UNIT 2 AOS 3: ISSUES FOR THE MILLENNIUM Terrorism and the end of the Twentieth Century: September

September 11, 2001 VCAA KEY SKILL: Factors which brought about change in the social experience of the community such as international, regional or local events, technological developments and/or environmental change: September 11 Attacks FOCUS QUESTION: What was the impact of the September 11 attacks on both America and Afghanistan? KEY FACT: The September 11 attacks of 2001 have become a leitmotif of American international and domestic policy

September 11, 2001 ‘Early in the morning, four American passenger jets were hijacked by nineteen men who turned the plane into massive suicide bombs.... (two planes) were flown into the World Trade Centre towers in the heart of the New York financial district’. (Evans et.al 2006:228)

September 11, 2001: Hard Facts Both buildings collapsed with thousands of people in them 2752 people died in the attack (2403 died in Pearl Harbour attacks of 1941) Some hijackers had trained as pilots in the US They used box cutters (or ‘Stanley Knives’) as weapons ‘Ground Zero’: Where the twin towers once stood

Bush hears the news... Clip taken from the Michael Moore film ‘Fahrenheit 911’ (note to teacher: 54 seconds!)

September 11: Other attacks American Airline flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon, the centre for US military administration United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after hijackers were overcome by passengers Flight was allegedly heading for the Whitehouse

September 11, 2001: The aftermath Shaped psyche of modern day America, and the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism was the leitmotif of the Bush Administration’s politics (Evans et.al 2006) A theme associated throughout drama with a particular person, situation, or idea.

September 11, 2001: The aftermath President George W. Bush’s approval rating was 91 per cent Anti-terror legislation ‘Patriot Act’ limits citizens rights: -All US and non-US citizens can be put under increased surveillance -Legally, evidence gathered under Patriot Act could be used for issues outside the focus of terrorism

Perspectives of the Patriot Act ‘...goes too far in its reach and includes unnecessary provisions. It is another example of legislative overcompensation, enacted in a time of crisis, similar to those of the 1950's anti-Communist era and the 1960's civil rights movement’. (Johnson 2006) Bush argued the act was essential to protect homeland security.

September 11, 2001:The Aftermath A tape released by the US govt. On December has him confessing to the act. Check it out at: Assumption that bin Laden and al Qaeda were behind this terrorist attack was used as a justification to invade Afghanistan to ‘smoke terrorists out’ (Bush).

Alternative perspectives There are numerous ‘conspiracy’ theories that suggest alternative causes to the 9/11 attacks Michael Moore’s ‘Farenhiet 911’ ‘Zeitgeist’ movies Among these theories -It was a controlled demolition -Planes were ‘remote controlled’ Jewish people did not turn up for work at World Trade Centre on the day -Al Qaeda did not carry out attacks: It was in fact the Bush Administration to justify going into Afghanistan to attain access to oil

Questions: 1.Describe the political and social change that the occurred as a result of the Septmeber 11 attacks