2001. United States. 9/11 and the War on Terror.
"September 11 attacks in New York City: View of the World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty. (Image: US National Park Service)" under Public Domain by The National Park Service
On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in its history when al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four passenger planes and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., killing almost 3,000 people. The U.S. government's response to 9/11 led to significant changes in American foreign policy, including the launch of the "Global War on Terror." The U.S. also implemented a range of domestic security measures, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the passage of the PATRIOT Act. These policies gave the government broad new powers to conduct surveillance, detain suspects, and use force against suspected terrorists.
The war on terror resulted in a number of controversies, including allegations of torture and abuse of detainees at places like Guantanamo Bay, which were criticized by organizations like the Red Cross. The U.S. government's use of waterboarding as an interrogation technique also sparked debate about the legality of such practices. The Obama administration eventually disavowed the use of torture, with former President Obama calling waterboarding "torture" and a "mistake."
The war on terror also had significant geopolitical ramifications, including the toppling of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Some argue that the U.S. response to 9/11 played into the hands of authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin, who used the war on terror to justify their own crackdowns on civil liberties and opposition voices. Putin also saw an opportunity to strengthen his own position by positioning Russia as an ally in the war on terror.
The legacy of 9/11 and the war on terror continues to be felt in the U.S. and around the world. The Department of Homeland Security remains a central agency responsible for coordinating national security efforts, and Guantanamo Bay continues to be a contentious issue, with organizations like the ACLU calling for its closure. Meanwhile, the U.S. government's use of surveillance and other counterterrorism measures remains a topic of debate, with some arguing that it has gone too far in infringing on civil liberties. As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approached, Americans and others around the world reflected on the enduring impact of the attacks and the response to them, and the ongoing challenges of combating terrorism in the 21st century.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on March 24, 2023