9/11

U.S. History

What Happened on 9/11?

• On Sept. 11th, 2001, the U.S. was attacked by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, which is a fundamentalist Islamist group led by Osama bin Laden.

• Four airplanes were hijacked by 19 terrorists, and flown into various targets, including the World Trade Center in NYC and Pentagon in Washington D.C.

• The attack caught most Americans off guard and is remembered as one of the most terrifying moments in American history.

The Background

• During the Cold War, the United States supported Osama bin Laden in his efforts to fight the Soviet Union ($ and weapons)– “Politics makes strange bedfellows”– “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”

• Following the 1st Gulf War (1991), OBL demanded that American troops leave Saudi Arabia, the holy land of Islam, and OBL’s homeland.– According to the Prophet Mohammed, “infidels” were not allowed to

remain in the holy land permanently.

• Additionally, he was angered by the U.S. support for Israel and perceived oppression of Palestinian Muslims.

Quote

• According to former CIA analyst Michael Schueur, who led the CIA's hunt for bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda leader was motivated by a belief that U.S. foreign policy has oppressed, killed, or otherwise harmed Muslims in the Middle East, condensed in the phrase "They hate us for what we do, not who we are."

American Response to 9/11

• On Oct. 7th, 2001, the U.S. declared war on the Taliban government in Afghanistan. – They had allowed bin Laden and Al-Qaeda to train and plan

in Afghanistan.• The Patriot Act– Allows govt. to gather intelligence via e-mail/phone.– Civil rights advocates say that the PA violates freedoms of

American citizen.• Increased security, specifically at airports.• The American economy also suffered and a long-term

recession began.

Major Outcomes of 9/11

• Approx. 3,000 Americans killed on 9/11.• The U.S. is still involved in a war in

Afghanistan….10 years and running.• The U.S. was involved in a war in Iraq between

2003 and 2010, loosely connected to 9/11.• The U.S. is still involved in a global struggle

against terrorism.