A Day That Changed Our Country

September, 11, 2001

By: Devon Young History 200 Dr. Andrew Morris Spring 2011

As I have read a collage of books in reference to the events and attacks of America on September 11, 2001, in which has not only had an impact on my life, but which has affected all Americans, it has sparked my interest in building collapses as well as the truth as to what actually occurred that day. The events I will be covering is often a difficult subject as which the staggering loss of life in America and Americans are faced with, has extremely affected all in which has served as the pretext for an upcoming two wars, the invasion of two counties, in which over millions of people have already perished by the year of 2006. In fact, terrorist attacks can still happen again as we are never really safe. As I peer into a painful part of American history in order to grasp an idea of the truth of how and why such horrific events occurred, I will present clear evidence of what took place around the time of events and as well as cover how Americans deal with finding out the truth of what had actually had happened as also many beliefs and conspiracy theories had arose throughout America. As some believe no conspiracy theories can be true and are just theories. The second word in conspiracy theory is theory, which is the active word and by definition means an idea, hypothesis, and or concept. Most beliefs are conspiracy theories as long as there is no evidence, but as evidence grow and are collected, either circumstantial or flimsy, it becomes a possibility, becoming more possible and probable. After reading several books, of such information and knowledge has had an eye opening and awakening of the events that took place for me in our country. In this paper, I have gathered events and claims of the events of 9/11 of in which it is up to you to judge whether any evidence presented that leads to any of the individuals, parties, or agencies involved in the interference, distortion, distraction, or cover up of any information could indicate possible involvement and even guilt in the horrendous and tragic attacks on our country in which four events occurred within an hour and fifteen minutes of one another. Islamic terrorists and such terrorist groups had begun to grow in numbers, as The United states is usually a primary target, as threats and such warnings began to spread throughout America in the early 1990s. They warn us a holy war is coming. Such claims as Blood must flow. There must be widows; there must be orphans... for the sake of Allah.1 As threats begin to be aimed at our nation, spreading throughout cities across America, they preach their message of hatred and death. As one shadowing figure emerges to spearhead and lead their holy war. Every time you would hear or read about a terrorist group in a different country, carrying out violent action, you would probably hear the name Osama Bin Laden. They try to attack Americas global dominance, but fail to destroy it. They vow to continue to try again. Al Qaeda is a continuously learning organization, so that will try to be successful
1

Henshall, Ian, 9/11 revealed: The Unanswered questions, Morgan ed. Carrol & Graff., New york: Robinson, 2005.

in their next attacks, with a new and bolder plan. Osama Bin Laden preaches he predicts a black day for the United States, a day after which America will not be the same as we know it. It is said to be that Osama Bin Laden had selected four young men to lead his attacks against America. By being selected, they all knew that die for Allah. How? They didnt know. The warnings had been clear to us Americans, as well as inside the white house and by the C.I.A. They were coming for us; they want to kill Americans. They train and scalp targets, and prepare for attacks. Some had been in the U.S. as well, living and working jobs as regular citizens, as they are among us, not wearing masks or uniforms linking them to terrorists or showing they are or were coming to kill us Americans. On September 10, 2001, Donald Rumsfeld holds a press conference as he discusses that U.S. records have shown that they cannot locate or account for $2.3 trillion in transactions 2. The next day, on September 11, 2001, in Portland, Maine, USA, as dawn breaks through a cloudless New England sky, two men enters the Portland jetport. They approach the first class counter for US airways and present one way tickets for they 6:00am flight to Boston with a connecting a flight to Los Angeles. One of them, Muhamid Atta had bought the $2,500 tickets online with a visa credit card two weeks earlier. The US airways Ticket Agent, Micheal Tuohey, notices these $2,500 first class tickets and had a sense of suspicion as it is not often you see such tickets. Both men are asked standard security questions, as Tuohey the ticket agent is troubled by expression on Attas face, he could sense a hateful and angered look on his face and had had never had this feeling before. He claims he asks himself If these dont look like a terrorist hijacker, who does? But ticket agent, second guesses himself, as he takes another look and lets goes of his suspicion as the men are dressed proper with ties and jackets and must be business men. Atta and second man, are waved, luggage tagged and checked, and directed to gate to board plane. It is said, two minutes later a security videotape camera notices them no longer wearing ties, nor jackets. At around 5:45am, at three other airports along the east coast of America, 17 other Arab men wearing business attire are making their way through other airport security checkpoints. Three of them, like Atta had have pilot training as all others are so called muscle hijackers whose job is to break into cockpits and subdue crew and passengers, as then the pilot hijackers can take control of planes. For the past months, several of the men had been taking surveillance flights on airlines across the country to observe air security measures, flight behavior and
2

