Thursday, January 8, 2009
THE INTRAMS
what is an ANTIVIRUS
Ano ang isang pusong Antivirus Program?
Isang pusong antivirus program ay isang programa kung saan nag-i-install ang sarili sa isang computer ng user, maraming beses na wala ang mga gumagamit ng kaalaman, at gumagamit ng mga malisyosong mga kasangkapan sa mabagal na ang kanilang mga computer at kumbinsihin ang mga gumagamit na sila ay may spyware, virus, adware at sa kani-kanilang mga computer. Ang software na ito ay patuloy na ipakita ang popup upang ang user sa inaasahan na sila ay bumili ng software. Ito rin ay gumagamit ng pinagrabe resulta sa gulatin ang user sa bumili ang software. Gayunman, ang software ay hindi tanggalin ang anumang mga virus o spyware sa lahat.
Kadalasan, ang mga software na ito ay nai-download sa pamamagitan ng isang Trojan at pagkatapos ay i-install sa iyong computer.
Ayon sa Panda Security, ang mga ito attackers ay may isang rate ng 3.4 percent ang tagumpay at ang mga ito ay ang paggawa ng humigit-kumulang sa 14 milyon na kita sa bawat buwan.
Ang tatlong pinakamalaking nagdadayo antivirus programs kasalukuyang out sa Oktubre 2008 ay VirusResponse Lab 2009, Antivirus 2009, at XP antispyware 2009. Karamihan ay na-kopya sa bagong pagbabanta, na isama Virus Puntiryang, Antivirus Pro 2009, at XP Protection Center.
Reflection:
an anti virus program is program use by the programer to disseinfect the virus who is attacking the computer sotfware of you computer in order for you to protect your computer you should have this kind of program to quarantine and dessinfect the virus program.. this virus program was made up also f those people who can make an anti of it.. in short it is a business between computer users and manufacturers. a business for them to gain huge income.
Evaluation and recomendation:
you as a computer users shoud always take care and vigilant in entering such malicios file in the internet cause thi files may contain an high risk computer virus.. as a computer user also you have this antivirus of anykind to protect your computer in attacking virus.. you should also update on time your antivirus for running it thouroghly as a computer program.. because if it is not updated your antivirus will be obsolete and not as effective as an updated antivirus.and there are also virus that cannot be detected by an obsolete antivirus.. and of course you have no choice you should buy it and installl it on your computer. its money talk!!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Enneagram Type 6: The Doubter
Enneagram Type 6:
Loyal Person, Devil's Advocate, Skeptic, Guardian or Rebel
Overview
You want to be safe and secure, to fit in and belong. More importantly, you want to have certainty and security, putting your faith in a trusted authority, belief system or tradition. You see yourself as faithful, friendly, conservative and/or cautious. You would like others to see you as loyal, dedicated and reliable. Your idealized image is that you are supportive and do your duty.
A bundle of contradictions, you can be wary and cautious one minute and/or rebellious and courageous the next. You possess an endearing childlike reactivity and often take the position of the devil’s advocate. Depending on the situation, you can be friendly and outgoing or reserved and skeptical. A ‘good soldier’, you prefer the role of buddy, loyal family member or trusted employee. You can be a reluctant authority because you fear that taking on a leadership position might make you a target for opposition. You are attracted to people who are strong, protective and/or have prestige. You seek trusted, reliable authorities and allies.
Often identifying with the underdog and distrustful of people’s hidden agendas, you are slow to trust new acquaintances. Fearing that you will be duped or taken advantage of, you are keenly aware of inconsistencies. To determine if someone is trustworthy, you watch for and question any discrepancy you observe. Once someone passes the testing process, you become deeply committed and a most loyal friend. Devoted to your friends and family, you show allegiance over individuality.
You are curious, skeptical and doubting by nature. Because you are afraid of being unprepared or caught off guard, you often rehearse in your mind what you might say or do. Imaginative and visual, you can often see what might go wrong. You may even enjoy scaring yourself by thinking of worst-case scenarios so that you will never be paralyzed by the fear of not knowing what to say or do. Although you are afraid of being afraid, you are capable of being profoundly dutiful and heroic. Once you let go of doubts, your fear turns into excitement and you can surprise yourself with unexpected acts of courage.
Need
You need predictability, a protective, trustworthy authority and the security of feeling that you belong. You long for guidance to manage the feelings of fear and doubt. You are a “proof junkie” who needs to test people, ideas and beliefs over and over again to see if they are worthy of your loyalty. You need reassurance and encouraging, positive feedback from friends and loved ones.
Avoid
You avoid deviance, uncertainty and anything that is different from any group or idea to which you ascribe. You are highly motivated to avoid disappointing friends or authority figures. Fear and doubt can undermine your sense of safety. You are afraid of fear, submission and cowardice, so you vacillate between loyalty and rebelliousness by puffing up and backing down. You fear anything unproven or radical. You also are afraid of deviating from the norm or being different from your peers. Your greatest fear, however, is to be alone and unprotected.
Virtue
Your greatest strengths are your abilities to test for the truth and to recognize and challenge a bad authority. Loyal and dedicated, you understand the value of making sacrifices for the group and are willing to enforce society's rules to ensure safety and security for all. You believe that if everyone followed the rules and cooperated with one another, the world would be a safer place. A hero at heart, you are capable of great acts of loyalty and courage.
Vice
Your vice is fear. This manifests as excessive doubt and playing the devil’s advocate. Your drive for security can cause you to envision a dangerous and divisive world in which you feel persecuted and then may persecute those who deviate from the rules or the norm. When you are afraid, you doubt your own authority and can become provocative and undermining. Seeking security, you try to control others by ensnaring them in your fears and doubts. A lack of faith in your own authority can cause you to overly submit to or challenge others, the rules or authority figures.
Attention
Your attention goes to feelings of fear and doubt and scanning for danger, hidden motives or agendas. You have a tendency to focus on the worst-case scenario. Your fears and doubts can keep you from taking action and/or trusting yourself and others. You may at times be overly phobic and at other times overly counter-phobic.
Spiritual Journey
Your spiritual path is to reclaim your sense of faith and courage and see unity instead of differences. In your search for security, remember that the only real security lies in having faith and in trusting yourself.
Mantra
As you learn to relax and trust yourself, fear will often turn to excitement and courage. Remember, people are far more alike than they are different. Embrace what is new and unfamiliar as an opportunity to remember what you already know and trust. Instead of idealizing those who rescue or protect others, overcome your tendency to hesitate or doubt and take action.
Wing
If you are the Enneagram Type 6 with the 5 Wing, you desire to appear remote. You see yourself as faithful, knowing, intelligent, refined, real and brave.
If you are the Enneagram Type 6 with the 7 Wing, you desire to appear conformist. You see yourself as loyal, casual, related, interested, energetic, warm and wary.
Famous 6s:
Phobic: Jason Alexander, Woody Allen, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger, Candice Bergen, Albert Brooks, George Bush, Lynda Carter, Stockard Channing, Rodney Dangerfield, Ellen DeGeneres, Eminem, Sally Field, Teri Garr, Ed Harris, Janet Leigh, Jack Lemmon, Richard Lewis, Penny Marshall, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Richard Nixon, Lena Olin, Anthony Perkins, Sydney Pollack, Paul Reiser, Pat Robertson, Rene Russo, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Carly Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, Meg Tilly, Brian Wilson.
