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Al-Queda Formation
Late 1988, early 1989, Osama Bin Laden and former Muslim extremists formed Al-Queda as an Islamic militia and logistics network. Al-Queda separated when the Soviets removed themselves from Afghanistan although the opposition to any foreign nation in Islamic land remained. The group came back together in 2001 under the support of the Taliban when the United States invaded Afghanistan. This US invasion strengthened Al-Queda and led to the future terrorist attacks on the United States. -
1st World Trade Center Bombing
On February 26, 1993, a bomb exploded in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City. This terrorist attack killed 6 people and injured over 1,000 - the building itself had some damage but was not detonated like the later 9/11 attack. Ramzi Ahmed Yousef was the organizer of the attack and when arrested in 1995, the U.S. got hold of his future plans of attack on the United States ; he also was affiliated with Osama Bin Laden. -
Khobar Towers Bombing
The Khobar Towers, which housed over 2,000 U.S. Military personnel in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, was bombed. Killing 19 U.S. service members and injuring over 500, the bombers drove a tanker truck holding 5,000 pounds of explosives near the towers and left it in drive while they got out and into nearby cars to escape the explosion. The terrorists' plan of over 3 years was set to get rid of Americans in Saudi Arabia; reasons which led to the 1998 bombing in Africa. -
U.S. Embasies in Africa Bombed
A prelude for what was to come in a few short years, Al-Queda bombed 2 United States embassies in Africa within minutes of each other; taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam. Using truck bombs, 224 people were killed (12 Americans) and over 4,500 people were severely wounded. This attack was a precursor for the later 9/11 attacks and the US blamed Osama Bin Laden and Al-Queda for the act of terrorism. -
Resolution 1267
The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Afghanistan in order to force the Taliban to turn over Osama Bin Laden to appropriate authorities from a country in which he was indicted; a straight result from the Khobar Towers Bombing in 1996 where Bin Laden later fleed for refuge under the Taliban. Freezing all funds, and denying the landing or take off of any aircrafts indirectly or directly owned by the Taliban, this was one of the thoguhest sanctions put in place on an already poor nation. -
USS Cole
On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was attacked by suicide bombers when refueling in port in Aden, Yemen. It was the first event from Al-Queda leading up to 9/11. The explosion killed 17 US sailors, wounded 39 people, and was a foreshadow on the 9/11 attack which occurred 1 year later. -
Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Centers... 9/11
On the morning of Tuesday, 9/11, four American planes were hijacked by terrorists associated with Al-Qaeda. The public/news sources believed the first attack (a plane striking the North Tower of the World Trade Center), was an accident, but when planes hit the South Tower, the Pentagon, and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, President George W. Bush declared the U.S had been attacked. Within hours of the attack, both towers collapsed, leaving NYC in shambles with 2,996 American deaths. -
Afghanistan War
The Afghanistan War began on October 7, 2001, which was caused by the 9/11 attack on the United States led by the Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden and his group Al-Qaeda. There were many phases the United States had to go through before eventually ending the 13 year long war in December of 2014. There was one particular event during the war that helped the United States gain the advantage of ending the war on May 2, 2011. -
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
In response to the 9/11 attacks, Operation Enduring Freedom rose up. As Afghanistan harbored many of the individuals involved with the 9/11 terrorist attack, the US used the OEF to eliminate Al-Queda's operational base in Afghanistan. The OEF also sought out to suppress the Taliban, who welcome many of the Al-Queda members, with the alliance of Northern Afghan. As there were also soldiers in Iraq, the OEF didn't end the Taliban regime - there was a lack of strategic focus and troops. -
Patriot Act
Congressed passed the Patriot Act 45 days after 9/11. The Patriot Act allowed the government to seek out information regarding terrorism. It allowed the federal government search and surveillance for those who would be believed to have a terrorist intentions. This allowed for the government to track and monitor phone call, emails, bank statements, and credit reports. -
Transportation Security Act
Due to the 9/11 attack Congress immediately took action and passed and signed the Transportation Security Act in November 19,2001. The purpose of the Transportation Security Act was to protect the nations transportation systems. This now required travelers to pass through metal detectors and have their luggage go through x-rays before further entering US airports. -
Homeland Security Act
In November 25, 2002 Congress and President Bush passed and signed the Homeland Security Act. The Homeland Security Act reinforces security across the United States. The Homeland Security Act was created to act upon man-made disasters such as terrorism. In addition, to The Homeland Security was created to act upon natural disasters. -
Iraq War
The United States invaded Iraq with no declaration of war. After the 9/11 attacks, Bush began talk of war with Iran due to conflict with Saddam Hussein. Even though at the time they were mostly concerned with Osama Bin Laden for the cause of 9/11, Saddam Hussein was as much of a threat. They're purpose of invading Iraq was to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s government and eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. -
Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force
As a direct response to 9/11, in the post-terrorist attack world, the FBI created the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force in order to protect the citizens of the U.S. from terrorism. They set out to keep terrorists and their supporters out of the U.S. or locate them.The FTTTF, gains support and access from other governmental law enforcement agencies and all its efforts go to stopping terrorism in the U.S., particularly before the attack actually occurs. -
Capture of Osama Bin Laden
During the Afghanistan War, a raid was being planned by the US to capture/kill Osama Bin Laden. For almost a decade there was a manhunt to capture Bin Laden. Under the presidency of Barack Obama, Operation Neptune Spear took place, which led the seals in charge of the mission to Bin Laden on a compound he was hiding out in. They shot and killed him and 4 other men who interfered. They took his body so that a DNA test could be done to secure that it was him. He was buried at sea. -
Sources
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/09/05/timeline-key-events-leading-up-to-sept-11.html https://www.britannica.com/topic/al-Qaeda https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/osama-bin-laden https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-trade-center-bombed https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-embassies-in-east-africa-bombed https://www.britannica.com/event/Khobar-Towers-bombing-of-1996 https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/5110.htm -
Sources
https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/5110.htm https://www.aclu.org/issues/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance/surveillance-under-patriot-act https://www.military.com/history/osama-bin-laden-operation-neptune-spear http://www.historynet.com/operation-enduring-freedom-post-u-s-afghanistan.htm https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/wh/6947.htm https://www.brookings.edu/articles/iraq-and-the-global-war-on-terrorism/ -
Sources
