I. September 11, 2001: Chronological order

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 430.

POLITICAL AND MILITARY CONSEQUENCES.

TEXT A

Introduction:

September 11, 2001 - a day that shocked the entire world. For many people all over the globe this day will be remembered as one of the most terrible and unbelievable days ever, even if they were not directly involved. The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, on the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the crash of an airplane in Somerset Country near Pittsburgh not just killed more than 3,056 people and damaged or destroyed more than 30 buildings. There were far reaching consequences.

"September 11 changed the whole world." "Nothing will be like it was before." How often was this said following 9/11? But what exactly wasn't like it had been before? What had changed in politics, economy, on country maps and in our daily lives?

First of all a short summary of what happened on September 11, the day that changed the whole world and our daily lives.

At 08:46 a.m. a hijacked passenger jet (American Airlines Flight 11) from Boston, bound for Los Angeles, crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It was initially believed to be an accident. But later, at 09:03 a.m., a second hijacked aircraft (United Airlines Flight 175) also from Boston and bound for Los Angeles slams into the South Tower, causing an explosion in the building's upper floors. Now both towers are burning. FAA officials close all airports around New York City. On the orders of the Port Authority all tunnels and bridges in the New York area are closed. All train and bus services are also halted. At 09:30 a.m. President Bush, at that time on a school visit in Sarasota, Florida, calls the crashes "an apparent terrorist attack". Within ten minutes the FAA grounds all flights and directs all incoming international flights to Canada. It was the first time that civil air traffic nationwide was stopped. At 09:38 another American Airlines flight (American Airlines Flight 77), also hijacked, crashes into the Pentagon - the symbol of the U.S. military - causing the building to burst into flames. The Pentagon upgrades its terrorism alert status to "delta", the highest level possible. Federal buildings and the White House are being evacuated. Two minutes later the president leaves Florida aboard Air Force One. At 10:05 a.m. the South Tower crumbles to the ground. Streets near the building are full of debris, dust and smoke. At 10:10 a.m. a part of the Pentagon collapses. Seconds later the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 from New York to San Francisco crashes in Somerset Country near Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania. This airplane was probably shot down by U.S. jet fighters. The terrorists most likely tried to navigate this aircraft into Camp David, the U.S. Capitol building or the White House. Three minutes later the United Nations building in New York City evacuates. More than 10,000 people had to leave their work. In Washington D.C. the State and Justice departments and the World Bank are evacuated. At 10:28 a.m. the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. In the early afternoon President Bush in Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana announces that "the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts". At 01:44 p.m. a state of emergency is declared in Washington D.C. At about 06:00 p.m. explosions rock Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan. The White House denies this is any sort of retaliatory strike, but rather part of the ongoing civil war in that country. In the evening George W. Bush arrives in Washington D.C. to meet his staff for further action discussions. Later he tells the nation that the "U.S. government will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them".