Counterphobic: Ellen Barkin, Warren Beatty, Judy Davis, Phil Donahue, Carrie Fisher, Mel Gibson, Andrew Grove, Gene Hackman, Adolf Hitler, Dustin Hoffman, J. Edgar Hoover, Tommy Lee Jones, Wynonna Judd, J. Krishnamurti, Spike Lee, David Letterman, Gordon Liddy, Charles Manson, Steve McQueen, Michael Moore, Paul Newman, Chuck Norris, Rosie Perez, Richard Pryor, Robert Redford, Janet Reno, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, Steven Seagal, Ben Stiller, Patrick Swayze, Justin Timberlake, Linda Tripp, Ted Turner, Sean Young.
All content Katherine Chernick Fauvre, David W. Fauvre, Enneagram Explorations, © 1995-2007
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
THE SONA OF PRESIDENT GMA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Amidst the global threats of rising food and fuel prices, of climate change, and of terrorism, among others, the Government remains steadfast in its drive to win the war against poverty. Doubly so, the President remains focused and driven towards the attainment of her governance mandate of a better life for every Filipino. Short-term interventions and the long-term reform programs continue to be pushed to ease the impact of the global threats as well as keep the reform programs on track to sustain economic growth, and bring about the prosperity our people so desire.
Pushing the Engines of Growth
The year 2007 was a banner year for the country as the economy performed well, posting unprecedented growth and achieving a stronger fiscal and external position. In 2007, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.2%, the highest since the 8.8% in 1976. With the Net Factor Income from Abroad (NFIA) expanding by 16.5%, the Gross National Product (GNP) grew by 8.0%, stronger than the 6.1% in 2006. In the first quarter of 2008, although GDP growth slowed down to 5.2% compared to the 7% GDP growth during the same quarter in 2007, we still consider this significant, noting the global increase in inflation and the economic slowdown in the Philippines’ major export markets. Meanwhile, the robust gains of 30.3% in NFIA pushed GNP to grow by 7.3% in the first quarter of this year.
Growth remained broad-based in 2007 as all sectors accelerated while the major engines of growth in the first quarter of 2008 are the services sector in the production side and capital formation in the expenditure side.
For the last ten years, the agriculture sector maintained steady positive growth. Average growth from 2001 to present has been robust and sustained at about 4%. Last year, we recorded the 2nd highest growth in recent memory at 4.9%, which is higher than the 3.84% growth in 2006. A 4% growth was first posted in the first quarter of 2008.
The industry sector also posted a 7.1% growth in 2007, higher than the 4.5% growth in 2006, as mining and quarrying, construction and utilities offset the weakness in the manufacturing sector. Likewise, tourism contributed significantly to the continued growth and competitiveness of the Philippine economy. Visitor arrivals increased by 35%, from 2.3 million visitors in 2004 to 3.1 million in 2007. Tourism receipts likewise grew by 41%, reaching US$4.88 billion in 2007. Receipts did not only exceed the US$3.73 billion target for 2007 but also the US$4.86 billion target for 2010.
Among the three sectors, the services sector posted the strongest full year growth of 8.1% in 2007. This is also higher than the 6.7% posted in 2006. The services sector also remained the strongest growing sector in the first quarter of 2008, posting a 6.9% growth, which boosted overall growth. Growth in services was brought by the strong performance of the trade, finance, and transportation and communication sectors.
Bringing Development Back to the People
With the resources in the coffers and focused direction by Government, we have been able to implement the short-term interventions needed to immediately mitigate the impact of the global rise in oil and food prices. We have as well continued to push our reform agenda towards the attainment of the 2010 vision of a modern and an empowered society.
Thus, we continue to increase peoples’ incomes, either through wage increases, livelihood opportunities, and tax exemptions, among others.
We have enabled workers to obtain wage increases through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards. As of 16 June 2008, all the Regional Boards have already issued new Wage Orders, granting another round of increases in workers’ salaries and/or COLA ranging form P10.0 to P20.0. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the wage increases raised the minimum wage levels over an eight-year period (2001-2008) by 52.8% or an average increase of 7% per annum, which benefited more than 1.38 million workers. Government workers also received a 20% increase in their salaries since 2007 and a P1,000 increase in their cost of living/personal economic relief allowances. RA9504 or the Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners Act was also implemented, which the President signed on June 17, 2008, to provide financial relief to taxpayers through tax exemptions for minimum wage earners and increased personal exemptions for other employees.
On microfinance, we have lent to low and idle income men and women who want to start or expand their own businesses. Cumulative loans have reached P102 billion or 29 times the P3.49 billion we started with in 2001. Some of the major lenders are Land Bank of the Philippines with a portfolio of P69 billion, People’s Credit and Finance Corporation with P8 billion, National Livelihood Support Fund with P3 billion, Development Bank of the Philippines with P1 billion, and the DSWD’s SEA-K with P800 million.
From 2004 to April 2008, we created 2.29 million jobs from Microfinance and SME Lending. In microfinance, we lent P93.74 billion, majority of which went to the agriculture and fishery sector.
We too have provided more and better job opportunities for our people. In line with the goal to generate six to then million jobs by 2010, a total of 9.78 million jobs1 were already generated from 2004 to June 2008, 163% of the six million minimum target and 97.8% of the 10 million high-end target, by tripling loans to micro, small and medium enterprises, developing two million hectares of land for agribusiness and developing key industries such as housing, tourism, mining and ICT.
Further, along with the decrease in the unemployment rate in 2007 at 7.3% vis-à-vis the 7.9% in 2006, we have achieved improvements in the quality of employment in 2008 despite the slight fall (-0.5%) in employment growth.
We too continue to address social justice and basic needs. Towards this end, we have implemented strategic policies and interventions in the areas of asset reform, health, water, hunger mitigation, job creation and livelihood and protection and empowerment of the poor and the vulnerable sectors.
- As part of social justice, we intensified agrarian and ancestral domain reforms. Along with land distribution, we also pursued land and beneficiaries development to sustain and safeguard the gains already achieved under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
- To provide quality health care, we implemented mass-based health and immunization programs. We made half-priced medicines available through the Botika ng Brangay and Botika ng Bayan established nationwide. Under the National Health Insurance Program, we also provided health insurance to about 15 million indigent Filipinos in 2007.
- With the Government’s resolute pursuit of its Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP), the national hunger incidence declined by 0.7 percentage points from 16.2% in the fourth quarter of 2007 to 15.7% in the first quarter of 2008. All regions registered a decline in hunger incidence, i.e. three percentage points in Metro Manila, and two percentage points in the Visayas and Mindanao.
- On a nationwide scale, the barangay electrification level as of 31 March 2008 reached 96.69% with energization of 40,590 barangay, leaving only 1,390 barangays to be provided electricity.
- Since 2001, about 895,100 families have benefited from our national housing program. We have granted a total of P23 billion in housing loans in 2007 under the Pag-IBIG Fund, benefiting 47,367 families. This is the highest annual loan amount provided by the Fund since its creation. For the first months of 2008, P12.65 billion has also been provided that generated 24,379 housing units.
We continue to ensure quality education and youth opportunities. We have enhanced access to quality education through the construction of new classrooms, implementation of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Program; attainment of 1:1 textbook to pupil ratio (TxPR) in Sibika/Hekasi Grades 1-6, Araling Panlipunan Years 1-2 and English Grades 1-6 and Years 1-4 since 2002; promotion of educational excellence in the formative years through Early Childhood Education and Pre-school Programs; continuous improvement of the quality of teaching in the public school system; provision of computer access to 4,769 public high schools nationwide or 100% of total high schools in the country (29%) of which have internet access); and granting of loans and scholarships to poor and deserving students.
