ARTICLE

"Impact of Terrorism on the World Stage: The World Trade Center Perspective"

Sebagai salah satu pemenuhan tugas UAS individu

DOSEN PEMBINA

Renaldo Benarrivo, S.I.P., M. Hub. Int.

Mata Kuliah : Terorisme dan Kejahatan Transnasional

DISUSUN OLEH

RAIHAN ARUMI RUBIANSYAH

NIM 6211211154

PROGRAM STUDI ILMU HUBUNGAN INTERNASIONAL

FAKULTAS ILMU SOSIAL DAN ILMU POLITIK

UNIVERSITAS JENDERAL ACHMAD YANI CIMAHI

2023
 Abstract

The World Trade Center tragedy to the devastating events that occurred on September 11,

2001, when terrorist attacks targeted the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York

City, United States. The coordinated attacks were carried out by the extremist group Al-Qaeda.

On that fateful day, a total of four commercial airplanes were hijacked by 19 terrorists. Two of

these planes were deliberately crashed into the North and South Towers of the United States

Department of Defense, near Washington, D.C. The Fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93,

crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers bravely attempted to regain control from

the hijackers.

The attacks on the World Trade Center resulted in the deaths of nearly 3.000 people and

caused extensive destruction and economic impact. The events of September 11, 2001, had

profound and lasting consequences on global politics, security measures, and the way the world

perceives and responds to terrorism. The tragedy prompted the United States and its allies to

launch the “War on Terror” and led to increased security measures, changes in foreign policies,

and renewed focus on international cooperation to combat terrorism.

Keywords: Al-Qaeda, US, The World Trade Center, Twin Towers

The September 11 attacks or Gray Tuesday Events, also called the 9/11 Attacks or simply 9/11,

were a series of four orchestrated suicide attacks against several targets in New York City and

Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 hijackers from the militant group

al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The hijackers deliberately crashed two of the planes into

the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City; both towers collapsed within two

hours. The hijackers also crashed a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. As

passengers attempted to take over a fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, it crashed in a field

near Shanksville, Pennsylvania and failed to reach its original target in Washington, D.C.
According to the 911 investigation team's report, approximately 3,000 people died in this attack,

making it the highest casualty terrorist attack in history. The blame immediately fell on al-Qaeda.

Suspicion immediately fell on al-Qaeda, and in 2004, group leader Osama bin Laden, who

initially denied involvement, claimed responsibility for these attacks. Al-Qaeda and bin Laden

also cited US support for Israel, the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions

against Iraq as motives for these attacks. The United States responded to this attack by

launching the War on Terror by invading Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban who were

sheltering al-Qaeda members. Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism laws and

expanded their law enforcement powers. In May 2011, after a years-long manhunt, President

Barack Obama announced that bin Laden was found and shot dead by U.S. marines, although

there has been no published evidence to confirm the death.

The destruction had a serious impact on the economy of Lower Manhattan. The cleanup of the

World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002. The National September 11 Memorial &

Museum is scheduled to open on September 11, 2011. Near the memorial is the 1,776-foot One

World Trade Center, which is expected to be completed in 2013. The Pentagon was repaired

within a year, and the Pentagon Memorial opened next to this building in 2008. Ground was

broken for the Flight 93 National Memorial in November

2009, and the memorial was officially opened on September 10, 2011.

DISCUSSION

On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers took over four commercial airliners that

were flying to San Francisco and Los Angeles after taking off from Boston, Newark, and

Washington, D.C. Long-haul aircraft were deliberately chosen to be hijacked because they carry

a lot of fuel. At 8:46 a.m., five hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower
of the World Trade Center (1 WTC) and at 9:03 a.m., another five hijackers crashed United

Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower (2 WTC).

Five hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. A fourth plane,

under hijacker control, brought down United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at

10:03 a.m. after its passengers resisted the hijackers. Flight 93's alleged target was the U.S.

Capitol or the White House. Cockpit voice recordings of Flight 93 found that the crew and

passengers attempted to take over the plane from the hijackers after learning over the phone

that other hijacked planes had crashed into several buildings that morning. After it became

evident to the hijackers that the passengers were going to take over the plane, one hijacker

ordered his friend to turn the plane around and intentionally bring it down. Eventually, Flight 93

crashed in a field near Shanksville.

Some passengers were able to make phone calls using the plane's phone service and cell

phones and provided details that there were multiple hijackers on each plane that pepper spray

or tear gas was used and that some people on the plane had been stabbed. Reports found that

the hijackers stabbed and killed the pilot, flight attendants, and one or more passengers. In its

final report, the 9/11 Commission found that the hijackers had recently purchased

multifunctional hand tools and various types of knives and daggers. A Flight 11 flight attendant,

a Flight 175 passenger, and several Flight 93 passengers said that the hijackers had bombs, but

one passenger also said he suspected the bombs were fake. The FBI found no traces of

explosives at the scene, and the 9/11 Commission concluded the bombs were fake.