Henshall, Ian, 9/11 revealed: The Unanswered questions, Morgan ed. Carrol & Graff. New york: Robinson, 2005.

routines of flight crews, as to noting when seatbelt signs are turned on and off, when cabin service, as to when cockpit doors are guarded and or locked. In Boston, Massachusetts, around 6:45am two teams of hijackers, ten men in all, have begun to check in at the Logan Airport. Two of the men at counter have difficulty understanding security questions as helpful agents repeat questions until hijackers give correct answers. Three of them had been chosen for an at random luggage search, but all make it through security with relative ease. Pass the security gates five men board American flight 11 for Los Angeles, among them is pilot hijacker muhamid Atta who has arrived from Portland. The other five board United flight 175, also bound for Los Angeles, who among them is Marjuan Elshay, a Homburg cell member who knew the most about the Koran and encourages other members to embrace their faith. In Newark, New Jersey around 7:24am muscle hijacker Ahmid Hoznowey is randomly selected to have his luggage searched. The other men, including Pilot Zia Jirah, who had called his wife in Europe earlier that morning to tell her he, had loved her. All four men board United flight 93 bound for San Francisco. In Dulles, Virginia around 7:29am two brothers who are both hijackers, Nawaf and Salem Alhazmi, are selected for extra scrutiny at the American Airlines check in counter, as one has no photo id and does not speak English. Their baggage is held of plane until confirmed they have boarded plane. A video from a security camera had seen Nawaf Alhazmi is checked with a hand wand as an unidentified object is shown in his back pocket but is not searched further, nor questioned. All five men are allowed to board American Airlines Flight 77 to Los Angeles. By 8:00am, all 19 hijackers have successfully passed through security checkpoints as several men carry knifes with blades less than 4 in. long in which at the time such items are allowed by FAA on planes. The choice of transcontinental planes is essential to their plot. Flights 11 and 175 carry nearly 24,000 gallons of jet fuel as Flights 77 and 93, carry over 11,000 gallons. At about 8:14am, American Flight 11 and United Flight 175, both from Boston to L.A. are air born. Flight 11 nears it cruising altitude, the captain most likely turns off seatbelt sign as at the front of the plane, two female flight attendants prepare for cabin service. In row 2, brothers Wail and Waleed Alsheri, rise from their 1st class seats. They walk up to the flight attendants and stab them. As the two women lay injured on floor, Pilot Atta rises from seat 8d. A passenger seated behind Atta, rises and tries to intervene as he is stabbed by Satam Alsuqami. Hijackers then breach cockpit and over power 1 st Officer Thomas Mginess and Cpt.