We have constructed a total of 82,933 new classrooms since 2001. on an annual basis, classroom construction has exceeded the yearly target of 6,000 new classrooms. From a backlog of 17,873 classrooms in July 2004, DepED was able to close the gap at 1:50 double shift in 2006. Because of this improvement, DepED reduced the classroom pupil ratio from 1:50 to 1:45 at double shift. Classroom backlog as of June 2008 stands at 12,418 classrooms.
We continue to work hard to achieve efficiency and self-sufficiency in the power sector.
In 2007, the country’s reliance on local energy resources reached 21,967 thousand tons of oil equivalent (kTOE) bringing our energy self-sufficiency level to 55.7%, the highest in history. Our goal is to increase this and achieve 60% energy self-sufficiency by 2010. We likewise pursued programs and projects to develop alternative and indigenous energy sources and collaborated with various stakeholders in the energy sector to increase local energy supply. We continue to move towards the realization of the goals of RA 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) with the opening of the Philippine electricity market to competition. We have made major strides in pursuing the privatization of the National Power Corporation’s (NPC) assets.
We too continue to push for the development of the five (5) Super Regions through the completion of the 1479 priority infrastructure projects, among others. As of 15 July 2008, 20 projects have been completed consisting of 12 Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ports, 2 airports, 2 roads, a bridge, 2 power projects, and a cold chain, have already provided their communities with jobs and livelihood, promoted stronger linkages between the country’s various islands, and allowed faster, safer, and cheaper transport of goods and people.
Strengthening the Bureaucracy Through Good Governance
We continue to strengthen our institutions, specifically weeding out corruption through good governance. This is to promote confidence in our country.
The government intensified its efforts against graft and corruption, focusing on punitive and preventive measures, as well as the promotion of zero tolerance for corruption. Partnerships with vigilant non-government institutions and media in exposing, detailing, and prosecuting cases of graft and corruption were also strengthened. As a result, more officials in key institutions have been investigated, indicted in court, dismissed, suspended from the service, or subjected to lifestyle checks. We pursued anti-corruption measures in the revenue collection agencies through programs such as the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) and Run After the Smugglers (RATS).
It is these gains that allow us now to implement measures to cushion the impact of the global threats on our country. It is also these gains that allow us to keep our reform program on track and our vision of a modernized society by 2010 achievable.
Short-term measures - - lifeline assistance, katas ng VAT, etc.
The next years will be highly charged years not only for the country but for the entire world. We remain quiet but nonetheless vigilant as we are well aware that the skyrocketing prices of oil and of food will greatly impact on our daily lives and on our vision for a better life for everyone.
But we know that it can be done as we have prepared and done our work well.
Towards this end, we need to do more as a nation. We need to carry out strategic measures for global competitiveness. We need to be more self-reliant to be able to feed our nation’s needs. Further, we also need to strengthen the very institutions that will help us become a modern society.
It is for this purpose that we have articulated our call anew for everyone to get together in the face of the daunting global challenges. Realizing that the vision of the Philippines as a first world nation is inherently the responsibility of all levels of government and all sectors of the society, we should all continue to draw from the spirit of unity, solidarity and teamwork for the betterment of our people.Copyright (C) 2008 Gov.Ph
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Profile :: The Honorable ANGELO REYES
Secretary
Tel.# 925-2329
Fax# 920-4352
Website: http://www.doe.gov.ph
Email: osec@doe.gov.ph
Angelo ReyesGENERAL ANGELO TOMAS REYES (Ret.) or “Angie” to friends, was born on March 17, 1945 in San Miguel, Manila to Pablo S. Reyes of Binangonan, Rizal and Purificacion Tomas of Malate, Manila.
Angie spent most of his child days in San Miguel, Manila. He completed his secondary schooling at the Cubao High School in 1960 where he graduated as the class valedictorian. In 1966, he was among the top ten graduates of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. He then proceeded to acquire two masteral degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1991. He also took up International Defense Management Course in Monterey, California in 1983. And in 1987, he graduated No. 1 in Trust Operations Management Course conducted by the Trust Institutes Foundation of the Philippines at the Ateneo Business School which eventually earned him a scholarship to the Northwestern University in Chicago, illinois.
Secretary Reyes Started his career in the military as a Team Leader in the Philippine Army Special Forces. He spent his field command duties as battalion commander, brigade commander, and area commander in Mindanao where he gained experiences in addressing the threats from the communist insurgency and muslim secessionism in the Philippines. He became the Commanding General of the Philippine Army which propelled him to the top post of the Philippine Military as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
As AFP Chief of Staff, he worked towards the Vision of A 21st Century Armed Forces… that is fully mission-effective, progressively-efficient, technology-driven, versatile, responsive to change and composed of soldiers who are visible role models to the Filipino People. On January 19, 2001, moved by the spirit of patriotism, the then General Reyes played an instrumental role in leading the entire Armed Forces in a collective effort to side with the Filipino People’s call for a genuine reform in society and governance. That momentous decision led to a peaceful transition of national leadership which ushered new hope for truth, honor and decency in public service.
Barely two days after his retirement as the 27th Chief of Staff of the AFP, he was sworn into office as the 23rd Secretary of National Defense. In concurrent capacity, he also chaired the National Disaster Coordinating Council. Under his leadership, hw was able to imbibe a culture of excellence at the department of national defense and transformed it into a technology-driven defense establishment making it more re3sponsive to the challenges o rapidly changing security establishment amidst the rising trend in global terrorism, He was instrumental in crafting the National Internal Security Plan which is now being implemented by the government in addressing the root causes of insurgency through poverty alleviation, delivery of basic services and empowerment of the local government.
As chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, he campaigned for preservation of lives and property through individual preparedness and responsiveness. He ventured on a tri-media information campaign program dubbed “FIRST DEFENSE” which was proven effective in educating individuals and families on how to be self-reliant in times of disasters and calamities.
August 29, 2003, Secretary REYES stepped down from his post as Secretary of National Defense. Considered by many as a knight sacrificed to save the queen in the political chess game, his resignation from his post exemplified an awe-inspiring sense of self-sacrifice that rose above personal interests and love for the country. To paraphrase an editorial in a local daily newspaper, his resignation rove above the level of mere decency to true statesmanship.
Secretary Reyes, however, was named Anti-Kidnapping Presidential Adviser on October 26, 2003, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Executive Order Number 248 creating the Office of the Anti-Kidnapping Presidential Adviser, and subsequently, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) to address the problem of kidnapping in the country and to demonstrate the governments resolve to eradicate this menace. His installation as anti-kidnapping czar once again proved the effectiveness of his leadership as the Task Force was able to neutralize the number one Kidnap-for-Ransom Gang (KFRG) on the NAKTF order of battle, in his few short weeks in office.
Barely five months after NAKTF was created, Secretary Reyes was once again appointed as the Presidential Adviser on Anti-Smuggling on March 10, 2004 by virtue of Executive Order Number 297 to orchestrate and oversee a consolidated national anti-smuggling campaign. He now heads the National Anti-Smuggling Task Force (NASTF) as Chief, and is making headway in the fight against smuggling, proving further his mettle and grit in putting an end to the ills that beset the nation.
Throughout his career, Secretary Reyes received various awards and decorations from both the military and civilian institutions. He was a recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor, AFP Distinguished Service Star, Military Merit Medals, Anti-Dissidence Campaign Ribbons and other Philippine military decorations. He was awarded the Order of the White Elephant by King Bhumidol of Thailand and the Order of Valor by the King of Malaysia.
