Terrorist attacks aimed at the USA - Essay Example

Module Exploratory Essay: September 11, 2001 Attacks. Why has there been several terrorist attacks aimed at the USA? USA is a super power and several groups including al Qaeda practice terrorism in order to wage war with them. This exploratory essay seeks to inquire and at the same time contribute to several arguments at a time rather than just one involving the September, 11 2001 bombing. It therefore involves a broader vision on the terrorist attack on September, 11th. The attacks on USA have negatively affected its economy and many other economies that rely on USA.

What happened in the USA on September, 11 2001? On this date four planes were hijacked by terrorists and later two of them were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York. This led to huge fires that consequently led to the crumbling of the towers a few hours later. One of the planes crashed in The Pentagon in Washington D.C. while the last crashed in a field of Pennsylvania. Studies show that the hijackers had planned that the planes crash in buildings or landmarks including one in Pennsylvania.

This was however disillusioned by the actions of the passengers on board who tried to control the plane (Lloyd 45 – 58). Was this the worst terrorist attack on USA? The September 11 2001 terrorist attack is believed to be the worst terrorist attack on USA partly because the horrific events were unfolding as millions of the Americans and people around the world watched on live television. After some time the Americans started pondering what such attacks meant to their nation and the reason why it had to involve more than 3000 Americans.

Who was responsible for the September, 11 2001 attacks? What were the motives behind the attack? After the fourth plane failed to reach its destination, as planned by the attackers, due to actions of the passengers on board, it landed in a field near Shanksville (Gard 32). This was an al Qaeda premeditated attack led by their leader Osama bin laden. Though he had at the outset shunned any allegations of participation, he claimed accountability for the attacks later in 2004. The al Qaeda claimed it attacked the USA because of the sanctions against Iraq and the presence of U.

S troops in Saudi Arabia. It was also because of the USA’s decision to support Israel in many policies especially in regards to the Palestinian question. Can the attack on September, 11 2001 be compared to any attack in the world? Why? The attack on Twin Towers cannot be compared even to the Pearl Harbor because unlike the one on Pearl Harbor, the perpetrators i.e. al Qaeda still want to attack the USA and the extent of damage during any of the future attacks cannot be predicted as word has it that they may be of a higher scale and sophistication.

The two attacks are however similar in that they were attacks aimed at the Americans and that the reaction towards the two by the US government was similar. Gard (60-64) confirms that both the attacks led to huge losses of human life and property with civilians accounting for the largest percentage. For Pearl Harbor fatalities were mainly sailors and solders as the attack targeted the American Defense Forces. The distinction between the two attacks is the identities of the attackers; In the Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941 the attackers were directed by the Japanese Empire and the main reason of the attack was to wage war against the USA while the attack on the September 11, 2001 the attackers were al Qaeda although their immediate intentions remained unknown for some time.

It is also important to note that future intentions of the group remain unknown. The difference between the two attacks is that Japan had organized army and navy while al Qaeda as the USA government later came to learn had no organized army or navy and that those involved in hijackings were just ordinary people trained for years to carry out suicide missions. Did the Americans respond to the September 11 2001 attack? The Americans responded quickly and patriotically. They supported professionals from the U.

S military as well as fire fighters. What were the effects of the attacks? A survey carried out suggested that the September 11th attack had widespread psychological and emotional effects in all segments of the American population (Kingsbury 128 - 34). It also heavily affected the aviation industry not only in US but the world over. Losses were recorded as air transport remained grounded for days while stiffer security measures were enacted for airlines to follow which have proved expensive to abide by.

In conclusion, the 9/11 attack remains one of the biggest and most feared attacks in the USA because it was carried out by a terrorist group (al Qaeda) which up to date remains a potential threat to the security of the USA both locally and abroad. Memorial services are held yearly with a major one happening after a decade in 2011 – a few days ago. During the first memorial eighty one streets were named after the victims to show the significance of events that occurred in that day and how they should shape America in distant future.

However, the solution to the problem of terrorism and related ills in our society remain unsolved as more attacks and threats are received time and again the world over. Works Cited Gard, Carolyn. Attack on the Pentagon on September11, 2011. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2003. Print. Gard, Carolyn. The Attacks on the World Trade Centre: February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2003. Print. Lloyd, Daniel. Compensation for Losses from the 9/11 Attacks. California: Rand Corporation, 2004. Print. Kingsbury, Kingsbury.

Review of Studies of the Impact of the September11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks on World Trade Centre. Darby: Diane Publishing Company, 2003. Print.