12.2 9/11 Terrorist Attacks and the War on Terror

The 9/11 attacks shook America to its core, sparking a global war on terror. This pivotal event reshaped U.S. foreign policy, national security, and civil liberties, marking a turning point in the nation's approach to global threats.

The aftermath saw military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, controversial counterterrorism tactics, and expanded government surveillance. These actions had far-reaching consequences, altering international relations and raising concerns about the balance between security and civil liberties.

9/11 Attacks and Aftermath

The September 11, 2001 Attacks

Top images from around the web for The September 11, 2001 Attacks

• 

  Bestand:Pentagon on 9.11.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Fasciculus:LOC unattributed Ground Zero photos, September 11, 2001 - item 111.jpg - Vicipaedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:World Trade Center collapsed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack September 16 2001.jpg ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Bestand:Pentagon on 9.11.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Fasciculus:LOC unattributed Ground Zero photos, September 11, 2001 - item 111.jpg - Vicipaedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for The September 11, 2001 Attacks

• 

  Bestand:Pentagon on 9.11.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Fasciculus:LOC unattributed Ground Zero photos, September 11, 2001 - item 111.jpg - Vicipaedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:World Trade Center collapsed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack September 16 2001.jpg ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Bestand:Pentagon on 9.11.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Fasciculus:LOC unattributed Ground Zero photos, September 11, 2001 - item 111.jpg - Vicipaedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two of them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City (North and South Towers) and a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia
• The fourth plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control of the plane from the hijackers
• The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,977 people, including the 19 terrorist hijackers aboard the four airplanes, making it the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil

Immediate Aftermath and Response

• Both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed within two hours of being hit by the planes, destroying nearby buildings and causing significant damage to the surrounding area
  • The Pentagon also sustained significant damage from the impact of the plane and the resulting fire
• In the immediate aftermath, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all flights over or bound for the continental United States
  • Aircraft already in flight were told to land immediately, resulting in the unprecedented disruption of air travel
• President George W. Bush addressed the nation from the Oval Office on the evening of September 11, stating that the U.S. would make no distinction between the terrorists who committed the acts and those who harbor them, setting the stage for the War on Terror
• In the days following the attacks, Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists, granting the president the authority to use all "necessary and appropriate force" against those whom he determined "planned, authorized, committed or aided" the September 11 attacks

Domestic vs International Response to 9/11

Domestic Response and Policy Changes

• The attacks led to a significant shift in national security policy and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, a cabinet-level department consolidating 22 agencies with the primary mission of preventing terrorist attacks within the U.S.
• Congress also passed the USA PATRIOT Act, which expanded law enforcement and intelligence agencies' surveillance and investigative powers, raising concerns about civil liberties and privacy rights
• The attacks had a profound impact on American society and culture
  • There was a surge in expressions of patriotism, unity, and solidarity in the immediate aftermath
  • However, there was also increased suspicion and discrimination against Muslim Americans and those perceived to be of Middle Eastern descent

International Response and Support

• The attacks prompted an outpouring of sympathy and support for the U.S., with many countries expressing solidarity and offering assistance in the fight against terrorism
• The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1368, condemning the attacks and expressing its readiness to take all necessary steps to respond to the attacks and combat all forms of terrorism
• NATO invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty for the first time in its history, stating that the attack on the U.S. was an attack on all NATO members, and pledging support for the U.S. response to the attacks
• However, as the U.S. pursued military action in Afghanistan and later Iraq as part of the War on Terror, international support began to wane, with some allies expressing reservations about the scope and direction of U.S. foreign policy

Effectiveness of the War on Terror

Military Operations and Outcomes

• The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 succeeded in toppling the Taliban regime, which had harbored al-Qaeda, but failed to capture or kill the group's leader, Osama bin Laden, until a separate U.S. operation in Pakistan in 2011
• The invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, justified in part by alleged links between Saddam Hussein's regime and al-Qaeda (later found to be unsubstantiated), led to a protracted insurgency and sectarian violence
  • Critics argue that it diverted resources and attention from the fight against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan

Controversial Tactics and Human Rights Concerns

• The War on Terror involved the use of controversial tactics such as extraordinary rendition, enhanced interrogation techniques (which many considered to be torture), and the detention of suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp without trial
  • These tactics raised concerns about human rights violations and damage to the U.S. moral standing in the world
• While the U.S. and its allies succeeded in weakening al-Qaeda and killing many of its leaders, the War on Terror also had the unintended consequence of fueling anti-American sentiment in parts of the Muslim world and inspiring new terrorist groups (Islamic State or ISIS)

Financial and Human Costs

• The financial costs of the War on Terror have been immense, with estimates ranging from several trillion to over $6 trillion, including direct military spending, veterans' care, and interest on debt incurred to finance the wars
• The human costs have also been significant
  • Thousands of U.S. military personnel were killed or wounded
  • Estimates of civilian casualties in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries range from several hundred thousand to over a million

9/11's Impact on Civil Liberties

Expansion of Government Surveillance

• The USA PATRIOT Act, passed in the wake of the attacks, expanded the government's ability to conduct surveillance on U.S. citizens and foreign nationals
  • This included the use of roving wiretaps, "sneak and peek" searches, and the collection of business records without the owner's knowledge
• The act also allowed for the indefinite detention of non-citizens suspected of terrorism without trial, raising concerns about the erosion of habeas corpus rights
• The Bush administration's use of warrantless wiretapping and the NSA's bulk collection of Americans' phone and internet records, revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2013, further highlighted the extent of government surveillance in the post-9/11 era

Chilling Effect on Public Discourse and Dissent

• The 9/11 attacks had a chilling effect on public discourse and dissent, with critics of the government's national security policies often facing accusations of being unpatriotic or soft on terrorism
• The media's coverage of the attacks and the War on Terror also came under scrutiny, with some arguing that journalists failed to sufficiently question the government's narrative and rationale for military action, particularly in the lead-up to the Iraq War
• The climate of fear and suspicion created by the attacks led to increased discrimination and hate crimes against Muslim Americans and those perceived to be of Middle Eastern descent
  • Reports of vandalism, assault, and even murder occurred in the years following 9/11
• The long-term impact of these developments on American democracy and civil society remains a subject of ongoing debate, with some arguing that the erosion of civil liberties and the normalization of mass surveillance have fundamentally altered the relationship between citizens and the state