As a civic leader, he was chosen as the Most Outstanding Project Chairman by the Philippine Jaycees for Project “The Youth Speaks” in 1981. That same project was later adjudged as the Most Outstanding External Affairs Project in the World during the Jaycees World Convention in Germany in 1991. In 1991, he was given the honor of being a Kabisig Awardee for his Project: Common Cause, Uncommon Zeal”. (KABISIG is a nationwide government socio-economic project in rural areas). With all these accomplishments, he was named the Most Outstanding Alumnus of the Asian Institute of Management in 1982 and Most Outstanding PMA Alumnus (Cavalier Award for Public Administration) in 2001.
Secretary ANGELO REYES truly exemplifies the benefits of education, the values of leadership, and the legacy of dedication to ones, resolve for the good of the majority.
Secretary Reyes is married to Teresita P Reyes with whom he has five sons, Pablo, Angelito, Marc, Carlo and Judd.
Website: http://www.doe.gov.ph
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The 9-11 attack
| September 11 attacks | |
 Twin towers of the World Trade Center burning. American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower, left, then United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower, right. | |
| Location | New York City, U.S. (1st & 2nd) Arlington Co, VA, U.S. (3rd) |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, September 11, 2001 8:46 am – 10:28 am (UTC-4) |
| Attack type | Aircraft hijacking, Mass murder, Murder-suicide, Suicide attack |
| Deaths | 2,998 (excluding the 19 hijackers, including 24 presumed dead) |
| Injured | 6,291+ |
| Perpetrator(s) | al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden, see also Responsibility and Organizers. |
The September 11 attacks (often referred to as nine-eleven, written 9/11) were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, nineteen Islamist terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners.[1][2] The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others working in the building. Both buildings collapsed within two hours, destroying at least two nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There are no survivors from any of the flights.
Excluding the 19 hijackers, 2,974 people died in the attacks. Another 24 are missing and presumed dead.[3][4] The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 different countries. In addition, the death of at least one person from lung disease was ruled by a medical examiner to be a result of exposure to dust from the World Trade Center's collapse.[5]
The United States responded to the attacks by launching a War on Terrorism, invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, who had harbored al-Qaeda terrorists, and enacting the USA PATRIOT Act. Many other states also strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded law enforcement powers. Some American stock exchanges stayed closed for the rest of the week, and posted enormous losses upon reopening, especially in the airline and insurance industries. The economy of Lower Manhattan ground to a halt, as billions of dollars in office space was damaged or destroyed.
The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and the Pentagon Memorial was built on the site.[6] Rebuilding the World Trade Center site has proven more difficult, with controversy over possible designs as well as the pace of construction. Construction delays, revised cost estimates, security concerns, and public criticism have all led to changes and delays to the final plans in rebuilding the complex to this day.
Attacks
Early in the morning on September 11, 2001, nineteen hijackers took control of four commercial airliners en route to San Francisco and Los Angeles from Boston, Newark, and Washington, D.C. (Washington Dulles International Airport).[1] At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the World Trade Center's North Tower, followed by United Airlines Flight 175 which hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.[7][8] Another group of hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.[9] A fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93, whose ultimate target was thought to be either the United States Capitol or White House, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m.[10][11]
During the hijacking of the airplanes, the hijackers used box-cutter knives to kill flight attendants, passengers, and crew members, including the captain of Flight 11, John Ogonowski.[12] Some passengers were able to make phone calls using the cabin airphone service and mobile phones.[13][14] They reported that several hijackers were aboard each plane. The 9/11 Commission established that two of the hijackers had recently purchased Leatherman multi-function hand tools.[15] Some form of noxious chemical spray, such as tear gas or pepper spray, was reported to have been used on American 11 and United 175 to keep passengers out of the first-class cabin.[16] A flight attendant on Flight 11, a passenger on Flight 175, and passengers on Flight 93 mentioned that the hijackers had bombs, but one of the passengers also mentioned he thought the bombs were fake. No traces of explosives were found at the crash sites. The 9/11 Commission Report believed the bombs were probably fake.[12]
On United Airlines Flight 93, black box recordings revealed that crew and passengers attempted to seize control of the plane from the hijackers after learning through phone calls that similarly hijacked planes had been crashed into buildings that morning.[17][18] According to the transcript of Flight 93's recorder, one of the hijackers gave the order to roll the plane once it became evident that they would lose control of the plane to the passengers.[19] Soon afterward, the aircraft crashed into a field near Shanksville in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, at 10:03:11 a.m. local time (14:03:11 UTC). Al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Mohammed mentioned in a 2002 interview with Yosri Fouda, an al Jazeera journalist, that Flight 93's target was the United States Capitol, which was given the code name "the Faculty of Law".[20]
Three buildings in the World Trade Center Complex collapsed due to structural failure on the day of the attack.[21] The south tower (2 WTC) fell at approximately 9:59 a.m., after burning for 56 minutes in a fire caused by the impact of United Airlines Flight 175.[21] The north tower (1 WTC) collapsed at 10:28 a.m., after burning for approximately 102 minutes.[21] When the north tower collapsed, debris heavily damaged the nearby 7 World Trade Center (7 WTC) building. Its structural integrity was further compromised by fires, and the building collapsed later in the day at 5:20 p.m.[22]
The attacks created widespread confusion among news organizations and air traffic controllers across the United States. All international civilian air traffic was banned from landing on US soil for three days.[23] Aircraft already in flight were either turned back or redirected to airports in Canada or Mexico. News sources aired unconfirmed and often contradictory reports throughout the day. One of the most prevalent of these reported that a car bomb had been detonated at the U.S. State Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C.[24] Soon after reporting for the first time on the Pentagon crash, CNN and other media also briefly reported that a fire had broken out on the Washington Mall.[25] Another report went out on the AP wire, claiming that a Delta Air Lines airliner—Flight 1989—had been hijacked. This report, too, turned out to be in error; the plane was briefly thought to represent a hijack risk, but it responded to controllers and landed safely in Cleveland, Ohio.[26]
Casualties
| Fatalities (excluding hijackers) | ||
|---|---|---|
| New York City | World Trade Center | 2,604 died and another 24 remain listed as missing[27][28] |
| American 11 | 87[29] | |
| United 175 | 59[30] | |
| Arlington | Pentagon | 125[31] |
| American 77 | 59[32] | |
| Shanksville | United 93 | 40[33] |
| Total | 2,974 died and another 24 remain listed as missing. | |
There were 2,974 fatalities, excluding the 19 hijackers: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon.[34][35] An additional 24 people remain listed as missing.[27] All of the fatalities in the attacks were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon.[36] More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center.[37] In 2007, the New York City medical examiner's office added Felicia Dunn-Jones to the official death toll from the September 11 attacks. Dunn-Jones died five months after 9/11 from a lung condition which was linked to exposure to dust during the collapse of the World Trade Center.[38]
NIST estimated that approximately 17,400 civilians were in the World Trade Center complex at the time of the attacks, while turnstile counts from the Port Authority suggest that 14,154 people were typically in the Twin Towers by 8:45 a.m.[39][40] The vast majority of people below the impact zone safely evacuated the buildings, along with 18 individuals who were in the impact zone in the south tower.[41] 1,366 people died who were at or above the floors of impact in the North Tower.[42] According to the Commission Report, hundreds were killed instantly by the impact, while the rest were trapped and died after the tower collapsed.[43] As many as 600 people were killed instantly or were trapped at or above the floors of impact in the South Tower.[42]
At least 200 people jumped to their deaths from the burning towers (as depicted in the photograph "The Falling Man"), landing on the streets and rooftops of adjacent buildings hundreds of feet below.[44] Some of the occupants of each tower above its point of impact made their way upward toward the roof in hope of helicopter rescue, but the roof access doors were locked. No plan existed for helicopter rescues, and on September 11, the thick smoke and intense heat would have prevented helicopters from conducting rescues.[45]
A total of 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene died as they attempted to implement rescue and fire suppression efforts. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) lost 341 firefighters and 2 FDNY paramedics.[46] The New York City Police Department lost 23 officers.[47] The Port Authority Police Department lost 37 officers,[48] as well as a K9 dog named Sirius.[49] Private EMS units lost 8 additional EMTs and paramedics.[50][51]
Cantor Fitzgerald L.P., an investment bank on the 101st–105th floors of One World Trade Center, lost 658 employees, considerably more than any other employer.[52] Marsh Inc., located immediately below Cantor Fitzgerald on floors 93–101 (the location of Flight 11's impact), lost 295 employees, and 175 employees of Aon Corporation were killed.[53] After New York, New Jersey was the hardest hit state, with the city of Hoboken sustaining the most fatalities.[54]
Weeks after the attack, the estimated death toll was over 6,000.[55] The city was only able to identify remains for approximately 1,600 of the victims at the World Trade Center. The medical examiner's office also collected "about 10,000 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the list of the dead."[56] Bone fragments were still being found in 2006 as workers were preparing to demolish the damaged Deutsche Bank Building.