John Owenoski as within minutes, Muhamid Atta is at the flight controls. The other muscle hijackers spray maze in order to prevent other passengers and remaining flight attendants from moving towards front the front of plane. From the rear, a flight attendant Betty Ong uses an air fone to call American Airlines Reservations office in Kerry, N.Carolina in which call was recorded. Around 8:21, someone in cockpit turns off the transponder, the device that transmits altitude and identifies the plane in which can still be tracked, but now is more difficult. The American Airlines Supervisor keeps Betty Ong on the phone. On another line, she calls American Airlines Operation Center to report emergency. Then surprisingly, Attas voice crackles over air controls, which is being recorded, as maybe hijackers press wrong button, Atta thinks he had only been talking to passengers telling them to stay calm, that they were headed back to airport, and to stay quit, dont try to make any stupid moves, everything is okay. The American Airlines Operation Center confirms hijacking as the transponder is turned off and they do not have a definitive altitude of plane and think it is descending. At 8:27am, American Flight 11 veers suddenly from flight plan. In Rome, New York at Headquarters of Northeast Air Defense Sector, NEADS3, a call comes in from the FAA. They explain hijacked aircraft has headed towards New York and needed some F-16s to be scrambled to help as the air National Guard seeks clarification to see if this is an exercise or real world incident. By now, Flight 77 from Dulles to Los Angeles has already taken off as it too will be commandeered by a team of five hijackers as in Newark NJ the final Al Qaeda group operatives are aboard United Flight 93 towards San Francisco. At 8:42am, Flight 93 takes off late. This fourth plane will be taken over by a team of hijackers led by pilot Zihad Jihad. All four planes are now in the air. Moments later, over northern New Jersey, the assault begins on United Flight 175. Most likely, the two muscle hijackers Fay Banihammad and Mohan Alshehri move first, stab flight attendant, storm cockpit and stab both pilots as they hurl passengers and crew to rear of cabin as pilot Marjaun Alsheah takes controls. Back in cockpit of the flight 11 from Boston, Atta, the stern leader of plot is following the tip of Hudson River towards Manhattan. In New York, NY, on this Tuesday of September 11, it was a normal day, regular, crowded big city life, it was Primary Voting day as New Yorkers, as well as Wall St. and different trading firms inside the WTC all had

Henshall, Ian, 9/11 revealed: The Unanswered questions, Morgan ed. Carrol & Graff. New york: Robinson, 2005.

begun to start their day. At 8:43am, American Airlines flight 11, Amy Sweeny, a flight attendant has been on the phone with supervisor at Bostons Logan Airport for about 11 minutes as she reports passengers are under impression that they are under a routine medical emergency in 1st class. Seconds later, it is noted that she reports that they are flying low, we are flying very, very low, way too low as eventually the call is soon to be disconnected. At 8:46, flight 11 hits the S.Tower of the WTC as there is an enormous explosion, building sways, as building falls and collapses. It has ripped through floors 93 to 99, as over 20,000 gallons of jet fuel ignites as the inferno roars down elevator banks and explodes on floors 77, 22, and Westside lobby. All three of the buildings stairwells become impassible from 92nd floor and up. At 8:51am, as American flight 77 from Dulles nears the boarder of West Virginia and Ohio, the third group of hijackers makes their move. The men use utility knifes as they storm cockpit. Hanny Honjour, the Saudi pilot who trained in American flight schools since 1996, takes control of plane. At 8:54am, Honjour diverts the plane from flight path to L.A. and heads south then back east towards Washington, D.C. Back in Portland Maine, around this time, ticket agent who had checked in Atta and others has just learned about flight 11 from a colleague as he froze and remembers checking two suspicious guys in as he feels awful and shocked to news. In Rome, NY, the operations floor at NEADS headquarters scrambles two F-15 fighter jets in order to track American flight 11, which has already crashed, as the FAA needed help by not knowing location of plane. By this time, as the commercial jet has crashed into tower, NEADS needed help from the media as they were the ones with their eyes on the scene. New York City firemen, policemen, and rescue workers are already on the seen with hundreds more in route. At the N.Tower, more than 1,300 are trapped above impact zone with smoke and heat, in which fighting a fire that high up is quite impossible. At 8:57am, a fire chief orders the first Ladder & Engine company to ascend stairwell C, reach impact level of the 93rd floor and report back as each firefighter carries over 100 lbs. of equipment4. In Ronkonkoma, NY, at 9:01am, at the Air traffic Control center seeks military action and needs help because situation is escalating as a blip on the radar screen now shows United flight 175 from Boston to L.A. is now over central N.J. and headed to lower Manhattan where calls by passengers were made to family members and loved ones stating their plane was now traveling very fast, radically, people where vomiting, and did not know what was
4

Halberstam, David, Firehouse, Allyn and bacon. 1st, New york: Robinson, 2003.

