Tuesday, September 11, 2001, will be remembered as a seminal event in American history. The World Trade Center terror attack was the deadliest attack on American soil in American history. The September 11th, or 9-11, the incident is well-known. That was the day the Islamic militant organization Al-Qaeda launched a deliberate and unexpected attack on the United States of America. The attack happened at the World Trade Center in the early morning hours of Tuesday, about eight o'clock. Unfortunately, 2.996 Americans were killed, and over 6000 people were injured. This sudden and unexpected invasion by the Islamic group, Al-Qaeda, did end not only lives but also destroy infrastructure worth billions of US dollars. This enormous loss of public assets indeed had a significant impact on the economy of the country. The property within and without the World Trade Centre zone was heavily damaged during this infamous attack. The estimated loss in value is projected to be about 10 billion US dollars. However, this is just an approximation (Welch, 2006).
The attackers simultaneously took control of four large passenger planes (Taylor, 2017). Their choice of the planes was due to their large fuel carrying capacity. They could foresee the impact of the explosion that those planes would cause. The attack aimed at hitting the United States of America where it will hurt most. These passenger planes were operated by US airlines namely United Airlines and America Airlines. The Al-Qaeda attackers who hijacked the airlines were 19 in number. Their intention is to crush the airplanes into major landmarks in the United States inflicting as much deaths and destructions as possible (Taylor, 2017). Unfortunately, three out of the four planes that were hijacked did crush on their intended targets. While one plane failed to hit the intended target and fell on the field in Pennsylvania. Two airplanes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were successfully crashed into the Northern and Southern twin towers respectively. The effect was imminent, and many innocent American lives were lost as a result.
Another airplane was crashed into the headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, also known as the Pentagon. This plane was the American Airlines Flight 77. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the US Department of Defence is situated. It is the five-sided concrete building. It also has a steel symbol of America’s military strengths. The Pentagon sits at about six million square feet of floor space. It was a likely target of the terror attack, since it ranks among the largest office buildings in the whole world. The impact had devastating effects on the Pentagon. It damaged the western side of the building leading to its slight collapse. The impact on the Pentagon resulted in the death of 189 people and damaging roughly one-third of the Western side of the building. The building partially collapsed. The one plane that did not reach its intended target fell on the field at Pennsylvania. It was as a result of courageous crew members and some of the members on the board that tried to overpower the terrorist. Unfortunately, they did not manage to come out alive. However, it is with no doubt that their heroic acts were worth applauding (Pyszczynski, Solomon & Greenberg, 2003).
This first series of the attack led to the loss of the lives of 343 fire-fighters and law enforcers’ officers on the ground at that time who was 72 in number. They were the first responders to be at the site after the first wave of the attack took place. Without any doubt, it is one of the greatest terror attacks that have ever hit the United States of America by far.
Firstly, the Islamic group, Al-Qaeda did not take responsibility for the attack. Hence, it was until the year 2004 when the Al-Qaeda leader the late Osama bin Laden publicly claimed responsibility for the actions. Previously, speculations were pointing towards the Islamic terror group to be behind the deadliest attack that has ever hit the United States of America.
When the late Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the attack on the World Trade Centre, he gave some reasons for his actions. He cited that continued support by the US and working in solitary with the Israel troops in the fight against terror are not welcomed. Apart from it, he added that the presence of the United States of America troops in the Saudi Arabia soil is uncalled for and demanded their withdrawal from Saudi land. Failure to meet his demands by the United States will result in continuous terror attacks into the American territory (Pyszczynski, Solomon & Greenberg, 2003).
The Americans considered this attack as inhuman. Then, it should be treated with the contempt that it deserves. The entire world was called upon to join forces and strengthen their war against the global terror attacks. It did not target the United States of America alone, but it was the problem of the global interest (Welch, 2006).
Analysis of the World Trade Centre Terror Attack
Regarding the physical destruction of properties and infrastructure, the lower parts of Manhattan felt the most damage. Damages were experienced far and wide. It resulted to the closure of the Wall Street indefinitely. A team of specialists including engineers was dispatched to the site of the attack immediately after the incidence. The intention was to be able to come up with the explanation as to exactly how the impact led to the collapse of the towers. They surveyed the place and came up with the conclusive report on the extent of the damage that resulted from the attack. It included the American Society of Civil engineers among other reputable experts. Their respective reports contained the in-depth details on how the attack took place and the extent of the damage resulted. In their findings, the airplane crash on the towers caused severe structural damages including the vast damage causing partial collapse on the side of the impact. The resulting fires from collision burnt down the structural reinforcements further weakening the towers. With time the floor of the impact could not hold the massive force being exerted on it resulting in the total collapse of the 80th floor. It was clear to everyone that once the internal structure became soft and mushy, the total collapse of the entire part of the tower was inevitable (Pyszczynski, Solomon & Greenberg, 2003).