Damage
In addition to the 110-floor Twin Towers of the World Trade Center itself, numerous other buildings at the World Trade Center site were destroyed or badly damaged, including 7 World Trade Center, 6 World Trade Center, 5 World Trade Center, 4 World Trade Center, the Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), and the World Financial Center complex and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.[57] The Deutsche Bank Building across Liberty Street from the World Trade Center complex was later condemned due to the uninhabitable, toxic conditions inside the office tower, and is undergoing deconstruction.[58][59] The Borough of Manhattan Community College's Fiterman Hall at 30 West Broadway was also condemned due to extensive damage in the attacks, and is slated for deconstruction.[60] Other neighboring buildings including 90 West Street and the Verizon Building suffered major damage, but have since been restored.[61] World Financial Center buildings, One Liberty Plaza, the Millenium Hilton, and 90 Church Street had moderate damage.[62] Communications equipment atop the North Tower, including broadcast radio, television and two-way radio antenna towers were also destroyed, but media stations were quickly able to reroute signals and resume broadcasts.[57][63] In Arlington County, a portion of the Pentagon was severely damaged by fire and one section of the building collapsed.[64]
Rescue and recovery
The Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) quickly deployed 200 units (half of the department) to the site, whose efforts were supplemented by numerous off-duty firefighters and EMTs.[65][66][67] The New York Police Department (NYPD) sent Emergency Service Units (ESU) and other police personnel, along with deploying its aviation unit.[68] Once on the scene, the FDNY, NYPD, and Port Authority police did not coordinate efforts,[65] and ended up doing redundant searches for civilians.[69] As conditions deteriorated, the NYPD aviation unit relayed information to police commanders, who issued orders for its personnel to evacuate the towers; Most NYPD officers were able to safely evacuate before the buildings collapsed.[68][69] With separate command posts setup and incompatible radio communications between the agencies, warnings were not passed along to FDNY commanders. After the first tower collapsed, FDNY commanders did issue evacuation warnings, however due to technical difficulties with malfunctioning radio repeater systems, many firefighers never heard the evacuation orders. 9-1-1 dispatchers also received information from callers that was not passed along to commanders on the scene.[66] Within hours of the attack, a massive search and rescue operation was launched. After months of around-the-clock operations, the World Trade Center site was cleared by the end of May 2002.[70]
Attackers and their motivation
- See also: Responsibility for the September 11 attacks, Organizers of the September 11 attacks, Trials related to the September 11 attacks, and 20th hijacker
Within hours of the attacks, the FBI was able to determine the names and in many cases the personal details of the suspected pilots and hijackers.[71][72] Mohamed Atta's luggage, which did not make the connection from his Portland flight onto Flight 11, contained papers that revealed the identity of all 19 hijackers, and other important clues about their plans, motives, and backgrounds.[73] On the day of the attacks, the National Security Agency intercepted communications that pointed to Osama bin Laden, as did German intelligence agencies.[74][75] On September 27, 2001, the FBI released photos of the 19 hijackers, along with information about the possible nationalities and aliases of many.[76] Fifteen of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Egypt, and one from Lebanon.[77] Mohamed Atta was the ringleader of the 19 hijackers.[78] In sharp contrast to the standard profile of suicide bombers, the hijackers were well-educated, mature adults, whose belief systems were fully formed.[79]
The FBI investigation into the attacks, code named operation PENTTBOM, was the largest and most complex investigation in the history of the FBI, involving over 7,000 special agents.[80] Through interrogations of USS Cole bombing suspects in Yemen, the FBI was able to link the hijackers to Al-Qaeda.[81] The United States government determined that al-Qaeda, headed by Osama bin Laden, bore responsibility for the attacks, with the FBI stating "evidence linking al-Qaeda and bin Laden to the attacks of September 11 is clear and irrefutable".[82] The Government of the United Kingdom reached the same conclusion regarding al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's culpability for the September 11, 2001 attacks.[83]
Al-Qaeda
The origins of al-Qaeda can be traced back to 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Soon after the invasion, Osama bin Laden traveled to Afghanistan where he helped organize Arab mujahideen and established the Maktab al-Khidamat (MAK) organization to resist the Soviets. In 1989, as the Soviets withdrew, MAK was transformed into a "rapid reaction force" in jihad against governments across the Muslim world. Under the guidance of Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden became more radical.[84] In 1996, bin Laden issued his first fatwā which called for American soldiers to leave Saudi Arabia.[85]
In a second fatwā issued in 1998, bin Laden outlined his objections to American foreign policy towards Israel, as well as the continued presence of American troops in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War.[86] Bin Laden used Islamic texts to exhort violent action against American military and citizenry until the stated grievances are reversed, noting "ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries."[86]
Planning of the attacks
The idea for the September 11 plot came from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who first presented the idea to Osama bin Laden in 1996.[87] At that point, Bin Laden and al-Qaeda were in a period of transition, having just relocated back to Afghanistan from Sudan.[88] The 1998 African Embassy bombings and Bin Laden's 1998 fatwā marked a turning point, with bin Laden intent on attacking the United States.[88] In late 1998 or early 1999, bin Laden gave approval for Mohammed to go forward with organizing the plot. A series of meetings occurred in spring of 1999, involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Osama bin Laden, and his deputy Mohammed Atef.[88] Mohammed provided operational support for the plot, including target selections and helping arrange travel for the hijackers.[88] Bin Laden overruled Mohammed, rejecting some potential targets such as the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles[89] because "there was not enough time to prepare for such an operation".[90]
Bin Laden provided leadership for the plot, along with financial support, and was involved in selecting participants for the plot.[91] Bin Laden initially selected Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, both experienced jihadists who fought in Bosnia. Hazmi and Mihdhar arrived in mid-January 2000, after traveling to Malaysia for a meeting. In spring 2000, Hazmi and Mihdhar took flying lessons in San Diego, California, but both spoke little English, did not do well with flying lessons, and eventually served as "muscle" hijackers.[92][93] In late 1999, a group of men from Hamburg, Germany arrived in Afghanistan, including Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, Ziad Jarrah, and Ramzi Binalshibh.[94] Bin Laden selected these men for the plot, as they were educated, could speak English, and had experience living in the west.[95] New recruits were routinely screened for special skills, which allowed Al Qaeda leaders to also identify Hani Hanjour, who already had a commercial pilot's license, for the plot.[96]
Hanjour arrived in San Diego on December 8, 2000, joining Hazmi. They soon left for Arizona, where Hanjour took refresher training. Marwan al-Shehhi arrived at the end of May 2000, while Atta arrived on June 3, 2000, and Jarrah arrived on June 27, 2000. Binalshibh applied several times for a visa to the United States, but as a Yemeni, he was rejected out of concerns he would overstay his visa and remain as an illegal immigrant. Binalshibh remained in Hamburg, providing coordination between Atta and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The three Hamburg cell members all took pilot training in south Florida. In spring 2001, the muscle hijackers began arriving in the United States.[97] In July 2001, Atta met with Binalshibh in Spain, where they coordinated details of the plot, including final target selection. Binalshibh also passed along Bin Laden's wish for the attacks to be carried out as soon as possible.Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden's declaration of a holy war against the United States, and a fatwā signed by bin Laden and others calling for the killing of American civilians in 1998, are seen by investigators as evidence of his motivation to commit such acts.[99]
Bin Laden initially denied, but later admitted, involvement in the incidents.[2][100] On September 16, 2001, bin Laden denied any involvement with the attacks by reading a statement which was broadcast by Qatar's Al Jazeera satellite channel: "I stress that I have not carried out this act, which appears to have been carried out by individuals with their own motivation."[101] This denial was broadcast on U.S. news networks and worldwide.
