September 11, 2001

International terrorism was recognized as a growing threat to the United States long before the events of September 11, 2001. However, the attacks that took place on that day were unprecedented in scope, daring, and coordination. Led by the Egyptian Mohamed Atta, the cell of 19 Al Qaeda terrorists that carried out the attacks correctly diagnosed the weaknesses of U.S. security and exploited them in a simple, daring manner to create the maximum possible damage and disruption.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001, began a routine day until, at 8:45 A.M. eastern time, a hijacked Boeing 767 on a routine flight was deliberately flown into tower number one (the north tower) of the World Trade Center (WTC) in lower Manhattan, New York City. Eighteen minutes later, a second ...