al-Qaeda. Khalid Shekh Mohammed, a member of another terror group, the Muslim Brotherhood, had a dream of blowing up things in America. He tried blowing up America planes that were going to Asia and failed. He had Bin Laden’s help to make his dream possible. (Bergen)They met in Afghanistan in 1996 and made a proposal for training pilots to go to the United States and crash into buildings. Al-Qaeda already tried to bring down the World Trade Center using a truck bomb but failed, killing six people and wounding a thousand. Bin Laden wanted a better more thought out plan and using airplanes as a missile was his answer. Now he needed a strategy. (“Summary of Final Report”) Mohammed Atta arrived in Afghanistan in 1999 and Bin Laden soon recognized him as a leader. He then became in charge of the entire operation. Atta gave Bin Laden updates from the United States where he and his crew were working. (Bergen)
There were 19 men involved and all were in America training on August 11, 2001. (Ross, category 2) There were four hijacker pilots and fifteen muscle men. Mohammed Atta, the leader of the mission, was in charge of flying flight 11 which crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center, New York. (Ross, category 68) The next plane Flight 175 had a leader named Marwan al-Shehhi and he flew from Boston to New York into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York. (Ross, category 69) The third plane, flight 77, was under Hani Hanjour and flew from Washington to Arlington County into the West Wall of Pentagon, Virginia. (Ross, category 81) Ziad Jarrah who flew flight 93, was headed to Washington, but eventually crashed in Pennsylvania. (ABC News 76 category) Each hijacker had three or four muscle men under them that helped get control of the airplane.
At the time, airports did not have very strict regulation and you were allowed a knife that was four inches long aboard the plane. (Ross, title 12) Most of the hijackers had knives to slit the throats of passengers and cabin crew members and mase spray. (Ross, title 77 and “Summary of Final Report”) They did not get stopped at the airports from boarding. By August 31, 2001 all of the hijackers had tickets on the airplanes they were planning to hijack. While America was enjoying Labor Day only 8 days before the attack, they were preparing; all were undetected and able to get FAA pilot license’s. They were all in the position they needed to be before they went to the airport. (Ross, category 88) While they waited for the day toe, they sent all of their money back to the United Arabs Emirates which amounted to thousands of dollars. (Ross, category 94, 98, 105, 118) The main leaders of the al-Qaeda group sent messages on September 10 saying tomorrow is zero-day and the match begins. These messages are not intercepted until a day after the 9-11 on the twelfth, after the fact. (Ross, title 129)
Everyone says the morning of September eleventh, the day we will never forget, was beautiful. The birds were chirping and the sky was a bright blue. And then they saw an explosion and heard a huge crash. Flight 11 that came from Boston and was originally headed to Los Angeles got hijacked by Mohammed Atta and his crew and changed direction to New York City. (Bergen) It was carrying 10,000 gallons of jet fuel and plowed into the North Twin Tower at 8:46 a.m. New York City immediately thought it was an accident involving a smaller munity plane. (“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks”) Then flight 175 got hijacked 30 minutes after the first and the passengers and crew were forced to the back of the plane. Many of the passengers called their family to let them know what was happening. They plowed into the south tower leaving no doubt that America was under attack. (“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks”) There was smoke and fire that made it impossible to get down for a lot of the 50,000 people that were inside of the buildings. Some workers that were above the fire and smoke jumped 1,368 feet to the ground, rather than slowly burning to death. Those near the towers could hear the thumps of the dropping bodies. Some people died from being hit by a falling body. Less then ninety minutes later the towers gave way and collapsed over the people and buildings. (“Summary of Final Report”) While this was happening, a plane took off from Washington’s Dulles Airport called American Airlines flight 77. It is hijacked almost immediately and at that point the air traffic control knew why the airplane was going off course. (“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks”) As it headed toward the White House it was quickly evacuated. Instead of going into the White House, it takes a turn towards the Pentagon going 530 mph. It crashes into western side of the Pentagon at 9:45 am, and immediately there was flames. Right after that, the United States airspace was shut down. (“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks”) Then at 9:57 am, a passenger revolt begins on Flight 93. Hijacker Ziad Jarrah and his crew stabbed passengers and the staff above northern Ohio, turning it southeast. The passengers heard about what happened at the Pentagon and World Trade center, so they started to resist the hijackers. They were headed toward the White House or the Capital but fighting in the cockpit resulted in them crashing into a field in Somerset County. This was a very heroic act of the forty passengers for taking charge and fighting against the appalling suicidal hijackers. (“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks”)
The aftermath was hard to take in for America. The iconic landmark in the heart of New York City was gone leaving two holes behind along with debris and thousands of perished people and grieving Soon after the attack in New York City, there was wanted posters all over the place; in stores, walls of buildings, and on mailboxes. People had a glimmer of hope that their loved ones were still alive in a random hospital or shelter. (Bergen) According to NY Times, more than 2,600 people died at the World Trade Center, 125 died at the Pentagon, and on the planes 256 people died. More people died from these attacks then the attack at Pearl Harbor. America’s everyday life also changed.
