The Peace on The Horizon - 75 Years after The World War 2 in the Middle East (157)

 

(Japanese Version)

(Arabic Version)

 

(contents)

 

Chapter 6: Genealogy of Islamic terrorism (12)

 

157 The world trembled with the September 11 attacks (4/4)

 President George W. Bush (then) concluded that the incidents were the crimes committed by Al Qaeda, Islamic extremist group led by Osama Bin Laden. Khalid Sheikh Muhammad who was the subordinate of Bin Laden was arrested in charge of a mastermind of terror activities. The attacks took place within less than two hours from the first hijacking at 8:14 am to the crash of the fourth aircraft at 10:03 am. Ahead of two-hours attacks, Al Qaeda had spent an enormous amount of time and money for detailed planning and careful preparations including the acquisition of the maneuvering method of a large jet aircraft. The United States had already recognized that Al Qaeda was targeting the mainland of the United States when the World Trade Center Building was bombed eight years ago. But US Government could not catch in advance the symptom of the September 11 attacks. Terrors planned and implemented by Al Qaeda were far beyond the predictions of authorities. Nineteen criminals led by Egyptian Muhammad Atta were identified. Eleven of the 19 criminals were Saudi.

 

The terror attacks triggered US counterterrorism operations. President George W. Bush decided the eradication of terrorism as the most important issue of diplomacy. He adopted a hardline policy that the first-strike for self-defense would be the essential alternatives. The US took place military action against the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, where the Al Qaeda was based in. US had overthrown them. Osama bin Laden escaped in a steep mountainous area of neighboring Pakistan. Running away from trackers he called for Islamic extremist groups around the world for resistance. Terrorist activities by his sympathizers took place in many parts of the world one after another. The United States desperately pursued him. At last the special forces raided to kill Bin Laden on the outskirts of Islamabad in May 2011. He was 54 years old.

 

In the 21st century, it was the beginning of the era of resistance by Islamic extremists.

 

(To be continued ----)

 

 

Areha Kazuya

(From an ordinary citizen in the cloud)