#stonycreek

[mambo68]

Stony creek

[rabbitcruiser]

On March 7, 2002, Congressman John Murtha (PA-12) introduced a bill in  the United States House of Representatives to establish a Flight 93 National Memorial to be developed by a commission, and ultimately administered by the National Park Service.  

[inkywinkdink]

You know how schools will ask “What is your favorite quote?”

Well. My favorite quote is,

On September 11th, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked by terrorists. This plane was heading to hit the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., when the plane was originally heading to San Francisco, California.

The passengers fought back.

In last resort, the terrorists crashed the plane into a field in Stonycreek Township, Philadelphia. Nobody in the plane survived the crash, but nobody outside was harmed.

The most amazing act of bravery I've probably ever seen in the USA. 40 passengers worked together to fight for their freedom. They may have not survived, but no matter what, they will be forever remembered. 🕊

[sanctuarycitypurchase2023]

Context: September 11 Attacks -> The Increase of Racism

Early morning on September 11th, 2001, 19 hijackers overtook four commercial airlines that were departing from three different airports; (two from) Logan International Airport in Boston, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. The first plane took off at 7:59 a.m. and was followed by the next at 8:14 a.m., the next at 8:20 a.m., and the last one at 8:42 a.m. Four minutes after the last plane departed, the first plane was overtaken by five of the hijackers and was crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Twenty minutes later, the second plane hit the south tower. The crash of the Twin Towers alone killed 2,763. The third plane hit the west wall of the Pentagon nine minutes after the second crash. Due to delay, the fourth plane passengers learned early on something was going to happen and worked together to try to overthrow the hijackers. Scared, the hijackers nosedived the plane crashing it into a field in Stonycreek Township. It is unknown what the hijackers' target was but some hypothesize that it was either the White House or the Capitol Building. After all four planes crashed, 2,996 lives were lost and thousands were injured. 

Within hours, the Central Intelligence Agency determined that the hijackers were part of Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaueda was originally formed to support Muslims who were fighting against the Soviet Union during the Afghan war but was mostly dispersed when the Soviets left. They were the roots of the Islamist network. An important coordinator of the group, Osama Bin Laden, worked with Abdullah Azzam to reform the group with a “similar” purpose in 1988. During this time it was given the name al-Qaeda which translates to “the foundation”. Their goal was a global Islamist revolution which meant to unite the Muslim world under a supra-national Islamic state which is known as Caliphate. The group was aggressive and carried out 6 major attacks, the last (and largest) one being the September attacks.

September 11th was a long-planned idea. The key operational planner, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, presented the first idea of the attacks in 1996 to bin Laden. The plan was rejected for being too elaborate but in 1998-1999, bin Laden summoned Mohammed again to talk about a new plan, a less elaborate plan. Over the next year, the two started to recruit people for the attack and selected a leader who would be in charge of everything else. The 19 hijackers were selected including Mohammed Atta who was the leader.

  Fifteen of the nineteen men were from Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Egypt, and the last one was from Lebanon. After 9/11, Arab Americans experienced an increased amount of discrimination. Islamophobia was at its highest (and continues to be). Women particularly were targeted due to the majority wearing hijabs which was an indicator of the religion. Hate crimes against Muslims spiked 500 percent from 2000-2009.

A news bit about American Muslims sharing the post 9/11 racism

For Further Research, here are links from the sources I used:

9/11 Attacks: Facts, Background, Impact, Year | HISTORY

September 11 attacks: What happened on 9/11? - BBC News

Hate and Discrimination in the Wake of September 11 - Center for American Progress

20 years after 9/11, Islamophobia continues to haunt Muslims - ABC News (go.com)

[angrywalter01]

Donald Trump - We’re Going to Protect Christianity

Donald Trump believes that Christians should be protected from Islam? Hmm. Interesting. What has made the people of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) who are Christians think about Islam is: - The Number 1 Most Dangerous Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Disgusting Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Evil Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Hateful Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Horrible Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Vicious Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Vile Religion in the World - The Number 1 Most Wicked Religion in the World is Terrorist Attacks around the World in a result of causing people to protest violently and start riots. This is why many people of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) who are Christians want to deport Islam out of the United Kingdom (UK) and out of the United States of America (USA) and send Islam back to their Arab Countries were they belong and stay there so that the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) can be free, stay protected, stay safe and stay secured. That is the ultimate real reason why some people of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) are personally saying this is because they feel very uncomfortable with Islam and The War on Terror that has been going on for 20 years. The War on Terror was caused, perpetrated and started by Al-Qaeda a Sunni Pan-Islamist Militant Organization Terrorist Group led by Osama Bin Laden the founder of Al-Qaeda who are responsible for 9/11 Attacks on 3 locations and they are: 1. New York City, New York 2. Arlington, Virginia 3. Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania in a result of 2,977 people of the United States of America (USA) killed in the 9/11 Attacks. That is why it's making the people of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) who are Christians believe that Islam should go back to Arab Countries and stay in Arab Countries where they belong until The War on Terror is ended.