going on. Minutes later, at 9:03am on this horrible morning in New York, flight 175 has crashed into second building of the World Trade Center, in which there was claims of loud explosions, large flames from building, city 911 system is overwhelmed with calls, as office workers and civilians were trying to evacuate as most were trapped from impact zones and up, running away from the towers with horror in their faces as now debris had begun to rain, including everything from glass to steel, as humongous clouds of smoke and fire came from the WTC, and it was now clear America was under attack. In Sarasota, Florida, around 9:05am President Bush was visiting and reading to a 2nd grade class when he was notified by the White House Chief of Staff, Andre Card had whispered to our president to let him know our country was under attack. According to 9/11 Commission report, Pres. Bush had remained in classroom for 5-7 more minutes and later leaves where he is briefed by his staff as it is not until from Rome, NY at 9:08am, at the headquarters of NEADS now know they are at war, and finally two fully armed F-15 fighter jets were told to head to New York city as they had been hovering over the Atlantic. At around 9:19am, United flight 93 to San Francisco is over central Pennsylvania as where American flight 77 from Dulles was over N.Virgina where passenger Barbara Olsen, wife to U.S. Solicitor General, Ted Olsen calls him at his office in Washington, D.C., and tells him plane has been hijacked by guys with knifes and he tells her about what has happen in New York, as it was now less than 15 minutes from the Pentagon. By 9:24am, three hijackers, Ahme Alhaznawi, Ahmed Alnami, and Saaed Alghandi storm the cockpit and over pilot and crew. An air traffic controller in Cleveland, gets a mayday, hears struggle, as he sees flight 93 plunging 700ft and soon sounds of pilot hijacker Ziad Jarrahs voice and hears the message Hi, this is the captain. Would like you all to remain seated. There is a bomb aboard and we are headed to back to the airport5 as the man who called his wife this earlier this morning to tell her he loved her was now at control of the plane. Back in Florida, at 9:29am Pres. Bush makes a brief statement before he leaves with Air Force One Today, we have had a national tragedy. Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country. 6 While news of world trade center tower attack is broadcast around the country, firemen are making their blind ascent up the stairwells of the twin towers, as a crush of emergency and rescue vehicles fled to help in lower

5
6

Commission Report, Chapter 7 , 136 Henshall, Ian, 9/11 revealed: The Unanswered questions, Morgan ed. Carrol & Graff. New york: Robinson, 2005. 218

Manhattan. Outside besides sirens, you could also hear another sound, a sound people say they would never forget. A reporter from, Fox 5, Jack Tullercio reports Every few seconds you would hear a bang, and what that bang was, was a body hitting the ground as it was the most god awful sound and would make you cringe7. In New York, it was a massive loss of life, in which makes the WTC bombing in the past look like a relatively minor incident as complete chaos spreads through the city. Twin towers are in flames as phone lines of are jammed callers inside and out of the buildings as people try to reach people for in which could in fact be the last time talking to loved ones. Communication for firefighters and rescuers is difficult as well. At 9:32am hijacker pilot Zihad Jihad is at the controls of flight 93 as he is flying over eastern Ohio as he began to turn aircraft around which is now headed towards Washington, D.C., as Jihads target, according to statements later made by Al Qaeda leaders was the Capitol building. The other 3 muscle hijackers are armed with knives as they assault and kill passengers and members of the crew taking over the plane. At around 9:34am American flight 77 is approximately 5 miles southwest as where jet fighters from Langley AFB due to miscommunications are out east over the Atlantic ocean more than 150 miles away from the Pentagon. Hijacker pilot Hanny Honjour, a man who had been chosen by Bin Laden, when some U.S. men cannot even get a Visa, had Washington in his sights and was closing in fast. Suddenly, flight 77 begans to rapidly descend from an altitude of 2,200ft, as Honjour aims the planes nose at the Pentagon as he punches throttles to maximum power at over 530 mph. A security camera capture flight 77s exact moment of impact with the pentagon as huge explosion and fireball reaching 50ft high as the plane had plowed through the Pentagons outer most E-ring, striking through wall after wall of reinforced concrete and steel beams as workers and survivors of now the Pentagon try to escape such destruction. Over eastern Ohio, pilot Zihad in flight 93, as his target is the U.S. Capitol building as this time, Americas last line of defense becomes the passengers themselves when a passenger, Tom Bernett claims to his wife he was putting plan together to take plane back. The guy with bomb looks small and is no match for meI can take him. 8 In Arlington, Virginia, around 9:45am, a scene that is eerily reminiscent of what we had just saw at the WTC, where now thick black smoke had begun emanate from the Pentagon. Eight minutes after attack on Pentagon,
7

Flynn, Kevin, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, 1st ed. Griffin, Simon & Schuster, 2004. 8 Henshall, Ian, 9/11 revealed: The Unanswered questions, Morgan ed. Carrol & Graff. New york: Robinson, 2005.

