9/11 attacks: Decade of terrorism at its peak

Paul Arhewe

Published 08/09/2011

The first tower of the World Trade Centre collapses after being hit by a hijacked plane How time flies! It was just like yesterday when the world was shocked by the terrorist attacks on the New York Twin Towers and the Pentagon where nearly 3,000 lives were lost. Sunday would make it a decade since that gory experience, which shock Americans in no small measure and tore a once serene environment to one of fear and suspicions.

Two fuel loaded planes were crashed straight into World Trade Centre- housing the two tallest buildings in U.S. within interval of 17 minutes, third plane after about one hour plunged into Pentagon in Virginia (destroying a wing of government’s military headquarters) and a fourth one heading to Washington D.C. about 30 minutes later was prevented from carrying out the suicide mission, as it crashed half way in Pennsylvania, following the interventions of passengers that rushed the terrorists after hearing of previous attack through their cell phones. The attacks killed 2,977 people. The vast majority, 2,753, died in New York, while 184 people were killed at the Pentagon and another 40 at Shanksville. Those figures exclude the 19 terrorists.

The US government, after the September 11, 2001 attacks actually heightened the war against global terrorism and al-Qaeda terrorist network, which was seen as the prime suspect. Osama bin Laden, the head and financier of al-Qaeda group had a ransom on his head, and was American most-wanted man until May 1 this year where the decade-long search finally paid off. With a go-ahead order from President Barack Obama, US Naval Seals stormed bin Laden’s hideout in a compound in Abbottabad, some 50 miles northeast of Islamabad; an area that is home to many Pakistani military retired officers. According to US officials, the terrorist chief resisted the assault force and was shot in the head and killed. The Obama’s administration definitely scored a political point with the death of this American most-loathed personality. A point, which he surely need to have good footings especially as the race for a second term is currently on with a momentous pace.

Events fanning flames of mayhem

Last year, during the ninthanniversary of this terrorist attacks certain religious events fanned the flames of mayhem in America and across the world as tensions were high over the purported moves to set hundreds of Korans on fire by American pastor Terry Jones. This pastor of the Dove World Ministry who shepherds a small congregation of fifty people in Florida announced the burning of Muslim holy book in commemoration of the attack anniversary, after a previous inscription on his church that “Islam is of the Devil.” This attracted huge condemnations among Muslim faithfuls in Middle East countries and other parts of the world, who staged protests burning US flags and calling for Jihad against Americans. However, the pastor was admonished and he suspended the idea. Also, the proposed move last year to build a mosque near Ground Zero where the terrorist attack happened sparked off protests from many Americans. Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam behind the construction of the mosque stated in an interview then that the 13-story building has compartment for community canter and a memorial to victims of the September 11 attacks. However, after years of controversies over what to rebuild on the Ground Zero site, One World Trade Centre has been erected with 961 feet above street level, making it the tallest building in Lower Manhattan. Also, work continues on the seven-story deep 9/11 Museum, which would be launched in next year’s 9/11 anniversary.

Terrorism taking a global dimension
After ten years since the September 11 attacks, terrorism has become a global phenomenon and the carnages it leaves behind cut across race and countries. Apart from the Middle East countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, India, that usually witness terror attacks on rapid sequences, European, America, Asia and Africa continents have their better pills accounts to narrate. In UK two major terrorists incidences took place in 2007, the London car bombs and the Glasgow International Airport attack. Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian who attempted the Christmas-eve botched terror attack on a Detroit bound plane in 2009 showed how wide the al-Qaeda network has taken its root in the world. In Africa, the Somali al-Qaeda linked group al-Shabaab, with extreme Islamic faith has not only devastated Mogadishu but gaining grounds as it has started penetrating other African countries with its deadly acts.

The heights of this sect attacks was showcased in last year’s attack on Uganda’s stadium after the 2010 South Africa world football tournament. 74 football lovers in Kampala perished in that attack alone. In Nigeria, the spate of bombings from Boko Haram, a similar sect with connections to al-Qaeda and Somali al-Shabaab since last year has heightened. After the October 1, independent anniversary last year recurring suicide bombings and terrorist attacks have been witnessed in the country; many have turned deadly with casualties. The police force headquarters office in Abuja was bombed in June 16, and recently the UN building in same city was bombed with 23 killed and several people injured.

Has US won the war against terror?
Since 2001, the US military has not only committed millions of dollars in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but over 110,000 lives have been lost. The UK Guardian estimated that 6,026 American service members have died since ten years when the two wars began. The wars initiated by President George Bush were inherited by current US leader, President Obama. From all indications we cannot say it is total victory for the Americans, but over the years the al-Qaeda has suffered series of blows which have led to the deaths of three of their top four leaders including Bin Laden. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta recently told reporters that “We can take great pride that since 9/11 we have achieved very significant success in going after A-Qaeda, in going after Al- Qaeda’s leadership.” However, he warned and reminded Americans why they should be vigilant. “They continue to plan attacks and I don’t think we can take anything for granted,” he said.