9/11 mastermind calls Obama "head of the snake"
Self-proclaimed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad wrote to former President Barack Obama telling him that 9/11 was a direct result of the American foreign policy. The 18-page letter was addressed to "the head of the Snake, Barack Obama." According to Defense Attorney David Nevin, Mohammad began writing the letter in 2014; it reached the White House in January 2017.
- Worst terror attack in US history
- Al-Qaeda terrorists hijack four passenger airlines
- Al-Qaeda claims responsibility after two years
- One World Trade Center
- Political changes in the US
- Post-9/11 security changes
- The impact on the world
- The rise of the ISIS
- President Obama to demolish visitor registry
- 9/11 mastermind calls Obama "head of the snake"
Worst terror attack in US history
The '9/11 attacks' were a series of four coordinated terror attacks inside the US on the morning of 11 September 2001. The attack killed nearly 3,000 people and injured more than 6,000. It emerged that the attack was carried out by Al-Qaeda, a militant Sunni Islamist organization, which was established in 1988 by Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam.
Al-Qaeda terrorists hijack four passenger airlines
Nineteen Al-Qaeda terrorists had hijacked four passenger airlines operated by American Airlines and United Airlines on 11 September. Two planes crashed into the 110-storey World Trade Center's North and South Towers respectively in New York. The third airplane crashed into the Pentagon partially collapsing the building's western side. The fourth plane, initially steered towards Washington DC, crashed in Pennsylvania.
Al-Qaeda claims responsibility after two years
Following the 9/11 attacks, the US launched the 'War on Terror', an international military campaign to fight terrorism. Several nations strengthened their anti-terrorism laws and took measures to prevent terror attacks. Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden claimed responsibility for the attacks in 2004. Bin Laden was shot dead on 2 May'11 by the US Military's SEAL Team Six in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
One World Trade Center
The cleanup of the WTC site and the Pentagon's repair were completed in 2002. In November 2006, the US announced the construction of 'One World Trade Center' at the WTC site. The 'One World Trade Center' was inaugurated in Nov'14.
Political changes in the US
After the attacks, the US's political situation evolved; the Democrats and Republicans came together and worked to make the country stronger. The USA PATRIOT Act for domestic spying and data collection was enacted in October 2001. The resulting legislation, including the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, the President's Surveillance Program, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act of 2008, brought several changes.
Post-9/11 security changes
The growth of the US National Security was incredible after the attacks; the Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed in November 2001. The US Department of Homeland Security was created with an objective of protecting the country from terrorism, natural and man-made disasters. The US immigration policy was also tightened; getting visas became harder for students, tourists, and foreigners staying in the US.
The impact on the world
The 9/11 attacks had a profound impact on the world. While the US launched attacks on Afghanistan, Iraq to curb terrorism, the Muslim world turned anti-America. The rest of the world increased its focus on combating global terrorism, especially Al-Qaeda. As a result of the universal coalition to fight terrorism, Al-Qaeda had been unable to carry out so big an attack again.
The rise of the ISIS
While Al-Qaeda seemed to be losing ground globally, its offshoot the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) emerged as its successor. ISIS was founded in 1999 by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi; it controls extensive territories in Iraq and Syria and rules nearly 8 million people. Slowly, ISIS spread globally and carried out attacks in France, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and others.
President Obama to demolish visitor registry
The Obama administration is going to dismantle USA's dormant national registry program for visitors from countries with active terrorist groups. The registry was created after the 9/11 attacks and has not been used since 2011. President-elect Donald Trump has suggested his plans for resurrecting the same. No spokesman for Trump was available for comment.
9/11 mastermind calls Obama "head of the snake"
Self-proclaimed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad wrote to former President Barack Obama telling him that 9/11 was a direct result of the American foreign policy. The 18-page letter was addressed to "the head of the Snake, Barack Obama." According to Defense Attorney David Nevin, Mohammad began writing the letter in 2014; it reached the White House in January 2017.
