1993: World Trade Center bombing.
It was on February 26, 1993, when a bomb exploded in the World Trade Center’s parking garage. This was the first incident the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) realized that terrorism had taken an international phenomenon (OpenStax, 2019). The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City police department requested the DSS to help in the investigation. The DSS was able to realize that a group of Middle Eastern individuals were responsible for the attack. NYC and FBI were able to arrest some of the terrorists before they left the country, although Yousef, the driver of the car that carried explosives, was able to escape. In July 1993, the efforts to capture Yousef were strengthened, and the Department of the State through the Rewards for Justice program promised $2 million to a person who will give information that would lead to Yousef’s arrest. During this time, Yousef was hiding underground, although the state law officials thought he had fled to Pakistan. The DSS Special Agents were finally able to arrest him in Pakistan.
1995: Oklahoma City Bombing.
The Oklahoma City Bombing was a domestic attack that occurred outside the federal office house in Oklahoma City. It was in April 1995, when a U.S. military Veteran left a rented truck filled with explosives outside the federal building and this attack left 168 people dead and many injured. Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh, both members of a radical right-wing survivalist group based in Michigan, were held responsible for this bombing (History, 2020).
2001: 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Centers.
It was in September 2001 when four planes heading for California were hijacked by Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda. The four aircraft were selected because of how prepared they were for the journey. The terrorists sneaked in box-cutters and knives and took control of the landing. The first plane, which was an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the World Trade Center. The crash left a fiery hole in between the ninety-third and ninety-ninth floor, killing many people and trapping some (History, 2018). Evacuation started immediately, but after eighteen minutes, another Boeing 747 sliced between the seventy seventh and eighty-fifth floor. The third plane hit the Pentagon murdered every person on board and 125 individuals on the ground while the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, killing every person on board. The 9/11 attack killed 2,996 people, and the two planes that slammed into the twin towers left 2,763 people.
Explain if you think that global terrorism can be stopped.
I think that it would be hard to stop global terrorism because terrorists invent new strategies before an attack. Terrorist attacks occur rarely, and different terrorist groups have their strategies. Therefore a country can reduce global attacks if effective solutions and policies are implemented.
If the United States withdrew its troops from the Middle East tomorrow, would the terrorist threat end? Why or why not?
I think that nothing would change if the United States withdrew its troops from the Middle East. It is also impossible for the United States to withdraw all its troops from the Middle East as this action may increase the terrorist attacks.
Assess if the use of military force is the only way to prevent terrorism. Are there other possible alternatives? Which strategy is best, and why?
I think that the use of military force is not the only way to prevent terrorism. The United States has trained military personnel, but still, terrorist attacks have been taking place. Different strategies need to be implemented until the country finds the best way to prevent terrorism. I think that the country should ensure that a thorough background check is done to any person coming into the United States.
References:
History. (2020).Oklahoma City Bombing. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/1990s/oklahoma-city-bombing (Links to an external site.)
History. (2018). September 11 Attacks. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks (Links to an external site.)
OpenStax. (2019). U.S. history. OpenStax CNX. Retrieved from https://cnx.org/contents/p7ovuIkl@6.18:gMXC1GEM@7/Introduction