911 As a Turning Point in History

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9/11 As a Turning Pointin History
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What are Turning Points?

• Turning Points Are Lasting Changes in the Climate
  of the Times
• 1929 and 1941 were Turning Points
• 1963 and 1987 were with the Kennedy assassination
  and the stock market crash
• Is 9-11-2001 a turning point?

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Cycles in Warfare

• Quincy Wright found an approximately 50 year
  cycle between major wars between great powers
• By this clock, the world is due for a major war
  about now
• But nuclear deterrence seems to have broken this
  cycle
• The War Against Terrorism may be a substitute

Quincy Wright
A Study of War (1942) University of Chicago
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Cycles in Global Hegemony
(the dominance or leadership of one social group
or nation over others)

• In the past, world systems theorists say
  hegemonic powers have dominated for approximately
  100 year cycles
• But England had two cycles
• By this clock, the United States should be ending
  a period of hegemony
• The U.S.s main rivals, Japan and the Soviet
  Union have retreated
• The US may have a second 100 year cycle

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9/11 and Global Hegemony

• The 9/11 attacks were intended to end Americas
  global hegemony
• The Islamic global empire would be the presumed
  successor
• It seems more likely that American hegemony will
  continue for another century

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In Response to 9/11

• American military hegemony is strong
• The stock market recovered from its initial shock
• America is firmly in an extraverted foreign
  policy mood
• And Western sensate popular culture seems
  irresistible

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Terrorism Term First Appeared? C. 1793

• Precise and specific use of the term terrorism
  originated in the French Revolution to describe
  actions taken by the national government against
  its own citizens Robespierre and the
  Enlightened Technology of Dr. Guillotine The
  Terror.

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Working Definition in the 1980s

• Terrorism is the intentional use of terror to
  achieve political purposes.

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Who attacked?
Nineteen terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda
hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners.
Each team of hijackers included a trained pilot.
Who is al-Qaeda?
International alliance of militant Sunni jihadist
organizations. Its roots can be traced back to
Osama bin Laden and others around the time of the
Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989.
What do they want?
Al-Qaeda's objectives include the end of foreign
influence in Muslim countries and the creation of
a new Islamic caliphate (empire).
What did they do?
crashed two of the airliners (United Airlines
Flight 175) and (American Airlines Flight 11)
into the World Trade Center in New York City
crashed a third airliner (American Airlines
Flight 77)into the Pentagon in Arlington County,
Virginia, near Washington,
Passengers and members of the flight crew on the
fourth aircraft (United Airlines Flight 93)
attempted to retake control of their plane from
the hijackers that plane crashed into a field
near the town of Shanksville in rural PA.
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Even Osama Bin Laden Wears aTimex Ironman
Triathalon Watchand Speaks to the World on
SatelliteTelevision
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Before 9/11 we were in a reactive state of
denial and inaction

• We didnt we listen in 1994 when The Futurist
  warned that
• "Targets such as the World Trade Center not only
  provide the requisite casualties but, because of
  their symbolic nature, provide more bang for the
  buck. In order to maximize their odds for
  success, terrorist groups will likely consider
  mounting multiple, simultaneous operations with
  the aim of overtaxing a government's ability to
  respond, as well as demonstrating their
  professionalism and reach."

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Al Qaeda and the Intelligence Ploy -
Osamas Whereabouts

• Prior to 9/11, Osama bin Laden was secretly
  protected by the CIA and became a US intelligence
  asset.
• Was put on FBIs 10 Most Wanted list in 1999.
• Two months prior to 9/11 bin Laden was at The
  American Hospital in Dubai on July 14, 2001.
• visited by the CIA section chief, yet no arrest
  was made.
• Sept. 10, 2001, Osama is reported (by Dan Rather)
• to be at a Pakistani military headquarters
  hospital.
• hospital has close ties to the Pentagon. No
  arrest was made.