911
...War. This war would be an ever-lasting mission to rid the world of evil (the allies and citizens of the US). Why the United States, many people ask? Leaders such as Moammar Gadhafi of Libya, and Usama Bin Laden of Saudi Arabia despise western influence in the Arab world. They feel and have stated that the United States tries to impose its culture, and its financial power in their land. With US oil, clothing, and food companies in the Arab nations, the Arab leaders believe that the US is soiling their great land (Beres, 15). They feel that their only way to expunge them is by killing. Just the presence of the United States was not enough to anger the Arab extremists. The multiple attacks that have been targeted at the United States were in retaliation for the United States' actions. In the hopes of keeping oil prices low, and maintaining diplomacy abroad, the United States has sent troops and planes abroad to keep control. These actions led to destruction of cities, and the loss of thousands of lives; both civilian and military. In 1986 Libyan terrorists blew up a German discothèque killing an American soldier. The United States could not stand idly by. Days later, America launched a series of air strikes in hopes of wiping out Gadhafi, and his followers. According to the Libyans, the strikes failed, and killed hundreds of civilians instead of militants. For three years, Libya was quiet; but in 1989 they would strike back with a punishing blow. Libyan terrorists blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all on board. The United States, in hopes of keeping peace, did not retaliate militarily. Instead, they peacefully asked for the terrorists to be handed over to await a trial in the United States. The Libyans declined. Tensions between Libya and the United States reached a peak during the Reagan administration, which tried to overthrow Gadhafi. The 1980's were characterized by American air raids on Libya and alleged Libya-supported terrorist attacks on Western interests. In 1986, the U.S. bombing of Libyan sites allegedly killed Gadhafi's infant daughter (abcnews.go.com). From an American standpoint the Libyan's and other Arab nations were the enemy. The Arab nations on the other hand, felt they were the victims, and found no fault in their actions. They were simply retaliating for attacks on their homeland. It was like the proverbial childhood conflict of He started it first! The United States was not at war with one man, but with a nation. Sanctions and a multitude of missile strikes were dealt out to the Arab nations in hopes of choking out terrorism. The strikes and sanctions were futile and only enraged the Arab nations more. Gadhafi spoke out by stating We are capable of destroying America and breaking its nose (terrorism.com). To Gadhafi and his allies, the United States would become the victim. As strongly as the terrorists came on in the 1980's, they quickly slipped into the shadows and went silent, planning a new wave of attacks that would shock the United States. In 1991, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait and ceased its oil production. A problem that only dealt with Iraq and Kuwait would soon involve the United States. The US had a large investment with Kuwaiti oil, and would not let their (the US's) financial security be harmed. As in the Vietnam, and the Afghani - Russian war, the United States interfered with other people's business. To a leader such as Usama Bin Laden, this interference was an outrage. The US was trespassing on sacred ground, and must be taught not to interfere. Usama Bin Laden, and his terrorist cells finally brought terrorism home to US soil in December of 1993 when the World Trade Center was bombed. Usama Bin Laden proudly claimed responsibility for the terrorist acts. His goal was to bring down the heart of the United State's financial world (abcnews.go.com), and to cripple its citizen's sense of safety. His planned failed, but it did bring fear to all American citizens. As a result, the FBI's top priority was now Bin Laden, yet in the coming years the United States would do little to strengthen its security at home and abroad. Airport security remained unchanged except for the baggage handling questions (which prevents little), and antiterrorist groups were not given the proper funding, and therefore did little to gain information about upcoming attacks (Beres, 74). August of 1998 would send a shockwave through the US and its sense of security. Near simultaneous bombings occurred at the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. In Nairobi 291 people were killed and over 5,000 wounded. Ten people were killed and 77 injured in the bombing at Dar Es Salaam (usemb.se). US officials believed Usama Bin Ladin's al-Qaida organization was responsible for the bombings. In a haphazard retaliation, the US attacked rebel camps in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia where Bin Laden's terrorist's organizations were supposedly based. Little collateral damage was done, and Bin Laden became more outraged. The United States would rest easy for a couple more years before its security was once again rocked. Terrorism would soon be upon the U.S. in October of 2000. The Destroyer USS Cole departed its home base Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a peaceful routine mission to Yemen. Upon entering the Port of Aden, an unknown boat approached the Cole and exploded ripping a sixty-foot hole in ...