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Terror Strikes America |
In the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, two hijacked jetliners slammed into New York's World Trade Center buildings on Tuesday, September 11, leaving both 110-story towers crushed. It was nine o'clock am and thousands of people had just arrived for work. An hour later, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The White House, the Capitol and other federal buildings in Washington were then evacuated.
With over 6,300 people missing and presumed dead, the attacks are the most deadly terrorist act ever committed. A week after the attacks, the confirmed dead was 250, only 152 of which have been identified. Over 300 firemen and police officers are also still on the list of those missing following the collapse of the twin towers.
President Bush said, "Never did, in anybody's thought process about how to protect America, did we ever think that the evil-doers would fly not one, but four commercial aircraft into precious U.S. targets---never. "The nineteen men that are suspected of committing Tuesday's hijacking attacks were directly liked to alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden, officials said.
Bin Laden is a Saudi terrorist thought to be living in Afghanistan. An Arab newspaper in London speculated that he had been planning an unprecedented attack on the United States. But a spokesman for Afghanistan's ruling Taliban quickly denied that bin Laden was behind them, saying the sophistication of the coordinated assault required the expertise of a government.
The U.S. Defense Department is investigating the possibility that two of the alleged terrorists may have attended school run by the U.S. military. The planes that crashed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon were each taken over by five hijackers. Four people are believed to have taken over the plane that crashed in western Pennsylvania.
U.S. officials said there are still would-be terrorists inside the United States who they believe may try additional attacks in the country. When addressing the nation, President Bush stated, "The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible." Shortly after the first attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all commercial aircraft flying in the United States to be grounded, and this led to the closure of 451 airports across the United States.
Security was tightened at airports across the nation following the attacks. At LAX, passengers could expect to wait up to five hours for their flight, and could only have access to the gate if they purchased a ticket. A ban on curbside check-ins was also enforced, and unattended cars were quickly towed. Passengers' bags and belongings were meticulously searched. The employees of the airline industry were directly affected by the attacks, and sources from
United Airlines said Tuesday, September 18, that the airline plans to cut at least 20,000 of their workforce. Continental Airlines also said it is cutting 12,000 jobs. U.S. Airways said it expects to lay of 11,000 employees, and sources with Northwest Airlines have said they plan to announce layoffs with in the week. On Monday, September 17, stock markets resumed trading, after four days of suspension, to end the longest suspension since 1933 when President Roosevelt ordered Wall Street to close from March 6 to 14. That closure came during the depression that followed the stock market crash of 1929. Stocks tumbled 650 points at the outset and continued to struggle. The New York Stock Exchange closed with the Dow Industrial Average down almost 685 points, the Dow's largest point decline ever.
With over 6,300 people missing and presumed dead, the attacks are the most deadly terrorist act ever committed. A week after the attacks, the confirmed dead was 250, only 152 of which have been identified. Over 300 firemen and police officers are also still on the list of those missing following the collapse of the twin towers.
In the week since the terrorist attacks on the U.S., Americans have donated more than $57 million to various charitable organizations via the Internet , President Bush said. To aid in collecting the money, a group of Internet volunteers announced the formation of a web-based organization that will act as a universal place for donations and volunteer information.
Former ESHS student, from the class of 2000, now a sophomore at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Ronnie Cano said, "I was captivated in awe that our pentagon, was no longer a uniform building, but separated by an act of terrorism. I examined my horizon and noticed that the pentagon, the fire, the act of terrorism was two miles from my dorm: a quick jog along a route that I normally take."
Through the attacks and the aftermath, the American people pulled together in order to become the strong nation that it is known to be said Bush. He also said, "America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining."