9/11

Making a Day of Terror The Plan: –In an attack coordinated over a period of months and years, Islamic Terrorists plan suicide missions to hijack commercial airplanes and use them as guided missiles. The Targets: –World Trade Center Complex, New York –U.S Capital Building, Washington, D.C –The Pentagon, Headquarters of the Defense Department, Washington, D.C The Goal: –Kill as many American Citizens as possible –Disrupt the American Economy –Weaken the United States –Begin a Holy War

9/11/2001 Armed with weapons that were allowed by airport security, terrorists were able to successfully take control of four 757/767 airplanes. One airplane was crashed into each of the World Trade Center Towers in NYC One Airplane was crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C One airplane missed its intended target and crashed in Somerset County Pennsylvania (about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh) 2,974 People – mainly American Civilians - died in one day

The Pentagon, Washington D.C

Flight 93 One of the hijacked airplanes was intended to be flown into the US Capital Building. Once the passengers on board learned about the New York crashes, they tried to retake control of the plane. They never got control—However the US Capital was saved Everyone on board died when the plane crashed into an empty field Events have been put together using cell-phone calls from the plane

Flight 93 Flight 93 crashed approximately 80 miles from Pittsburgh Was only minutes from Washington, D.C

Who...? Why…? 19 terrorists were identified from airport security tapes Identified as members of al-Qaeda, a worldwide Islamic terrorist organization Motivation: Hatred of America, Americans and all things associated with Western, Christian, Jewish society. Hatred of American Cultural, Economic and Military Power Hated of American support of Israel

American Response: At Home Increase of security present in public places. Creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Creation of the Department of Homeland Security USA PATRIOT Act –Gave the government dramatically new legal tools to find and fight terrorists –Increased surveillance NSA (National Security Administration) Wiretapping and internet surveillance More restrictions on everyday life

American Response: Abroad The War on Terrorism – President George W. Bush declares a War on Terrorism under the premise to hunt down those individuals and groups funding, supporting and participating in international terrorism. –Invasion of Afghanistan – October 2001 –Invasion of Iraq --- March 2003 – : President Obama continues the wars in Afghanistan –Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command has surpassed 6727 (9/10/2013)

Twelve Years Later No major terror attack has occurred on American Soil –Policies working or Luck ? Terrorism still considered a major social, political and economic issue –London subway bombings – 52 Killed, Over 700 injured –Boston Marathon Bombing – 5 Killed, over 280 injured Worldwide debate over how to fight terrorism –Civil Liberties vs. Security World Trade Center site in the process of redevelopment –1 World Trade Center 1776 feet tall – –To be complete Late 2013 /Early 2014 July 30, 2013

Memorials Flight 93 Pentagon

World Trade Center Memorial – New York

Death of Osama Bin Laden May 2, 2011 Continued search since 9/11/01 Intelligence located him in hiding in Pakistan Shot multiple times and killed in a nighttime raid by US Special Forces (Navy SEALs) Body identified by DNA, then ‘buried’ in the sea Raid was watched via video link by President Obama and Military officials in the US Death yielded celebration in NYC, elsewhere

Meaning The Events of September 11, 2001 are over, but their consequences are still unfolding. International Terrorism is America’s new struggle Terrorism targets EVERYONE Understand how hate and intolerance fuels violence Understand why our Armed Forces are deployed and fighting overseas