september 11

Archive for the ‘September 11’ Category

There’s a reason al Qaeda operatives targeted the U.S. on 9/11 and not, say, Buenos Aires. They wanted to enrich their act of evil with the gravitas of American exceptionalism. They wanted to steal our thunder. – Shelby Steele

10th Anniversary of September 11 Tribute Video

The authors of StoriesofUSA.com Shall Never Forget!

September 11, 2011

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center (WTC), and a large section of the Pentagon in Washington, DC were destroyed in coordinated attacks plotted by the al Qaeda terror network under the command of Osama bin Laden. The passengers of Flight 93, possibly headed for the White House, overtook the terrorists and crashed the plane into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

America’s Global War on Terror: Afghanistan (October 7, 2001 – Present)

The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America and the United Kingdom, and the Afghan United Front (Northern Alliance), launched Operation Enduring Freedom, invading the country, in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States, with the stated goal of dismantling the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization and ending its use of Afghanistan as a base. The United States also said that it would remove the Taliban regime from power and create a viable democratic state.

On September 18, 2005, Afghanistan held parliamentary and provincial council elections. There have been several elections since. Although these elections have been marred with violence and corruption, the Afghan people are in charge of their own destiny.

America’s Global War on Terror: Iraq (March 19, 2003 – Present)

The invasion of Iraq in March 2003 led to an occupation and the eventual capture of President Saddam Hussein, who was later tried in an Iraqi court of law and executed by the new Iraqi government on December 30, 2006. As with any new change in power, it is not a perfect transition. However, Iraq is relatively stable and governing itself without being a threat to its neighbors.

FBI 22 Most Wanted Terrorists List 2001 Status

Person – Wanted For – Status

Imad Mughniyah – TWA Flight 847 – Deceased

Hassan Izz-Al-Din – TWA Flight 847 – At Large

Ali Atwa – TWA Flight 847 – At Large

Abdul Rahman Yasin – 1993 WTC Bombing – At Large

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – Bojinka Plot – Captured

Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mughassil – Khobar Towers Bombing – At Large

Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Hoorie – Khobar Towers Bombing – At Large

Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub – Khobar Towers Bombing – At Large

Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed Al-Nasser – Khobar Towers Bombing – At Large

Mohammed Atef – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Deceased

Osama bin Laden – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Deceased

Ayman Al-Zawahiri – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – At Large

Fazul Abdullah Mohammed – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Deceased

Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Captured

Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Deceased

Ahmed Ghailani – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Captured

Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Deceased

Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – At Large

Anas Al-Liby – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – At Large

Saif Al-Adel – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – At Large

Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – At Large

Mushin Musa Matwalli Atwah – 1998 US Embassy Bombings – Deceased

Arab Spring (الثورات العربية‎)

The Arab Spring is a series of protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa. It was sparked by the first protests that occurred in Tunisia on December 18, 2010 following Mohamed Bouazizi’s setting himself on fire in protest of police corruption and ill treatment. Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype have been instrumental tools for communication and organization.

Revolutions:

Egypt, Libya, Tunisia,

Protests and Governmental Changes:

Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Syria, Yemen

Protests:

Algeria, Gaza Strip, Iraq, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, West Bank, Western Sahara

Conclusion

Some say that we deserved to be attacked on September 11, 2001. Others say that al Qaeda awoke a sleeping giant that will not rest until its job of restoring order has been completed. Regardless of your opinion of the Global War on Terror, it has had a lasting impact on the political landscape of the world. Afghanistan and Iraq have become countries in which the general populations are in charge of their own destinies. Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein are dead. The governments of Eqypt, Libya and Tunisia have been overthrown and replaced. Prior to September 11, 2001, the Middle East was regarded as a monolithic cesspool of terrorism, corruption and violence. And especially now that the Arab Spring has taken place, the entire Middle East and North Africa are in a period of major political upheaval and change. What will be the result of all this? It is too early to tell. But it can be stated clearly that the United States of America has had a major influence in Middle East politics since September 11, 2001.