The National Institute of Standard and Technology categorically stated that the twin towers were up to standard. The magnitude of the airplane crash had the potential of bringing down any modern building. Their explanation was based on the speed of the impact and that the airplane had a very large capacity of fuel on the board that caused the massive fires. It resulted in the integrity of the structural reinforcement to be compromised resulting in the collapse of the towers.
Two days after the attack on the World Trade Centre, the civil engineer named, Zdenek Bazant, gave out his final report about the total collapse of the towers. In his explanation, he stated that the heat as a result of the explosion of the airplanes was the main factor causing the internal steel columns of the buildings to shutter. It made them lose their strengths and carrying capacity. Thus, being incapable to withhold the pressure from above, the above structures were not able to be supported and had no option but to collapse inwards (Talbott & Chanda, 2009).
The attack proved to be expensive on the side of the American people and their government. The damages to the infrastructure were intense. The estimated 10 billion US dollars is without a doubt a lot of money that went down the drain on that fateful day. The complete repair of the Pentagon was finished about one year later.
The Twin Towers were the major buildings of the World Trade Center complex. They were the tallest buildings in the City of New York that attracted nearly 70,000 commuters and tourists every day. The economy of Lower Manhattan was significantly damaged by the destruction of the World Trade Center. Furthermore, the global markets were also affected leading to the temporary closure of the civilian airspace in the United States and the Wall Street. Several cancellations, evacuations, and closings were also experienced in fear of more attacks. In May 2002, the cleaning of World Trade Center was completed, and repair commenced. Since then, memorials have been built in the New York City. The World Trade Center attacks were the worst terrorist attacks ever happened in the world. Over 90 countries lost their citizens in this attack including Britain which lost 67 people. Several other buildings near the world trade center complex were also destroyed (Comfort, & Kapucu, 2006).
Impact of the World Trade Centre Attacks on the Victims
The victims of the September 11 militia attack had their lives changed. It led to the loss of the lives of many people. Those who were lucky to stay alive are currently scarred for their life. The adverse injuries to the people during or immediately after the worst terror attack pose a potential risk for the long-term adverse mental and physical injuries to the victims (Gargano, Gershon & Brackbill, 2017). The results of the attack also included the deteriorated health conditions of the survivors during the time of the attack. However, it took quite a while to identify those who succumbed from the damaging attack. Speedy identification was made possible by the advancement in DNA identification technology. It is worth noting that it has been close to two years back since the last and final victims among those caught in the attack were positively identified.
The in-depth study of the life of the survivors of the 9-11 attack has provided unique insight into the long-term impact of the disaster. Long enough after their physical injuries have healed. Some injured disaster survivors gave their account on the state of their lives as having serious health and mental health problems. Moreover, economic problems are heavily experienced by them due to the loss of their dependable livelihood. The survivors also call for social support. The latter has declined since the disaster befell them. Social isolation is worth noting as some survivors have deformed physical feature rendering them not worthy mixing with other able members of the vast society. The strategies should be put in place by the government of the United States of America to address the long-term health problems of disaster survivors to support their quick recovery. It will enable them to feel worthwhile and act as the means to redeem their self-esteem (Landrigan, 2001).
There are many kinds of injuries suffered by the survivors. Some survivors reported sprain or strain on their backbone as a result of earth tremors. Some were seriously injured than the others, for instance, while 3,672 (44 percent) of the survivors were only slightly injured. A good number of the survivors suffered from nearly permanent damages. It included 474 (13 percent) involving a fracture or dislocation, burn, or head injury. Some survivors suffered from adverse psychological tortures and traumas (Gargano, Gershon & Brackbill, 2017). There was also the emergence of a critical heart disease as noted in some survivors as an aftermath of the attack.
There is a good gesture by the government of the United States of America to initiate rehabilitation measures for the victims. The New York State Office of Mental Health in collaboration with the New York City and county mental health departments addressed the adverse mental health needs using two related but very independent responsive correctional mechanisms (Talbott & Chanda, 2009).
