Tragic Incident on September 11 - Essay Example

?Research Log I felt so enthusiastic to immediately do this research assignment on the September 11, 2001 attacks because of the very nature of this topic. Indeed, the subject is a delicate one and surely it will be a challenge on my part to pursue this research. At the beginning of the research , I decided to have a better understanding of the September 11 attacks which was a tragic incident in world history by researching on the background of this historical phenomenon. However, in order to easily gather the most relevant information, I first explored materials on the key concepts of terrorism and how it works. For initial understanding of the term terrorism, I got the U.S. Law definition of terrorism which means “ pre-meditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents”. Then I gathered materials from the internet regarding its concepts and the September 11 attacks and related information. After knowing and understanding the broader meaning and description of terrorism, I gathered the needed information: the who’s, what, why, how and the results and impact of the said attacks. Likewise, I saw the need to have an overview of the Middle East to have a better understanding of the said tragic incident. Basically the Middle East is a region rich in oil. The politics and issues stemming from the region have mostly revolved around oil and Israel. With this major energy reserves which helped support western economies many superpowers have been involved in the Middle East such as the US, Britain, Soviet Union, and France and also because of its location in the map. In contemporary times, foreign interest in the region had mostly been credited yo the oil reserves and its strategic position. After the first week , I gained a deeper insight of the September 11 attacks and had a better understanding of the whole incident taking special attention on the details on who are its perpetrators and their background, the root cause, why it happened, how it happened and the resulting actions especially from the US Administration headed by former Pres. George W. Bush. I really did not have much knowledge before of the whole incident and the plan of action of Pres. Bush after the incident particularly on the war against terror declared on the 22nd of September and other major changes relative to his efforts against terrorism (e.g. U.S. Patriot Act in October 2007). I have gained sufficient understanding of the perpetrators referred to as Osama Bin Laden through his Al-Qaida terrorist organization , and their aims which are to inflict terror on the people and authorities governing the most powerful nation in the world as they do not agree with the actions and ideologies of the US. This helped me developed a logical researching skills. It also helped me understand the September 11 attacks by gathering an overview of the Middle East which was quite easy for me to accomplish. After gathering all the information on the background of this world-acclaimed phenomenon through the internet and library materials, I am prepared to write chapter 1 of my dissertation. The major sources which I used included the following: America Attacked 9 11 by attacked911.tripod.com/, September 11,2001- washington.com. The parts of Chapter 1 which I considered challenging are the perpetrators and their background, the reasons for doing the attacks and the plans of former Pres. Bush after the attacks. I developed a logical researching skill by understanding the motivations of the perpetrators and their background. As I went on with my research I began to develop critical thinking skills. This requires that I analyze and evaluate all the information I gathered to select which are most relevant and appropriate for the discussion of every issue in the topic of 9/11 attacks. Indeed it was tough and difficult to choose the best information for a thorough and complete discussion of the issues like the war against terror and the alleged implication of Iraq in the 9/11 attacks. After writing Chapter 1, I proceeded in the next two weeks to continue my research for Chapter 2 of my dissertation which shall be on the US Foreign Policy towards the Middle East before and after 9/11. As I was already developing critical thinking skills, it was quite easier for me to discuss the US Foreign Policy before and after the 9/11 attacks by differentiating the said policy during the two periods in comparison. The point of differentiation is on the change of position of the US as far as its foreign policy towards the Middle East is concerned from a supportive stand to a new position in line with its war against terror. In doing Chapter 2, I have learned the alleged connection of Iraq in the 9/11 attacks and that of allegedly harboring terrorists. Also, the change of position of the US is characterized by a change in terminology from a preventive warfare to pre-emptive attacks. In the past, the foreign policy of the US was to prevent attacks against American attacks and thus conducted to ensure that said attacks do not happen but now the idea was to ensure that such threats did not occur in the first place. My major source of writing Chapter 2 is the 9/11/2001 Terrorist Attack on America by September 11 News.com. What was challenging for me in writing Chapter 2 is the description of the features of the new policy of the US towards the Middle East after the 9/11 attacks. Very significant also is the development of my researching skills in the use of the internet in gathering relevant and best materials for this chapter. In the following week, I was prepared to write Chapter 3 of my paper which will deal on the US foreign policy and the influencing factors which contributed in the occurrence of the 2003 U.S.-Iraq war to include details like the seizures of other resources specifically oil. With my critical thinking skills and researching skill through the use of the internet, I was able to make a thorough discussion of the U.S. foreign policy and its world domination. An understanding of the cold war phenomenon was important to prepare Chapter 3. It is important to understand the cold war because this is a phenomenon in which it can explain the spark of the U.S. – Iraq war in 2003. During the cold war, Iraq has been used as a diplomatic battleground of the two opposing side which the United States viewed as a strategic location to conquer Iran and growing anti-fundamentalism in the gulf. Thus, Iraq at the start is not the main target of the U.S. What started the divergence between the U.S. and Iraq is the invasion of the latter of Kuwait. This is also the point whereas Saddam Hussein had opened an area of condemnation and disintegration. The factors that sparked the US-Iraq were discussed. Another policy discussed is the policy on coalition which emerged after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also the highlight in the discussion is the observed decline of the US as a dominant nation as it was before in the world order. Among the arguments cited indicate that the blame for America’s decline is being placed on America itself- for its refusal to make more beneficial responses to aggressive issues and also that the US seems to be more concerned with fighting more wars, pushing for free trade, and in allowing mass migration, but not in seeking improved lives for its citizens. My logical researching skill and critical thinking skills helped me a lot in doing Chapter 3. Logically , the discussion in Chapter 3 is a further amplification of Chapter 2 while evaluating and analyzing all the information gathered and selecting the best with an open mind and putting