Mercial planes could not take off for two days after and normal service wasn’t until several days later. They needed to improve the security first, which caused thousands of people to be stranded.(Bergen) The stock market feared there would be panic, so they kept the markets closed for four trading days.(“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks”)
Soon after, the FBI had enough evidence to prove that al-Qaeda had a big part in the 9-11 attack. Later, Americans and allied forces went into Afghanistan where the al-Qaeda base was. Americans were able to take over their main base. (Bergen) The morning of May 2, 2011, the American navy seals raided Pakistan in two black hawk helicopters to go to the three-story building where Bin Laden lives. It took them 40 minutes to kill him in the head and he was thrown into the Arabian sea. (“Death of Osama Bin Laden”)
Since 2001, America has taken drastic measures to keep the country from being vulnerable to attacks again. Everyone has been on edge about terrorism, even today. About 97% of Americans can remember exactly what they were doing about 17 years ago. (“How has National”) The first action that the government took was passing the Homeland Security Act. Its mission is to stop terrorist attacks, minimize danger, and assist recovery for terrorist attacks that occur in the United States. Americans no longer have their freedom. (Kaplan) There now are surveillance cameras set up and the government finds ways to listen to most conversations through your phone or emails. Every detail and everything you do is considered by surveillance personnel to make sure you are not a threat to the country. They also set out the Total Awareness Act that has similar effects. (“How has National”) The biggest thing they have changed is the airports. Now there are air marshals flying the skies to find terrorists. The planes have hardened cockpit doors. Also, now the airports have bigger restrictions; you can’t have liquids in your carry on, you can’t bring food, snacks, and they do random extensive checks on people’s entire body. Now people dread the airplane process. It takes a long time and nobody is in a good mood. Public and Government buildings have more restrictions and have better security too. We need to get more extensive technology for x-ray screening and lie detectors but still, we are ahead of other counties (Kaplan). America is doing what they can to change but we can’t ensure that an undetected attack won’t happen again. Only 14 Americans died in the 10 years after the 9-11 form terrorist attacks. Kaplan says, “What are American’s ready to sacrifice- their freedoms or their safety?” (Kaplan)
America has never been the same since the 9-11 because of the fear of attacks, and security and laws. Now the average third grader knows what the word terrorist means. (“How has National”) The terrorists weren’t carrying bombs or guns and America couldn’t stop them from using the mercial plane as a missile. In the attempt of government protecting its citizens, Americans don’t have their freedom they once enjoyed. Authorities have the authority and tools to listen to all of the conversations, read data, see where they are going or have been, and their whole history. (“How has National”) Americans continue to get reminded every time they are flying; in the airport, in New York City or on the anniversary of the attack. Americans have created memorials in the footprints of the two towers to remind the American people (and inform the younger generation) of the lives that were lost on the day that will never be forgotten.
Works Cited
“How has National Security Changed Since 9-11-2001?”, Security Degree Hub, 10, July 2017. Web. 29 November 2018. https://www.securitydegreehub.
Miller Dr. Erin, Jensen, Dr. Michael; “America Deaths in Terrorism Attacks.”, Global Terrorism Database, Oct. 2015, Web PDF. 17, January 2017 https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_AmericanTerrorismDeaths_FactSheet_Oct2015.pdf
Ross, Brain, “While America Slept: The True Story of 9/11” ABC News Investigative team web. 29 November 2018. https://www.abcnews.go.
“Summary of Final Report” The New York Times, 22 July 2004. Web. 29 November 2018 https://www.nytimes.
Bergen, Peter L. “September 11 Attacks” Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 15 November 2018 Web. 29 November 2018. https://www.britannica.
Kaplan, Eben. “Targets for Terrorists: Post- 9/11 Aviation Security” Council on Foreign Relations, 7 September 2006. Web. 29 November 2018 https://www.cfr.org
“Timeline of the September 11 Attacks” Wikipedia, 4 October 2018. Web. 18 January 2018 https://www.wikipedia.
“Death of Osama Bin Laden Fast Facts” Cable News Network, 15 April 2018. Web 18 January 2018 https://www.cnn.