In November 2001, U.S. forces recovered a videotape from a destroyed house in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in which Osama bin Laden is talking to Khaled al-Harbi. In the tape, bin Laden admits foreknowledge of the attacks.[102] The tape was broadcast on various news networks from December 13, 2001. His distorted appearance on the tape has been attributed to tape transfer artifact.[103]
On December 27, 2001, a second bin Laden video was released. In the video, he states, "Terrorism against America deserves to be praised because it was a response to injustice, aimed at forcing America to stop its support for Israel, which kills our people," but he stopped short of admitting responsibility for the attacks.[104]
Shortly before the U.S. presidential election in 2004, in a taped statement, bin Laden publicly acknowledged al-Qaeda's involvement in the attacks on the U.S. and admitted his direct link to the attacks. He said that the attacks were carried out because "we are free...and want to regain freedom for our nation. As you undermine our security we undermine yours."[105] Osama bin Laden says he had personally directed the 19 hijackers.[106] In the video, he says, "We had agreed with the Commander-General Muhammad Atta, Allah have mercy on him, that all the operations should be carried out within 20 minutes, before Bush and his administration notice."[100] Another video obtained by Al Jazeera in September 2006 shows Osama bin Laden with Ramzi Binalshibh, as well as two hijackers, Hamza al-Ghamdi and Wail al-Shehri, as they make preparations for the attacks.[107]
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
In a 2002 interview with Al Jazeera journalist Yosri Fouda, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted his involvement, along with Ramzi Binalshibh, in the "Holy Tuesday operation."[108] The 9/11 Commission Report determined that the animosity towards the United States felt by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the "principal architect" of the 9/11 attacks, stemmed "not from his experiences there as a student, but rather from his violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel."[88] Mohamed Atta shared this same motivation. Ralph Bodenstein, a former classmate of Atta described him as "most imbued actually about... U.S. protection of these Israeli politics in the region."[109] Abdulaziz al-Omari, a hijacker aboard Flight 11 with Mohamed Atta, said in his video will, "My work is a message those who heard me and to all those who saw me at the same time it is a message to the infidels that you should leave the Arabian peninsula defeated and stop giving a hand of help to the coward Jews in Palestine."[110]
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was arrested on March 1, 2003 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan by Pakistani security officials working with the CIA, and is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.[111] During US hearings in March 2007, which have been "widely criticized by lawyers and human rights groups as sham tribunals", Sheikh Mohammed again confessed his responsibility for the attacks, saying "I was responsible for the 9/11 operation, from A to Z."[112][113]
Other al-Qaeda members
In "Substitution for Testimony of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed" from the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, five people are identified as having been completely aware of the operation's details. They are Osama bin Laden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, Abu Turab Al-Urduni and Mohammed Atef.[114] To date, only peripheral figures have been tried or convicted in connection with the attacks. Bin Laden has not yet been formally indicted for the attacks.[115]
On September 26, 2005, the Spanish high court directed by judge Baltasar Garzón sentenced Abu Dahdah to 27 years of imprisonment for conspiracy on the 9/11 attacks and as part of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. At the same time, another 17 al-Qaeda members were sentenced to penalties of between six and eleven years.[116][117] On February 16, 2006, the Spanish Supreme Court reduced the Abu Dahdah penalty to 12 years because it considered that his participation in the conspiracy was not proven.[118]
Motive
The attacks were consistent with the overall mission statement of al-Qaeda, as set out in a 1998 fatwā issued by Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Ahmed Refai Taha, Mir Hamzah, and Fazlur Rahman.[119][120][121] This statement begins by quoting the Koran as saying, "slay the pagans wherever ye find them" and extrapolates this to conclude that it is the "duty of every Muslim" to "kill Americans anywhere."[121] Bin Laden elaborated on this theme in his "Letter to America" of October 2002: "you are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind: You are the nation who, rather than ruling by the Shariah of Allah in its Constitution and Laws, choose to invent your own laws as you will and desire. You separate religion from your policies, contradicting the pure nature which affirms Absolute Authority to the Lord and your Creator."[122]
Many of the eventual findings of the 9/11 Commission with respect to motives have been supported by other experts. Counter-terrorism expert Richard A. Clarke explains in his 2004 book, Against All Enemies, that U.S. foreign policy decisions including "confronting Moscow in Afghanistan, inserting the U.S. military in the Persian Gulf," and "strengthening Israel as a base for a southern flank against the Soviets" contributed to al-Qaeda's motives.[123] Others, such as Jason Burke, foreign correspondent for The Observer, focus on a more political aspect to the motive, stating that "bin Laden is an activist with a very clear sense of what he wants and how he hopes to achieve it. Those means may be far outside the norms of political activity [...] but his agenda is a basically political one."[124]
A variety of scholarship has also focused on bin Laden's overall strategy as a motive for the attacks. For instance, correspondent Peter Bergen argues that the attacks were part of a plan to cause the United States to increase its military and cultural presence in the Middle East, thereby forcing Muslims to confront the "evils" of a non-Muslim government and establish conservative Islamic governments in the region.[125] Michael Scott Doran, correspondent for Foreign Affairs, further emphasizes the "mythic" use of the term "spectacular" in bin Laden's response to the attacks, explaining that he was attempting to provoke a visceral reaction in the Middle East and ensure that Muslim citizens would react as violently as possible to an increase in U.S. involvement in their region.[126]
Aftermath
Immediate national response
- See also: Airport security repercussions due to the September 11 attacks, Travel effects, Aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and Reactions to the September 11 attacks
The 9/11 attacks had immediate and overwhelming effects upon the American people.[127] Many police officers and rescue workers elsewhere in the country took leaves of absence to travel to New York City to assist in the process of recovering bodies from the twisted remnants of the Twin Towers.[128] Blood donations across the U.S. also saw a surge in the weeks after 9/11.[129][130] For the first time in history, SCATANA was invoked forcing all non-emergency civilian aircraft in the United States and several other countries including Canada to be immediately grounded, stranding tens of thousands of passengers across the world.[131] Any international flights were closed to American airspace by the Federal Aviation Administration, causing flights to be redirected to other countries. Canada was one of the main recipients of diverted flights and launched Operation Yellow Ribbon to deal with the large numbers of grounded planes and stranded passengers.[132]
War on Terrorism
The NATO council declared that the attacks on the United States were considered an attack on all NATO nations and, as such, satisfied Article 5 of the NATO charter.[133] Upon returning to Australia having been on an official visit to the US at the time of the attacks, Australian Prime Minister John Howard invoked Article IV of the ANZUS treaty. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the Bush administration announced a war on terrorism, with the stated goals of bringing Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to justice and preventing the emergence of other terrorist networks. These goals would be accomplished by means including economic and military sanctions against states perceived as harboring terrorists and increasing global surveillance and intelligence sharing. The second-biggest operation of the U.S. Global War on Terrorism outside of the United States, and the largest directly connected to terrorism, was the overthrow of the Taliban rule of Afghanistan by a U.S.-led coalition. The United States was not the only nation to increase its military readiness, with other notable examples being the Philippines and Indonesia, countries that have their own internal conflicts with Islamist terrorism.[134][135] U.S. officials speculated on possible involvement of Saddam Hussein immediately afterwards.[136] Although these suspicions were unfounded, the association contributed to public acceptance for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[136]