White house orders a full evacuation. From a bunker under the east wing, Vice Pres. Dick Cheney has phoned Pres. bush in Sarasota, FL. He urges him not to return to Washington as the plan is for him to stay in air until it is safe for him to return to the White House. At the FAA command center in Herndon, Virginia officials instruct all aircraft flying over U.S. to land, as in the next 3 hours air traffic controllers manage to land 4,500 planes at airports across the U.S. and Canada. At around 9:49, as indecision paralyzes officials, FAA officials contact their Washington headquarters asking for help to send fighter jets to find and intercept United flight 93. While this goes on, passengers along board gear up for a revolt to overcome the 3 hijackers, as the plane is now within 200 mi. from the U.S. capitol building. By 9:50am, in lower Manhattan as several thousand firefighters, police officers, and paramedics are at the WTC as people are pouring out of the buildings onto the streets. About 14,000 people had evacuated, as about 2,000 were trapped above impact zones. Nobody had realized the threat in which was happening over a 1000ft above them as the planes that had crashed into buildings, blowing fireproofing off buildings, as explosions and searing flames fed by 1000s of pounds of jet fuel had begun to soften exposed steel. Both towers were minutes away from collapsing. Firefighters head into the WTC, as the avg. man carrying over 100lbs of gear climbing 25 flights of stairs had begun to head up to impact floors, a 3 to 4 hr. hike up of both towers. This in fact is the biggest operation in the history of the FDNY, as Italian chief heads up to the 35th floor of the N.Tower he states I knew many firefighters would be injured and killed that day. Just by the nature of the job we had in front of us9 Another Battalion chief , radios as he surveys the damage on the 78th floor Weve got 2 isolated pockets of fire numerous 10-45 code ones. 10-45 code ones means several dead bodies. By 9:55am, the outer columns and trusses from floors 77-85 of towers are ready to give way as it is the last time people hear from many of the people in or around the WTC. At around, 9:57am, recorded by cockpit recordings, the battle for United flight 93 had begun. As revolt intensifies, a hijacker shouts "Allahu Akbar"10, Arabic meaning God is great as flight 93 plunges toward the earth at more than 580 mph and crashes into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Commission Report, Chapter 7 , 183 -185 Flynn, Kevin, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, 1st ed. Griffin, Simon & Schuster, 2004.
10

Back in New York, around 9:58am, it is clear America was under the worst attack of terrorism and may not yet be over as firefighters and rescuers still continue try to get inside the towers. As Stanley Praimnath and a coworker look back in awe at the burning sky scrapers, he states this building is going down 11 As his coworker replies and is not able to finish his sentence, by 9:59am, the outer columns of the S.Tower give way. Chaos breaks loose as people are running franticly and scared for their lives as debris flow and clouds of smoke cover the city. As the smothering blanket of dust and debris had gradually settled, the whole city had a very soft, quiet as the city had looked similar to whom some describe as a nuclear winter as particles and dust float through air. Firefighters realize the N.Tower is soon to collapse. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, around 10:10am firefighters arrive at the crash site of United 93 and find no survivors as officials at the FAA and NEADS are still in confusion as to where in fact the flight was located. Back in New York, around 10:10am, police are now trying to evacuate the whole lower Manhattan area as in the N.Tower of the WTC firefighters know they are running out of time and are descending abandoning people who were trapped above impact zones. In Arlington, Virginia, around 10:10am, rescuers continue to try to enter Pentagon as firefighters stop them as building collapses as a giant slice out of the Pentagons west perimeter caves in from top to bottom. There is no evidence of any 757 wreckage visible or found as to in which in some photos show in some cases a 757 could not create such damage. When looked at the size of the hole at the Pentagon it was approximately 65ft. across and 73 ft. tall. Now, from wing tip to wing tip, it is said a 124ft. 757 is 155ft. in length and 65 ft. in height. The hole was only 65 ft. across, many ask how does a plane that size, of such dimensions fit into a hole that size. The Pentagon is the nerve center for the U.S. military as it was considered to be the most secure building in the U.S. It took 5 years of lawsuits to force our defense department to release just 3 minutes of footage. No videos or photos have ever clearly shown an airliner or 757 approaching or hitting the building, on a video showing a huge explosion. Commuters driving pull over as huge clouds of smoke poured from pentagon, as they watched in amazement as our symbol of our U.S. National Defense establishment goes up in smoke as now there is amazement in Washington as there is concerns for safety of white house and surrounding buildings. Shortly after attacks, FBI officials confiscated many videos and footage of all events. A claim by Larry Silverstein, lease owner of WTC, was released by PBS, as he

