1. Islamic Terrorism in America

2. America has a long history Islamic terrorism.

3. On November 4, 1979, radical Muslim students in Tehran, Iran seized the US Embassy. They held 52 hostages for 444 days when they were finally released just minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office.

5. Between 1982 and 1991, thirty hostages were taken, (some American, some from allies of the US) in Lebanon. Some were killed, some died while being held, and some were finally released. Terry Anderson was held for 2,454 days. The group responsible was Hezbollah.

6. Hezbollah is a Shi'ite Islamist political and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon. Hezbollah is also a major provider of social services, which operate schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shi'a, and plays a significant force in Lebanese politics. It is regarded as a resistance movement throughout much of the Arab and Muslim world. Many governments, including Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, have condemned actions by Hezbollah while Syria and Iran have stated they support it. The United States, Egypt, Israel, Australia and Canada, regard it in whole or in part as a terrorist organization.

7. April 18, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon the US Embassy was destroyed by a suicide car bombing. 63 were killed, 17 of whom were Americans. Terrorist group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

9. On October 23, 1983 in Beirut, Shiite suicide bombers detonated a truck bomb near a Marine Corps barracks, killing 241 Marines.

16. December 12, 1983 in Kuwait, Shiite car bombers attacked the US Embassy, killing 5 people.

17. September 20, 1984, a truck bomb exploded outside the US Embassy Annex in Beirut, Lebanon killing 24 people, 2 of them Americans.

18. That same year, on December 3, Kuwait Airways Flight 221 from Kuwait to Pakistan was hijacked and taken to Iran. 2 Americans were killed.

19. In 1985, a US sailor was killed during an airline hijacking by Hezbollah terrorists, a US tourist was killed when Libyan Muslim terrorists hijacked a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, and 5 Americans were killed in Libyan bombings in Rome, Italy, and Vienna.

20. In 1986, a bomb exploded aboard TWA flight 840 killing 4 Americans (including a 9 month old baby), and injuring 9. Three days later, Libyans bombed a club in Germany killing 2 US servicemen.

21. December 21, 1988, a Boeing 747 was blown from the air by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 aboard and 11 people on the ground. 35 Syracuse University students and several US military personnel were killed. 15 years later, Libya admitted responsibility and offered to pay $2.7 billion to the victims' families.

25. February 26, 1993, a bomb exploded in the basement parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City. 6 were killed and over 1,000 injured. Islamist militant Ramzi Yousef was convicted in 1998. Al Qaeda involvement was suspected.

28. Deaths in the 1993 bombing 1. Monica Smith, age 35, a secretary, who was seven months pregnant, was in her office checking time sheets in the B-2 level. 2. Robert (Bob) Kirkpatrick, age 61, a locksmith, was eating lunch in a room next to Smith's office. 3. Bill Macko, age 47, maintenance worker, was also eating lunch. 4. Stephen Knapp, age 48, maintenance supervisor, was eating lunch with Macko and Kirkpatrick. 5. John DiGiovanni, age 45, a dental products salesperson, was parking in the underground garage. 6. Wilfredo Mercado, age 37, a receiving agent for Windows on the World restaurant, was checking in deliveries.

30. In Saudi Arabia in 1996, a truck bomb exploded at a military complex, killing 19 US servicemen. 13 Saudis and a Lebanese, all members of Hezbollah, were indicted for the bombing.

32. In 1998, truck bombs exploded almost simultaneously near US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, on the continent of Africa. 224 people were killed, and 4 men connected to Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan were convicted of the bombings. The US indicted 22 men total in connection with the bombings, including Osama bin Laden, who remained at large.

34. On October 12, 2000, the Navy ship USS Cole was heavily damaged when a bomb filled boat exploded beside it. 17 sailors were killed. Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden were blamed.

36. Deaths Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va. Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa. Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, of Woodleaf, N.C. Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas Signalman Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, of Rex, Ga. Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va. Engineman 2nd Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis. Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Ronald Scott Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla. Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif. Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md. Fireman Patrick Howard Roy, 19, of Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y. Electronics Warfare Technician 1st Class Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D. Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, Kingsville, Texas Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, of Ringgold, Va. Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, Rockport, Texas Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss. Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.

37. And on September 11, 2001, hijackers crashed commercial airliners into the World Trade Center in New York City, killing 2,749 people. A third plane hit the Pentagon, killing 184, and a fourth plane was retaken by passengers, but crashed near Shanksville, PA, killing 40. There were a total of 19 Islamic hijackers.

40. Why?