The Fight Against The Fight Against TerrorismTerrorism

Terrorism

• “Unlawful use of, or threatened use of, force or violence against individuals or property for the purpose of intimidating or causing fear for political or social ends.”

• Essentially, people using force, usually against civillians to achieve certain goals.

We all know about 9/11, but there were other terrorists acts that led up to it.

1. 1979: The takeover the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran.

• Nov. 4th, the ruler of Iran is overthrown by Islamic radicals led by the Ayatollah Khomeini.

• The revolutionaries storm the U.S. embassy and take 52 hostages. They aren’t released until 1/20/81 when Ronald Reagan takes office.

2. 1983: Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon destroyed.

• Oct. 23rd. A delivery truck sets off an explosive equivalent to 12,000 pounds of TNT in front of the Marine barracks in Beirut.

• 241 American soldiers are killed.

3. 1985: Bombing of air base in Germany

• Communist terrorist group sets off bomb at Rhein-Main Air Base, killing one and injuring 20.

4. 1988: Pan Am Flight 103

• Dec. 21st. A bomb consisting of just 12-16 ounces of plastic explosives is concealed in a radio. It detonates over Lockerbie, Scotaland.

• 270 people are killed, including 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie.

• Libya apparently behind it.

5. 1993: World Trade Center Bombing

• Feb. 26. A truck carrying an explosive is detonated in the parking garage of the World Trade Center.

• Killed six, injured 1,042.

• The intent was to undermine the foundation of the north tower and cause it to collapse into its twin.

• Perpetrated by Islamic extremists

6. 1995: Oklahoma City bombing

• April 19th. Timothy McVeigh, who thought the federal government was evil, detonates a truck bomb outside of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

• 168 people are killed. Over 800 are injured.

7. 1996: Khobar Towers

• June 25th. Truck bomb detonates outside U.S. military housing complex in Saudi Arabia.

• Blast equivalent to nearly 20,000 pounds of TNT.

• 20 are killed. 370 are injured.

8. 1998: Embassy bombings in Africa

• August 7th.

• Car bombs are simultaneously detonated outside the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.

• 257 are killed. Over 4,000 are injured.

• Al Qaeda.

9. 2000: USS Cole

• Oct. 20. Guided missile destroyer, USS Cole is damaged by a bomb on a rubber boat while docked in Yemen.

• Caused a 40 by 40 foot hole in the side.

• 17 sailors are killed.

2001 World Trade Center: 9/11

• 19 Islamic extremist terrorists, part of the global terrorist network Al Qaeda, hijack 4 planes.

• The planes were fully fueled for transcontinental flights from the east to west coasts (24,000 gallons of fuel each).

• One plane each crashed into each of the two towers of the World Trade Center.

• One plane crashed into the Pentagon.

• One plane crashes in a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers revolt against the hijackers. Was likely supposed to crash into the White House or U.S. Capitol Building.

• The heat from the burning fuel and subsequent fire in the towers weakened the steel supports, causing them to collapse.

• About 3,000 people were killed in the attacks.

• 246 on the planes.

• 2,602 in the towers.

• 125 at the Pentagon.

• Many more would have died had the towers collapse earlier or the planes impacted lower down.

• Only 18 out of 600 escaped from above the impact site in the South Tower, for example.

• Most of the 16,000 who were below the impact site escaped.

• Some in the towers, jumped out the windows rather than be burned alive.

• The aftermath is that the U.S. starts a war on terror (or at least engages in a war that had already been going on).

• The U.S. attacks Afghanistan and eliminates the Taliban government.

• Forms the department of Homeland Security for domestic protection.

Danger of terrorism

• Very little can do a lot of damage.

• Inspires fear (terror)