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Colon, Ernie, The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, 1st ed. Bacon: Simon & Schuster, 2004.

himself is notified of events states Fire Dept. commander calls and tells me that they are not sure if they can contain the fire. I said we have had such a terrible loss of life already, maybe the smartest thing is to pull it. And they made that decision to pull. And we watched buildings collapse. Silverstein describes by saying pull it, a term that is used by demolition experts to bring a building down. As many of us have seen controlled demolitions in our past in casinos and stadiums, in this takes weeks of planning from teams of explosives experts who in fact study beams and structural analysis. Experts then wire all together, set in sequence, and then when done let building go or as they say pull it. In New York, by 10:21am, 22 minutes after collapse of the WTC S.Tower people are still trying to evacuate in and around the N.Tower as by 10:28am, the inner core buckles and the N.Tower had begun to fall. New York citys Twin Towers lay in ruin as Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda have carried out the biggest and most devastating terrorist attack and act of terrorism in history in which what was there this morning was now gone. As the dust clears after the collapse of the Twin Towers, firefighters and police converge at Ground Zero, forming bucket brigades in order to dig by hand for survivors as they try and remove debris as there was little they can do. The Twin Towers was now a an impenetrable pile of steel and concrete as hospitals stand by with triage units anticipating a flood of victims and injured from Ground Zero as they slowly realized very few living would come out. At 8:30pm, President Bush addresses a stunned nation from the oval office, as he announces an aggressive new policy towards terrorism as he states We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts, and those who harbor them. 12 As now terrorism was now going to be thought of as a crime, but an act of war as the U.S. would now pursue not only individuals, but governments who used terrorism as a tool of power. The first target was Afghanistan, where the radical Islamic government was harboring Osama Bin Laden and members of Al Qaeda. Across the nation, civilian aircraft are grounded as in the skies an eerie silence was only pierced by the sound of fighter jets. At C.I.A headquarters, counter terrorism officials scanned passenger lists of the four hijacked

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Flynn, Kevin, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, 1st ed. Griffin, Simon & Schuster, 2004.

flights, they recognize names of Al Qaeda operatives as they were not surprised and had a good picture of who was involved. By midnight at Ground Zero, the search and rescue mission continue to unfold as within the smoking hills of rubble where 100s of shoes lay in sight, yet not a single corpse lays in view as if anybody was near the towers was most likely to die. At the center of all this activity, the jagged reminisce of Twin Towers reached towards the sky as the city was faced with a daunting recovery and cleanup effort in the months ahead. On September 12, as the sun rises above lower Manhattan, the fires beneath Ground Zero are still burning as people and volunteers are still found digging for survivors in which half never found anything. Approximately 2,740 are confirmed dead at the World Trade Center including 157 who were aboard the two planes that hit the towers. At the pentagon, the death toll was approximately 189 including the 64 passengers and crew from American flight 77, as well as in plane crash in Shankville, Pa there were 44 announced dead. A final death count of approximately 2,973 was declared from these attacks an America on September 11, 2001. In the weeks that followed, Americans struggled to find a roofing in the new world known as Post 9/11 as such horrific events where etched in the minds of men and women of America, anyone on the face of the planet who was near a telivision that day. As in fact, I myself was living in California as a freshman still in high school, yet so clearly remember the devastation that took place, not knowing much about the WTC at the time and other aspects of world knowledge that was passed my level of knowledge and education as a young man. As not until later years in my life, in which I was able to travel and view the locations of these tragic events for myself as I could remember the chaos and pain America suffered that morning. Now unless all events were an incredible coincidence, we can assume most parties and agencies involved in one of these events were most likely to take part in all of them. Americas views or information on events from media and government could have if not flat out lied to about the many events of 9/11. Donald Rumsfeld had held a press conference as he discussed that U.S. records have shown that we cant locate or account for $2.3 trillion in transactions in which amazingly the exact office, where the plane had crashed was where all the computer and data holding records of what Rumsfeld had discussed was exactly hit. Another fact I found quite interesting was The WTC owner Silversteins admission of his and fire departments decisions to pull it. I can only ask myself the same as all Americans, Was there bombs? Explosives? Or anything else utilized that caused any of these buildings to collapse.