After it was confirmed that Flight 11 was hijacked, two F-15s were dispatched from Otis Air

National Guard Base in Massachusetts and took to the air at 8:53 a.m. North American

Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) had 9 minutes' notice that Flight 11 had been
hijacked. Due to poor communication with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), they were

not notified of the other planes that eventually hit their targets. After both Twin Towers were hit,

several fighter planes were flown in from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia at 9.30 a.m. At

10.20 a.m., several orders were issued to shoot down any potentially hijacked commercial

aircraft. These orders were not relayed in time for the fighters to take action. Some fighters flew

without live ammunition, knowing that to prevent the hijackers from reaching their targets the

fighter pilots would have to crash their planes into the hijacked aircraft, possibly by sliding out of

the fighter at the last moment. In a 2005 interview with fighter pilots departing from Otis Air

National Guard Base, one pilot said, "No one would have called us heroes if we shot down four

airplanes on September 11.” The fighter pilots said they were not heroes. Three buildings in the

World Trade Center Complex collapsed due to structural failure. The South Tower collapsed at

9:59 a.m. after burning for 56 minutes in a fire that resulted from the crash of United Airlines

Flight 175. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. after burning for 102 minutes. When the

North Tower collapsed, the rubble fell onto the neighboring 7 World Trade Center (7 WTC)

building, damaging it and creating a fire. This fire raged for several hours, damaging the

structural integrity of the building, and 7 WTC collapsed at 5:21 p.m.

All aircraft in the mainland United States were forced to land and aircraft already in flight were

asked to land as soon as possible. All international civilian aircraft were flown home or diverted

to airports in Canada or Mexico, and all international flights were banned from landing on United

States soil for three days. This attack created mass confusion among news organizations and

air traffic controllers. Among the unconfirmed and often contradictory news stories broadcast

throughout the day, one was that a car bomb had been detonated at the U.S. State Department

headquarters in Washington, D.C. Another jetliner-Flight 1989-was allegedly hijacked, but it was

suspected to be a false report as this plane eventually responded to air controllers' calls and

landed safely in Cleveland, Ohio.

only on the United States, but also globally. Here are some of the main impacts of the

terrorist attack:

Loss of Life and Material Damage: The tragedy caused the death of nearly 3,000 people and

significantly damaged the two iconic towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. In

addition, the attack on the Pentagon also caused loss of life and damage to the building.

Global Security Paradigm Shift: The September 11 attacks were a turning point in global

security history. The US government and many other countries stepped up their efforts to

counter terrorism and engaged in military operations in different parts of the world as part of the

"War on Terror."

Security Tightening: The attacks triggered a tightening of security around the world. Countries

took steps to increase surveillance of airports, borders and other critical infrastructure to prevent

similar terrorism attacks.

Creation of the US Department of Homeland Security: In response to the September 11

attacks, the United States created the Department of Homeland Security in 2002. The

department was established to coordinate and strengthen homeland security efforts.

Foreign Policy Changes: The United States and its allies changed their foreign policy,

particularly with regard to military intervention and support for governments deemed to support

terrorism.

Changes in Intelligence Handling: The attacks led to a major evaluation and restructuring of

the US intelligence system. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security also reflected

efforts to improve coordination between intelligence agencies.

increased tensions and discrimination against the Muslim community in some parts of the world.

This stigma also affected immigration and security policies in some countries.

These impacts created profound changes in geopolitical dynamics and shaped the global

security reality we know today.

CLOSING

The conclusion of the explanation of terrorism at the World Trade Center is that the attacks on

September 11, 2001 had a tremendous impact on the world as a whole. It caused a major shift

in global security policy, reshaped geopolitical dynamics, and created a new paradigm in

defense against the threat of terrorism. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center triggered

increased attention to global security and caused countries around the world to step up their

efforts in countering terrorism. The tragedy moved the United States and its allies to start the

"War on Terror," which involved military operations and anti-terrorism measures in various parts

of the world. The 9/11 attacks led to the tightening of security and restructuring of intelligence

systems in many countries. These measures aimed to prevent similar attacks in the future and

improve intelligence coordination. The United States and other countries experienced changes

in their foreign policies, especially regarding military intervention and support for governments

perceived to be involved in terrorism. The attacks affected public perceptions of Islam and

Muslims, often leading to increased stigmatization and discrimination against Muslim

communities in various parts of the world. Overall, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade

Center played a key role in shaping the modern global security reality and provided the impetus

for major changes in security policies and practices around the world.
Reference

World Trade Center History. (2023, September 11). Retrieved from www.911memorial.org:
https://www.911memorial.org/learn/resources/digital-exhibitions/world-trade-center-
history
Britannica, T. E. (2024, January 4). World Trade Center. Retrieved from www.britannica.com:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Trade-Center