Domestic response
Following the attacks, President Bush's job approval rating soared to 86%.[137] On September 20, 2001, the U.S. president spoke before the nation and a joint session of the United States Congress, regarding the events of that day, the intervening nine days of rescue and recovery efforts, and his intent in response to those events. In addition, the highly visible role played by New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani won him high praise nationally and in New York.[138] Many relief funds were immediately set up to assist victims of the attacks, with the task of providing financial assistance to the survivors of the attacks and to the families of victims. By the deadline for victim's compensation, September 11, 2003, 2,833 applications had been received from the families of those who were killed.[139]
Statement by the President in his Address to the Nation
Contingency plans for the continuity of government and the evacuation of leaders were also implemented almost immediately after the attacks.[131] Congress, however, was not told that the United States was under a continuity of government status until February 2002.[140] Within the United States, Congress passed and President Bush signed the Homeland Security Act of 2002, creating the Department of Homeland Security, representing the largest restructuring of the U.S. government in contemporary history. Congress also passed the USA PATRIOT Act, stating that it would help detect and prosecute terrorism and other crimes.[141] Civil liberties groups have criticized the PATRIOT Act, saying that it allows law enforcement to invade the privacy of citizens and eliminates judicial oversight of law-enforcement and domestic intelligence gathering.[142][143][144] The Bush Administration also invoked 9/11 as the reason to initiate a secret National Security Agency operation, "to eavesdrop on telephone and e-mail communications between the United States and people overseas without a warrant."[145]
Hate crimes
Numerous incidents of harassment and hate crimes were reported against Middle Easterners and other "Middle Eastern-looking" people.[146][147] Sikhs were also targeted because Sikh males usually wear turbans, which are stereotypically associated with Muslims in the United States. There were reports of verbal abuse, attacks on mosques and other religious buildings (including the firebombing of a Hindu temple) and assaults on people, including one murder: Balbir Singh Sodhi was fatally shot on September 15, 2001. He, like others, was a Sikh who was mistaken for a Muslim.[146]
According to a study by Ball State University, people perceived to be Middle Eastern were as likely to be victims of hate crimes as followers of Islam in the days after the terrorist attacks. The study also found a similar increase in hate crimes against people who may have been perceived as members of Islam, Arabs and others thought to be of Middle Eastern origin.[148]
Muslim American reaction
Top Muslim organizations in the United States were swift to condemn the attacks on 9/11 and called "upon Muslim Americans to come forward with their skills and resources to help alleviate the sufferings of the affected people and their families". Top organizations include: Islamic Society of North America, American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Islamic Circle of North America, and the Shari'a Scholars Association of North America. In addition to massive monetary donations, many Islamic organizations launched blood drives and provided medical assistance, food, and residence for victims.[149]
International response
The attacks were denounced by mainstream media and governments worldwide. Across the globe, nations offered pro-American support and solidarity.[150] Leaders in most Middle Eastern countries, including Afghanistan, condemned the attacks. Iraq was a notable exception, with an immediate official statement that "the American cowboys are reaping the fruit of their crimes against humanity."[151] Another publicized exception was the celebration of some Palestinians.[152]
Tens of thousands of people attempted to flee Afghanistan following the attacks, fearing a response by the United States. Pakistan, already home to many Afghan refugees from previous Afghan conflict, closed its border with Afghanistan on September 17. Approximately one month after the attacks, the United States led a broad coalition of international forces in the removal of the Taliban regime for harboring the al-Qaeda organization.[153] The Pakistani authorities moved decisively to align themselves with the United States in a war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Pakistan provided the United States a number of military airports and bases for its attack on the Taliban regime and arrested over 600 supposed al-Qaeda members, whom it handed over to the United States.[154]
Numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, India, Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, China, Canada, Russia, Pakistan, Jordan, Mauritius, Uganda and Zimbabwe introduced "anti-terrorism" legislation and froze the bank accounts of businesses and individuals they suspected of having al-Qaeda ties.[155][156] Law enforcement and intelligence agencies in a number of countries, including Italy, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines arrested people they labeled terrorist suspects for the stated purpose of breaking up militant cells around the world.[157][158] In the U.S., this aroused some controversy, as critics such as the Bill of Rights Defense Committee argued that traditional restrictions on federal surveillance (e.g. COINTELPRO's monitoring of public meetings) were "dismantled" by the USA PATRIOT Act.[159] Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Liberty argued that certain civil rights protections were also being circumvented.[160][161]
The United States set up a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to hold what they termed "illegal enemy combatants". The legitimacy of these detentions has been questioned by, among others, the European Parliament, the Organization of American States, and Amnesty International.[162][163][164]
The international events and reactions immediately after the attacks had an effect on the impact of the World Conference against Racism 2001, which had ended in discord and international recriminations just 3 days before.[165]
Conspiracy theories
Various conspiracy theories have emerged subsequent to the attacks suggesting that individuals inside the United States knew the attacks were coming and deliberately chose not to prevent them, or that individuals outside of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda planned, carried out, or assisted in the attacks through use of controlled demolition of the World Trade Center or other means.[166] The reports published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology rejected the controlled demolition hypothesis[167] and the community of civil engineers generally accepts the mainstream theory that the impacts of jets at high speeds in combination with subsequent fires caused the collapse of both Twin Towers.[168]
Long-term effects
Economic aftermath
The attacks had a significant economic impact on the United States and world markets.[169] The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), and NASDAQ did not open on September 11 and remained closed until September 17. When the stock markets reopened, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) stock market index fell 684 points, or 7.1%, to 8921, a record-setting one-day point decline.[170] By the end of the week, the DJIA had fallen 1,369.7 points (14.3%), its largest one-week point drop in history.[171] U.S. stocks lost $1.4 trillion in value for the week.[171] This is equivalent to $1.7 trillion in present day terms.[172] In New York City, about 430,000 job-months and $2.8 billion in wages were lost in the three months following the 9/11 attacks. The economic effects were mainly focused on the city's export economy sectors.[173] The city's GDP was estimated to have declined by $27.3 billion for the last three months of 2001 and all of 2002. The Federal government provided $11.2 billion in immediate assistance to the Government of New York City in September 2001, and $10.5 billion in early 2002 for economic development and infrastructure needs.[174]
The 9/11 attacks also hurt small businesses in Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center, destroying or displacing about 18,000 of them. Assistance was provided by Small Business Administration loans and federal government Community Development Block Grants and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.[174] Some 31.9 million square feet of Lower Manhattan office space was damaged or destroyed.[175] Many wondered whether these jobs would return, and the damaged tax base recover.[176] Studies of the economic effects of 9/11 show that the Manhattan office real-estate market and office employment were less affected than initially expected because of the financial services industry's need for face-to-face interaction.[177][178]