For the first several days, media and television coverage is nonstop in which was the most airtime for any story since the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy. A flurry of magazines at newsstands and books had have been published soon in which I am now covering and finally being exposed to. Within a week, the broadcast networks return to regular programming as it was said videos of events were too painful for America to see 13; commercial air travel in which was grounded for four days resumes nationwide, as well as the NY stock exchange reopens after 6 day shutdown which was the longest since the American Great Depression. In October, a terrorist mails letters contaminated with Anthrax to members of the U.S. Senate and members of the media in which in the same month Pres. Bush signs the Patriot Act into law in which gives our federal government new powers to combat terrorism. As well as American military forces prepares to invade Bin Ladens sanctuary, Afghanistan, in which was the epic battle Bin Laden had hoped for but had vastly underestimated our American military. Bin Laden manages to slip across border to Pakistan in a rural, ungoverned area where Afghan and Pakistan tribals welcome him as he is now a hero to them as he preaches in the name of Islam and has money. On May 30, 2002 a ceremony ends the eight and a half month clean up at Ground Zero. On the one year anniversary on the 9/11 events, Pakistan authorities arrest Romsi Ben Alsid who was the Homburg cell member who couldnt get a U.S. Visa, as six months later C.I.A. and Pakistan agents capture Khalid Sake Muhamid, the engineer of the 9/11 plot as the locate him in a villa and transfer to a U.S. military base in Afghanistan. In custody, he provides details of the 9/11 plot and admits as to being the mastermind. In March 2003, Pres. Bush leads us Americans into a war in which he defines as the next step in the new post 9/11 foreign policy as U.S. forces invade Iraq and topple regime of Sadaam Hussain. Also in March, the National Commission on the terrorist attacks against the US holds its first public meeting as not until July 2004, the commission issues its final report. Since 9/11, the long and bloody road has become bloodier still, as Al Qaeda is no longer just a terror network, but a movement in which operates worldwide as in many ways Osama Bin Laden has achieved in which he had sought out to as he has created a momentum and movement in which would certainly out last him. It was sometime in November 2001, that Bin Laden met with a journalist as they could hear in the distance U.S. bombs and sounds of air craft fire he used the opportunity to explain his views on the culture of violence that

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Flynn, Kevin, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, 1st ed. Griffin,Simon & Schuster, 2004.