The first known as the Project Liberty whose motive was to appeal to the general population at large consisted of public mass education focusing on management of traumatic stress reactions and the relevant coping strategies. There was outmost outreach to all of the affected survivors. In conclusion, the short-term supportive counselling strategy for anyone and everyone affected by the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre was dealt with to exhaustion (Gargano, Gershon & Brackbill, 2017). The second strategic response was aimed at the subset of the affected population of the survivors. Those individuals whose traumatic symptoms seemed to be persistent and of sufficient severity were required to meet diagnostic method for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorder that they may be suffering from. Such mechanism is welcomed by the lone survivors of the September 11 attack as it is the means of alleviating their suffering. It is such efforts that bring faith by the entire population back to the government of people (Landrigan, 2001).
Information on disaster-related factors is necessary to get to know the state of the survivors by the government. The latter can get the exact picture on what is a population of the survivors is going through after the infamous attack. It may have a determination on the long-term quality of life of the survivors. The survivors can be interviewed and given a platform to provide their views on their recuperation and the development of the strategies to ensure the best possible outcome and recovery for them as a whole.
The goals of the information from the survivors are to qualitatively fill in the gaps in knowledge about the circumstances surrounding the injured survivors. To determine the short and long-term mental and physical health effects of the injured and to assess the social and economic impacts of the population of the survivors (Gargano, Gershon & Brackbill, 2017).
In 1999, Walid bin Attash an al-Qaeda associate communicated with Mihdar about meeting him in Malaysia. However, the National Security Agency intercepted the telephone call. Despite the Agency suspecting that something wrong was happening, it failed to take any action. The Saudi intelligence was aware that Mihdar possessed a U.S visa and it alerted the CIA about this fact. The CIA then failed to share this information with the FBI. In January 2000, the Malaysian Special Branch observed a meeting of certain al-Qaeda members including Mihdar and informed the CIA that these terrorists were about to fly to Bangkok, but the CIA failed to inform other agencies.
In August 2013, medical practitioners stated that 1,140 persons who studied, lived, or worked in Lower Manhattan during the time of the attack were diagnosed with cancer due to the exposure of toxins from the world trade center attack. Moreover, various medical reports have indicated that more than 1,400 people who were on the rescue mission in the scene of the attack have died and also close to ten pregnancies were lost.
The collapse of the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan led to the spread of over 2,500 contaminants including carcinogens. The victims of the attacks who were exposed to these toxins have been reported to suffer several illnesses and complications. The government ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assure citizens of the air quality after the attacks, but the agency never ascertained that had returned to normal. Research on rescue employees indicated that people who were present at the site had impaired lung functions and women who were pregnant gave birth to children who were not healthy.
Legal disputes on the costs of illnesses associated with the world trade center attacks are still in courts years after the attacks. In 2006, a federal judge declined the refusal of the New York City to compensate the health costs of the rescue employees. In 2011, the federal government allocated $4.2 billion to build World Trade Center Health Program that is responsible for providing treatment and testing for individuals suffering from perennial health problems as a result of the terrorist attack at the world trade center (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002).
Conclusion
To sum up, the Americans considered this attack as inhuman and one which should be treated with the contempt that it deserves. The attack proved to be expensive on the side of the American people and their government. It did cost the American government a lot to do repair to the infrastructure. The in-depth study of the life of the survivors of the 9-11 attack has provided the unique insight into the long-term impact of the disaster. The victims of the September 11 militia attack had their lives changed hence leading to the lives of many. Those who were lucky to stay alive are presently anxious about life.
References
Comfort, L. K., & Kapucu, N. (2006). Inter-organizational coordination in extreme events: The World Trade Center attacks, September 11, 2001. Natural hazards, 39(2), 309-327.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Injuries and illnesses among New York City Fire Department rescue workers after responding to the World Trade Center attacks. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September, 11, 51.
Gargano, L., Gershon, R., & Brackbill, R. (2017). Quality of life of persons injured on 9-11: Qualitative analysis from the World Trade Centre Health Registry. Retrieved from http://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/quality-of-life-of-persons-injured-on-911-qualitative-analysis-from-the-world-trade-center-health-registry/
Landrigan, P. (2001). Health consequences of the 11 September 2001 attacks. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(11), A514-A515. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240482/pdf/ehp0109-a00514.pdf
Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., & Greenberg, J. (2003). In the wake of 9-11: Rising above the terror. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Talbott, S., & Chanda, N. (2009). The age of terror. New York: Basic Books.
Taylor, A. (2017). 9/11: The day of the attacks. The Atlantic. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/09/911-the-day-of-the-attacks/100143/
Welch, M. (2006). Scapegoats of September 11th. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.
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