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TERRORISM AND 9/11

It was the morning of September 11th of 2001, approximately 8:46 in the morning when the first boeing crashed into the Northern Tower. The devouring flames, blinding smoke and the sight of bodies effortlessly raining down the building are some of the most tormenting and haunting illustrations of that morning. It resulted in the congruous grief of millions across the globe who wept and prayed for all the innocents caught up in the tragedy. The mention of terrorist attacks sprawls a series of heated commentaries as well as endless criticism to Middle Eastern religious and political insights by the average American citizen to this day. However, few seek to understand what were the motives behind the atrocious acts committed by so few, that nevertheless have stained the name of so many.

On September 11th of 2001, 19 hijackers took control of four boeings heading to diverse locations in California from Northeastern sites (since they had more fuel, they would cause bigger explosions). The first plane was directed by five of the hijackers to hit the Northern tower of the World Trade Center, in the city of New York; minutes later a second plane crashed into the Southern tower. Within an hour of time-spam, a third plane hit the Pentagon 

and the fourth had complications with the passengers and collapsed on an open field.

 

A year after the terrorist incidents, the extremist Muslim group associated to the attack, Al-Qaeda, and its leader, Osama bin Laden, spoke out as to the motives of such vehement measures. The explanation goes back to the 1996 Fatwa released by bin Laden regarding American activity on several countries, especially Middle Eastern regions. They affirm that it was a manner of "getting their point across", as well as retaliating for the measures US troops have aggressively taken against Muslims. Some of which include the sanctions against Iraq; US support of Israel; the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia; the support of Indian attacks against Muslims in Kashmir, Russian attacks in Chechnya and in Somalia.

The catastrophic events led to the death of 2,996 people, of which most were all civilians. Another 3 buildings on the World Trade complex collapsed due to structural failure, and many civilians were indirectly affected by the psychological torment. These events not only affected Americans, but also Muslims and South Asians inhabiting American soil. Many hate crimes sprang throughout the nation, with civilians targeting such groups due to their religious affiliation or physical resemblance to the perpetrators. Many Sikhists were mistakenly harassed because of their turbans, resulting in the death of one in Mesa, Arizona at point blank gun fire four days after the attack.

What we cannot avoid to ponder, however, is the extent to which the United States is to blame for such acts. It is true that many argue, just like the British historian and Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson, that the world needs a hegemon force that will mediate and stabilize the globe when disorder creeps the horizon. But how controlling and imposing does this all mighty force should behave? To what aspects of a nation should interventions be practiced upon? Although an imposing power should strive to maintain balance in the world, it should not resemble an authoritarian force.

 

The attacks got more than their message across; it created a legacy of Western religious and racial 

prejudice against Middle Easterners as well as south Asian civilians who have been harassed and targeted by Westerners despite their lack of connection with the Islamic extremist movement. In reality, 7% of total Muslims are extremists, and yet, the other 93% innocent civilians who are not have their culture and faith stained with the blood of thousands of other civilians - be it overseas or just down the street - who happened to be trapped in the political and religious clash of two ticking organizations.

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