them together systematically is through the critical thinking skills being developed. In Chapter 3, already indicated is the start of the decline of the position of the US as far as being the dominant nation in the world order is concerned. Finally , in the next month, I proceeded in writing Chapter 4 or the last chapter which gives an overall assessment of the position of the US as seen in the perspective of its war against terror. The chapter traces the efforts of the US to fight terrorism through its war against terror launched after the September 11 attacks and its implementation up to the present time. There were indications that the war on terror was not working. One indication of this situation is the terrorist attack in 2005 in London. Another proof is that the critics of the war on terror also condemned Bush’s policy of pre-eminent strike. This attitude has been criticized for giving rise to policies which have been wholly ineffectual. Other indications include observations in autumn of 2009 of interested parties who started to believe that Obama was being indecisive in ending the war in Afghanistan and also his attitude to the military service reflecting lack of support for the wars they are fighting. It was observed that the war on terror is floundering because the administrations of both Bush and Obama have yet to address the US vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks. Firstly, US nuclear reactors are still vulnerable targets for terrorists. Secondly, US railroad security is still very poor and US ports are still very much open to attacks. The third point is that although US biological defenses have been enhanced, the country is still vulnerable to bioterrorism because it has not put in place adequate policies among government agencies and concerned authorities in the prevention and management of bioterrorist attacks on domestic soil. Further nuclear and biological weapons and materials are not properly secured in the Soviet Union and in other parts of the world. It follows that a stronger approach to securing weapons of mass destruction has to be implemented in order to ensure that all Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) are adequately secured and no longer pose a threat to human life. I think I did the last two chapters well because of my critical thinking skills , logical researching skills and mastery of the information gathered. I was able to evaluate and analyze the information gathered and include it in the report the best way I can in the proper sequence. Likewise, the discussion is well-rounded which include comments and opinions from various experts thus, giving a complete picture of the US position after the September 11 attacks up to the present time. However, preparation of Chapters and 2 were also prepared in the best way it can be presented to bring logically the discussions to Chapters 3 and 4. Indeed, doing a research work is not at all easy. It requires various research skills. What I found challenging in doing this research assignment include the following: gathering and evaluating resources from the internet for a delicate and vast topic such as the September 11 attacks; Review and analysis of opposing and varied views and making a synthesis so that a clear discussion in the chapters is presented. Logical analysis of gathered information and presentation. Making good and acceptable conclusions from the research. My research plan for the next week is writing the introduction and conclusion of my paper. All research paper/dissertations should have an introduction and a conclusion. The introduction as an important part of the dissertation explains the purpose of the research and gives the reader an idea of what shall be discussed in the research paper. In short, the introduction will tell what the research is all about. For this particular topic on the September 11, 2001 attacks, the introduction shall include the purpose of the research work which is to discuss the September 11 attacks as it affects the US policy towards the Middle East and the present status of the US in the world order. It will be indicated that a well-rounded discussion of the following areas shall be the focus of the paper : a background of the September 11 attacks, the US Foreign policy before and after the September 11 attacks, the US foreign policy and its world domination and the US and floundering war on terror. In the conclusion, a summary of the main points in the discussions and conclusions made shall be indicated which will explain the significance of the research done. From the discussions in chapters 1 to 4, the main points to be included are the following: The September 11, 2001 attacks on America is considered a shocking and tragic incident acclaimed all over the world and referred to be spearheaded by Osama bin Laden , from Saudi Arabia , through his Muslim extremist group, the Al-Qaida organization; The US administration immediately responded to this incident by declaring a war against terror in September 22, 2001; The U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East has undergone major change or shift from a supportive stand to that of pre-emptive strategy based on his war against terrorism; The position of the U.S. as far as its status as the dominant nation in the world order is concerned has declined starting the period after the September 11 attacks due to his war against terror and other factors; Lastly, the U.S. is losing its way with the floundering of the war against terror as it was not able to minimize terrorism incidents/ attacks. It can be concluded that much can still be done by the U.S. for the prevention and management of terrorist attacks. In line with this, efforts shall be on the strengthening of approach in adequately securing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) so that it will not pose a threat to human life. Other task is to ensure that the research work meets its objective Thus, a final review of the whole dissertation shall be done for refinement/improvement of some areas as necessary. Re-checking of the citations of sources in the text and the bibliography as well shall be done. Bibliography Anup Shah. Middle East. (online) available: http://www.globalissues.org/issue/103/middle-east Eggen, Dan. U.S. Is Given Failing Grades By 9/11. (online) available: Panel. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/05/AR2005120500097.html Formal Analysis, September 11, 2001 (online) available: http://noosphere.princeton.edu/911formal.html Grunwald, Michael. Terrorists Hijack 4 Airliners, Destroy World Trade Center, Hit Pentagon; Hundreds Dead. (online) available: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2001/09/12/AR2005033107980.html Kjeilen, Tore. US/British-Iraqi War. (online) available: http://i-cias.com/e.o/us-iraq_war.htm Middle East Overview. (online) available: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/31942.pdf Roberts, Adam. Can We Define Terrorism? (online) available: http://www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk/2001-02/v14n2/04.shtml US Foreign Policy in the Middle East Since 1991 (online) available: http://revolutionizingawareness.com/2011/01/30/us-foreign-policy-in-the-middle-east-since-1991/ Wang, Marian. Overview of Middle East Crackdowns and the (varying) U.S. Responses (online) available: http://mobile.salon.com/news/feature/2011/02/17/middle_east_protests_jordan_yemen_iran_bahrain/index.html Zalman, Amy. Ph.D., Definitions of Terrorism. (online) available: http://terrorism.about.com/od/whatisterroris1/ss/DefineTerrorism_5.htm Read More

 

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