Debate 24/10/2024

Munich Olympics Hostage Crisis (1972)

A Palestinian terrorist group, Black September, took 11 Israeli athletes hostage during the
Munich Summer Olympics, resulting in their deaths after a failed rescue attempt

West German police from the regular Bavarian State Police ambushed the terrorists, killing five
of the eight Black September members. But the rescue attempt failed, resulting in the deaths of
all the hostages.[13]

A West German police officer was also killed in the crossfire. The West German government
faced criticism for the rescue attempt and its handling of the incident. The three surviving
perpetrators were arrested but were released the following month in a hostage exchange after
the hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 615.

By then the Israeli government had launched an assassination campaign, which authorized
Mossad to track down and kill anyone who had played a role in the attack.
Two days before the start of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazilian and Israeli officials led a
ceremony where the International Olympic Committee honored the eleven Israelis and one
German killed at Munich.] During the 2020 Summer Olympics, a moment of silence was
observed in the opening ceremony.

Iran Hostage Crisis (1979-1981)

52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days by Iranian militants who
seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

The Iran hostage crisis was a terrorist action taken by Iran involving an attack on the American
embassy in Tehran. Fifty-three American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran after
a group of armed Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the
Imam's Line, who supported the Iranian Revolution, including Hossein Dehghan (future Iranian
Minister of Defense), Mohammad Ali Jafari (future Revolutionary Guards Commander-In-Chief)
and Mohammad Bagheri (future Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Army), took over the
U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took them as hostages. The hostages were held for 444 days,
from November 4, 1979 to their release on January 20, 1981. The crisis is considered a pivotal
episode in the history of Iran–United States relations.

Date and Time of Attacks:

● On September 11, 2001, four passenger airplanes were hijacked by 19 Al-Qaeda

terrorists.
 ● The first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, crashed into the North Tower of the
World Trade Center at 8:46 AM.
● The second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, hit the South Tower at 9:03 AM.
● American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon at 9:37 AM.
● United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03
AM after passengers fought the hijackers.

Casualties:

● A total of 2,977 victims were killed, excluding the 19 hijackers.

○ 2,753 people died at the World Trade Center site, including 343 firefighters, 23
police officers, and 37 Port Authority officers who responded to the
emergency.
○ 184 people were killed at the Pentagon, including military personnel and
civilians.
○ 40 passengers and crew members died aboard United Airlines Flight 93.
● People from over 90 countries were among the victims, reflecting the global impact.

Economic Impact:

● The estimated economic damage from the attacks was $123 billion in physical damage
to buildings and infrastructure.
● Insurance losses totaled approximately $40 billion.
● The collapse of the World Trade Center caused the loss of 18 million square feet of
office space in lower Manhattan, significantly affecting New York’s financial district.
● The U.S. government allocated $15 billion to bail out the airline industry in the aftermath
of the attacks.

Impact on U.S. Infrastructure:

● 6,000 people were injured.

● The attacks caused significant damage to infrastructure and transportation networks,
including the closure of airspace across the U.S. for several days.
● The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and NYC Fire Department
conducted search and rescue missions for weeks at Ground Zero.

Long-term Health Effects:

● Over 400,000 people are estimated to have been exposed to toxic dust, debris, and
smoke, leading to long-term health issues, including respiratory diseases and cancer.
● As of 2021, more than 3,900 survivors and first responders have died from health-
related issues stemming from exposure during rescue and recovery operations.

War on Terror:

● In response, the U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001,

marking the start of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan to dismantle Al-Qaeda and remove
the Taliban from power.
● The U.S. has spent an estimated $2 trillion on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that
followed the attacks, leading to nearly two decades of conflict.
Security Changes:

● The attacks prompted the largest overhaul of U.S. security infrastructure in decades,
including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002, which
consolidated 22 agencies.
● The USA PATRIOT Act was passed, expanding government surveillance powers to
prevent future attacks.
● New aviation security measures were introduced, including the formation of the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA), mandatory cockpit door
reinforcements, and enhanced airport screening processes.

Reconstruction and Memorials:

● The One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, was completed in
2013 and stands at 1,776 feet, symbolizing the resilience of New York and the nation.
● The National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened in 2011 at Ground Zero,
featuring two reflecting pools inscribed with the names of those killed.
● Every year, memorial ceremonies are held across the U.S., including a moment of
silence observed at 8:46 AM, the time the first plane struck.

In an unprecedented act of terror, the United States was struck by a series of coordinated
attacks this morning, leaving the nation in shock and disbelief. At 8:46 AM, American Airlines
Flight 11, hijacked by terrorists, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in
New York City. Just 17 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower at
9:03 AM, setting off a chain of destruction and chaos.

As emergency crews scrambled to respond, horror unfolded in Washington, D.C., where

American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 AM, causing significant
damage to the nation’s military headquarters. Meanwhile, in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania,
United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field at 10:03 AM after passengers heroically fought
the hijackers, preventing the plane from reaching its intended target—believed to be in
Washington, D.C.

The attacks have left 2,977 people dead, including civilians, first responders, and military
personnel. The victims at the World Trade Center include 343 firefighters, 23 NYPD officers,
and 37 Port Authority officers who courageously rushed into the burning towers to save lives.
Both Twin Towers collapsed within hours, sending massive clouds of dust and debris across
lower Manhattan.

In response, President George W. Bush addressed the nation, declaring: "Freedom itself was
attacked this morning by a faceless coward. And freedom will be defended." The President
vowed to bring those responsible to justice, as early intelligence points to the involvement of the
terrorist group Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden.

The U.S. government has grounded all domestic and international flights, marking the first time
the entire U.S. airspace has been closed. The Pentagon is under lockdown, and military forces
are on high alert nationwide.

The economic impact is staggering. With the World Trade Center, a symbol of global finance,
in ruins, stock markets have been closed, and New York’s financial district is paralyzed. It is
estimated that over 18 million square feet of office space has been destroyed. The full extent
of the damage is still being assessed, but early estimates place losses in the tens of billions of
dollars.

As rescue efforts continue in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, the nation mourns the
loss of thousands of lives and the shattering of its sense of security. The attacks on American
soil have united the country in grief, anger, and resolve, as questions arise over how this
devastating breach of national security could occur.

In New York, the city’s iconic skyline has been permanently altered. First responders continue to
dig through the wreckage at Ground Zero, hoping for a miracle. Hospitals are treating
thousands of injured victims, while health officials warn of long-term respiratory issues for those
exposed to the toxic smoke and dust.

Across the world, messages of solidarity and condolence are pouring in, with foreign leaders
expressing their support for the United States during this dark moment. The United Nations,
headquartered just miles from the site of the attacks, has condemned the horrific acts of terror.

This day will go down in history as one of the darkest in modern times. America, shaken but
unbowed, begins its long road to recovery and retribution.