[myaussiestory]

Photo Of The Week (3) January 2021

The water at Stony Creek in Moreton Bay is so clear, you can see through it without even trying!

To see more Photos Of The Week, visit our website in the link below.

https://myaussiestory.com/gallery/

Happy weekend, everyone!

[bscozycottagecrafts]

Yesterdays walk at #stonycreek - looking at one of the #thimbleislands #nature #blessed #beach #harbor #guilfordct #newhavencounty #natureisbeautiful #relax #unwind #branfordct #shoreline #newengland #takeabreak #bscozycottagecrafts (at Stony Creek, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2tkDjdB9hR/?igshid=1jyokm7slak2l

[skapare]

Twenty years of tragedy… 💔💔💔 #11september #usa #september11 #september11attacks #amerika #manhattanbeach #newyork #arlingtoncounty #virginia #stonycreek #shanksville #pensylvania #worldtradecenter #islamicterrorism #thepentagon (at Södertälje, Sweden) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTrR8phg1J7/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reporterojk]

#beauty 👉🏻❤️👀😎🍀#215 #610 #484 ##19606photography #19606 #stonycreek #stonycreekmills #cresia #cresians #wekick #bixlerslodge #billingers #friedensburg #friedensburgroad #1400FriedensburgRoad #myhouse #micasa #home #yodersyardsale #antietampool #mountpenn #berkscountypa #pennsylvania #hessiancamp (at Matteo's Trattoria of Hallandale) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMkYJuNBiqU/?igshid=1rrzw1krrbhne

[thepfreakshow101]

Though it doesn’t look like a lot, the view in the morning is incredible. Watching the sun come over over the mountain & the snow on the rooftops of the houses, truly a beautiful sight to see. #hamilton #hamiltonontario #stonycreek #devilspunchbowl #saturdaymorning #wintersunrise (at Tindale Court) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKr-HmGgR13/?igshid=k0jm7r480tc0

[lemming28]

Thank you for participating Constantinescu Family! Happy FIRST Birthday Luna!!! 🥳 #felicidades 🎂🍼 #felizcumpleaños 🎈 #thefrontstepsproject . . Want to see more? Give my page a follow 👉🏼📸@Lemography . . Spots filled up but you still want to support!? Thats Fantastic! :) DONATE HERE 👉🏼 http://gf.me/u/y46un8 . Originated by @thefrontstepsproject . . #nicolelemphotography #thefrontporchproject #lemographypin #familygoals #communitylove #TheFrontStepsProjectxHalloween #stonycreek (at Etobicoke) https://www.instagram.com/p/CH9LjPxJF_N/?igshid=ggafwc5gm4ll

[gunterhausarts]

Completed and ready to frame “Stony Creek at Edinburg” is my rendition of this magical spot adjacent to Edinburg Mill, in Virginia. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m crazy for genealogy, ancestry, and historical places, especially those beautiful places which have been rehabilitated and maintained. On my way home from Burwell-Morgan Mill in Virginia, I happened across this Mill I hadn’t heard of yet! Even though I couldn’t get any decent photos that day, I was taken aback to see this tiny spot of paradise just off to the side. I couldn’t believe my eyes. A young mother was there letting her boys get a quick dip in the 100+ degree weather. Swimmin’ holes are a “locals only” kind of niche American pastime that I’ve always been tensely fond of. I’m not one for lakes or ponds. But this I can totally wrap my head around. Creek bed rocks! Tadpoles! Minnows! And if you’re in the far south you’ll be finding yourself some craydiddies. Who knows, maybe you’ll even see a mudskipper. Ah, the magic of getting lost in a moment... ah yes, this work is 12 x 24in oil on canvas and will be placed in a satin-shiny frame, made available for sale at the Art Of The Mill show from Sept 28-Oct 13th, 2019 at Burwell Morgan Mill in Historic Millwood, Virginia. Entrance is free and all works are for sale, with a portion funding the efforts of the Mill! Patrons Night starts one day early on Sept 27th for first come first served look-n-buy, tickets are $65, all other nights are free entry. Come out and view all the amazing works from around the country for this amazing event! Visit the link in my bio for more information. #landscapeart #stonycreek #burwellmorganmill #edinburgmill #artatthemill2019 #artforsale #artshow #historicalbuildings #oilpainting #pleinaire #magicalplaces #swimminghole #normanrockwellmoment (at Edinburg Mill) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3kKLrAD-Wz/?igshid=sfjwnqcdv86p

[rabbitcruiser]

On April 16, 2002, Senator Arlen Specter (PA) introduced a version of the “Flight 93 National Memorial Act” in the Senate. 