North American air space was closed for several days after the attacks and air travel decreased upon its reopening, leading to nearly a 20% cutback in air travel capacity, and exacerbating financial problems in the struggling U.S. airline industry.[179]
Health effects
The thousands of tons of toxic debris resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers consisted of more than 2,500 contaminants, including known carcinogens.[180][181] This has led to debilitating illnesses among rescue and recovery workers, which many claim to be directly linked to debris exposure.[5][182] For example, NYPD Officer Frank Macri died of lung cancer that spread throughout his body on September 3, 2007; his family contends the cancer is the result of long hours on the site and they have filed for line-of-duty death benefits, which the city has yet to rule on.[183] Health effects have also extended to some residents, students, and office workers of Lower Manhattan and nearby Chinatown.[184] Several deaths have been linked to the toxic dust caused by the World Trade Center's collapse and the victims' names will be included in the World Trade Center memorial.[185] There is also scientific speculation that exposure to various toxic products in the air may have negative effects on fetal development. Due to this potential hazard, a notable children's environmental health center is currently analyzing the children whose mothers were pregnant during the WTC collapse, and were living or working near the World Trade Center towers.[186]
Legal disputes over the attendant costs of illnesses related to the attacks are still in the court system. On October 17, 2006, federal judge Alvin Hellerstein rejected New York City's refusal to pay for health costs for rescue workers, allowing for the possibility of numerous suits against the city.[187] Government officials have been faulted for urging the public to return to lower Manhattan in the weeks shortly following the attacks. Christine Todd Whitman, administrator of the EPA in the aftermath of the attacks, was heavily criticized for incorrectly saying that the area was environmentally safe.[188] President Bush was criticized for interfering with EPA interpretations and pronouncements regarding air quality in the aftermath of the attacks.[189] In addition, Mayor Giuliani was criticized for urging financial industry personnel to return quickly to the greater Wall Street area.[190]
Investigations
9/11 Commission
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission), chaired by former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean,[191] was formed in late 2002 to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the attacks, including preparedness for, and the immediate response to, the attacks. On July 22, 2004, the 9/11 Commission issued the 9/11 Commission Report. The commission and its report have been subject to various forms of criticism.[192][193]
Collapse of the World Trade Center
A federal technical building and fire safety investigation of the collapses of the Twin Towers and 7 WTC has been conducted by the United States Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The goals of this investigation were to investigate why the buildings collapsed, the extent of injuries and fatalities, and the procedures involved in designing and managing the World Trade Center.[194] The investigation into the collapse of 1 WTC and 2 WTC was concluded in October 2005, and the investigation into the collapse of 7 WTC concluded in August 2008.[195][196] The report concluded that the fireproofing on the Twin Towers' steel infrastructures was blown off by the initial impact of the planes and that, if this had not occurred, the towers would likely have remained standing.[197] This was confirmed by an independent study by Purdue University.[198]
Gene Corley, the director of the original investigation, commented that "the towers really did amazingly well. The terrorist aircraft didn’t bring the buildings down; it was the fire which followed. It was proven that you could take out two thirds of the columns in a tower and the building would still stand."[199] The fires weakened the trusses supporting the floors, making the floors sag. The sagging floors pulled on the exterior steel columns to the point where exterior columns bowed inward. With the damage to the core columns, the buckling exterior columns could no longer support the buildings, causing them to collapse. In addition, the report asserts that the towers' stairwells were not adequately reinforced to provide emergency escape for people above the impact zones.[200] NIST concluded that uncontrolled fires in 7 WTC caused floor beams and girders to heat and subsequently "caused a critical support column to fail, initiating a fire-induced progressive collapse that brought the building down."[196]
Internal review of the CIA
The Inspector General of the CIA conducted an internal review of the CIA's pre-9/11 performance, and was harshly critical of senior CIA officials for not doing everything possible to confront terrorism, including failing to stop two of the 9/11 hijackers, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, as they entered the United States and failing to share information on the two men with the FBI.[201]
In May 2007, senators from both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party drafted legislation that would openly present an internal CIA investigative report. One of the backers, Senator Ron Wyden stated "The American people have a right to know what the Central Intelligence Agency was doing in those critical months before 9/11.... I am going to bulldog this until the public gets it." The report investigates the responsibilities of individual CIA personnel before and after the 9/11 attacks. The report was completed in 2005, but its details have never been released to the public.[202]
Rebuilding
On the day of the attacks, Rudy Giuliani, the mayor of New York City proclaimed, "We will rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again."[203] The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, tasked with coordinating rebuilding efforts at the World Trade Center site, was criticized for doing little with the enormous funding directed to the rebuilding efforts.[204][205] On the sites of the totally destroyed buildings, one, 7 World Trade Center, has a new office tower which was completed in 2006. The Freedom Tower is currently under construction at the site and at 1,776 ft (541 m) upon completion in 2011, will become the one of the tallest buildings in North America, behind the Chicago Spire and the CN Tower in Toronto. Three more towers are expected to be built between 2007 and 2012 on the site, and will be located one block east of where the original towers stood. The damaged section of the Pentagon was rebuilt and occupied within a year of the attacks.[206]
Memorials
In the days immediately following the attacks, many memorials and vigils were held around the world.[207][208][209] In addition, pictures were placed all over Ground Zero. A witness described being unable to "get away from faces of innocent victims who were killed. Their pictures are everywhere, on phone booths, street lights, walls of subway stations. Everything reminded me of a huge funeral, people quiet and sad, but also very nice. Before, New York gave me a cold feeling; now people were reaching out to help each other.”[210]
One of the first memorials was the Tribute in Light, an installation of 88 searchlights at the footprints of the World Trade Center towers which projected two vertical columns of light into the sky.[211] In New York, the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition was held to design an appropriate memorial on the site.[212] The winning design, Reflecting Absence, was selected in August 2006, and consists of a pair of reflecting pools in the footprints of the towers, surrounded by a list of the victims' names in an underground memorial space.[213] Plans for a museum on the site have been put on hold, following the abandonment of the International Freedom Center after criticism from the families of many victims.[214]
At the Pentagon, the memorial was completed and opened to the public on the seventh anniversary of the attacks, September 11, 2008.[215] It consists of a landscaped park with 184 benches facing the Pentagon.[216] When the Pentagon was rebuilt in 2001–2002, a private chapel and indoor memorial were included, located at the spot where Flight 77 crashed into the building.[217]
At Shanksville, a permanent Flight 93 National Memorial is in planning stages, which will include a sculpted grove of trees forming a circle around the crash site, bisected by the plane's path, while wind chimes will bear the names of the victims.[218] A temporary memorial is located 500 yards (457 m) from the Flight 93 crash site near Shanksville.[219] New York City firefighters donated a memorial to the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department. It is a cross made of steel from the World Trade Center and mounted atop a platform shaped like the Pentagon.[220] It was installed outside the firehouse on August 25, 2008.[221]
Many other permanent memorials are being constructed elsewhere, and scholarships and charities have been established by the victims' families, along with many other organizations and private figures.[222]
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