defines radical Islam by stating This place may be bombed. And we will be killed. We love death. The U.S. loves life. That is the difference between us. 14 After reading these ten books in relevance to the attacks on America on September 11, 2001 it has provided an in depth analysis of the events occurring on this early morning in which was such a major event in our history. In covering these events, I have presented evidence and discussed topics relating to the 9/11 events as in which some believe to be a conspiracy. As most evidence and questions posed here are most certainly terrifying, Answers as well can be just as terrifying. Us Americans offer an open hand and love for the men and women who have served in a uniform, no matter whether law enforcement or military. We must support and defend our constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, as we must protect the American people. We all know war makes money, but at what cost must America pay? In the world, The United States is the only remaining world super power. As Russia is now our best friend, China is our biggest trading partner in which they supply most goods of leading organizations and retailers in which they manufacture. Now we are faced with the War on Terror, a nameless, faceless enemy without a country that can strike at will at any corner of the globe. War means money, just as well as time. Defense contractors is the largest industry in the country, if not the world as billions, if not trillions are spent. Trillions of dollars are awarded to Def. contractors every year as they manufacture and make different highly expensive, over charging tax payers money weapons. How do Def. contractors guarantee job security and profitability? The common answer is by guaranteeing war. Why does the mainstream media fail to thoroughly explain such topics and information? You must thin who is in control or power, as an example, NBC is owned by General Electric GE, as GE is one of the top ten defense contractors. With such information in mind, is it hard to believe that maybe people in power or our government may have created such enemy as Bin Laden. We could think of Bin Laden as an asset to the C.I.A. who has been said to have been trained, funded by, put into power, as well as have substantial financial ties to the at time of the events Presidential Administration. Is it possible the U.S. would or could create a bad guy, or create an Osama Bin Laden or Al Qaeda in which they could place the blame of the 9/11 attacks and other yet to come terrorist attacks? As we can see with accounts and evidence presented, The United States could of and as some believe could in fact be a conspiracy. On September 23, 2001 National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice announces the U.S. has
14

Colon, Ernie, The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, 1st ed. Bacon: Simon & Schuster, 2004.

evidence of Bin Ladens role in terrorist acts that it will present in due time.15 in which America and the world still awaits such evidence. In fact, since the attacks on 9/11, The United States has launched not one, but two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq both based on conspiracy theories. President Bush repeatedly tries to explain Our war is against evil, not against IslamWe dont hold any religion accountable, we are fighting evil. 16 This in my eyes is quite humorous due to Pres. Bushs history and high numbers in death penalties and in my opinion in some aspects continuesly hiding or bending different aspects of events and the truth to the events in America. His bad decisions and mistakes are backed by father, and by them having such power and control over such organizations, as well as having substantial amounts of money in which in todays society can often relate to power and control. There is one truth in which has come out of all of this, in which is as Americans, we do have a war on freedom. But have we had our rights and freedoms taken away by Osama Bin Laden? Sadaam? Or maybe the Al Qaeda? The answer is no, our freedoms have been legislated away by the very same people who have been sworn in by oaths to protect our freedoms such as the many republican, democratic, congress, senate, and even our president. Now thanks to the Homeland Security Bill, The Patriot Act17, The Terrorist Bill, The Model States Emergency Health Powers Act, we have thumb scanners, face recognition, metal detectors, as to at airports body scans and cavity searches. The evidence presented here is just a fraction of the 9/11 event as in which survivors, victims, and family members with lost loved ones continue to search for truth and study this topic. As great man comes to mind who best describes Americas pain. A man who as some would say, was less fortunate than Pres. Bush as to referring to aspects of riches, or ties with oil money, the wise man explains a similar sense of Americas strong sense of selfexpression in which to express your opinions, making your voice heard as individuals, because a time comes when silence is betrayal.18 -Dr. Martin Luther King.

15
16

Colon, Ernie, The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, 1st ed. Bacon: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Henshall, Ian, 9/11 revealed: The Unanswered questions, Morgan ed. Carrol & Graff., New york: Robinson, 2005. 17 Flynn, Kevin, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers, 1st ed. Griffin, Simon & Schuster, 2004. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. April 4th, 1967, http://www.quotedb.com/speeches/a-time-to-break-silence (Accessed 03.14.11).

List of books for quarter:

1. The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 By: Lawrence Wright 2.102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers By: Kevin Flynn, Jim Dwyer 3. Firehouse By: David Halberstam 4. Portraits: 9/11/01: The Collected "Portraits of Grief" from The New York Times By: The New York Times 5. The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Ernie Colon, Sid Jacobson 6. The 5 unanswered questions about 9/11: what the 9/11 Commission report failed to tell us By: Ridgeway, James, 7. 9/11 and American empire: intellectuals speak out Northampton, Mass.: Olive Branch Press, 2007 8. Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can't Stand Up to the Facts By: The Editors of Popular Mechanics 9. Americas War on Terrorism paperback By: Michel Chossudovsky 10. The War on Freedom: How and Why America was Attacked, September 11, 2001 By: Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, John Leonard