[ifelllikeastar]

Respectfully Remembering the birthday of Todd Beamer Todd Beamer was known for his heroism as a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93. Todd was an American passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked and crashed as part of the September 11 attacks in 2001. He was one of the passengers who attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the hijackers. During the struggle, the Boeing 757 lost control and crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board, but saving the hijackers’ intended target and additional victims. Born ~ Todd Morgan Beamer on November 24, 1968 in Flint, Michigan and died as a hero on September 11, 2001 in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania at the age of 33.

[adultswim2021]

The September 11th Attacks September 11th, 2001 - 8:46:40 A.M | S01E01

The September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11,[a] were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Wahhabi[3] terrorist group Al-Qaeda[4][5][6] against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries, and substantial long-term health consequences, in addition to at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.[7][8] It is the deadliest terrorist attack in human history and the single  deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 340[9] and 72 killed,[10][11] respectively.

Four passenger airliners which had departed from airports in the northeastern United States bound for California were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed. Debris and the resulting fires caused a partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, which led to a partial collapse of the building's west side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was initially flown toward Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, after passengers thwarted the hijackers.

Suspicion quickly fell onto al-Qaeda. The United States responded by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which had not complied with U.S. demands to expel al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and extradite their leader Osama bin Laden. Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. Although bin Laden initially denied any involvement, in 2004 he claimed responsibility for the attacks.[2] Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives. After evading capture for almost a decade, bin Laden was located in Pakistan in 2011 and killed during a U.S. military raid.

The destruction of the World Trade Center and nearby infrastructure seriously harmed the economy of New York City and had a significant effect on global markets. The U.S. and Canadian civilian airspaces were closed until September 13, while Wall Street was closed until September 17. Many closings, evacuations, and cancellations followed, out of respect or fear of further attacks. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002, and the Pentagon was repaired within a year. The construction of One World Trade Center began in November 2006, and the building opened in November 2014.[12][13]Numerous memorials have been constructed, including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial at the Pennsylvania crash site.

Background

Al-Qaeda

The origins of al-Qaeda can be traced to 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden travelled to Afghanistan and helped to organize Arab mujahideen to resist the Soviets.[14] Under the guidance of Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden became more radical.[15] In 1996, bin Laden issued his first fatwā, calling for American soldiers to leave Saudi Arabia.[16]

In a second fatwā in 1998, bin Laden outlined his objections to American foreign policy with respect to Israel, as well as the continued presence of American troops in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War.[17] Bin Laden used Islamic texts to exhort Muslims to attack Americans until the stated grievances were reversed. Muslim legal scholars "have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries", according to bin Laden.[17]

Osama bin Laden

Bin Laden orchestrated the attacks and initially denied involvement but later recanted his false statements.[2][18][19]Al Jazeera broadcast a statement by bin Laden on September 16, 2001, stating, "I stress that I have not carried out this act, which appears to have been carried out by individuals with their own motivation."[20] In November 2001, U.S. forces recovered a videotape from a destroyed house in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. In the video, bin Laden is seen talking to Khaled al-Harbi and admits foreknowledge of the attacks.[21] On December 27, 2001, a second bin Laden video was released. In the video, he said:

It has become clear that the West in general and America in particular have an unspeakable hatred for Islam. ... It is the hatred of crusaders. Terrorism against America deserves to be praised because it was a response to injustice, aimed at forcing America to stop its support for Israel, which kills our people. ... We say that the end of the United States is imminent, whether Bin Laden or his followers are alive or dead, for the awakening of the Muslim umma (nation) has occurred but he stopped short of admitting responsibility for the attacks.[22]

Shortly before the U.S. presidential election in 2004, bin Laden used a taped statement to publicly acknowledge al-Qaeda's involvement in the attacks on the United States. He admitted his direct link to the attacks and said they were carried out because:

we are free ... and want to regain freedom for our nation. As you undermine our security, we undermine yours.[23]

Bin Laden said he had personally directed his followers to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.[24][25] Another video obtained by Al Jazeera in September 2006 shows bin Laden with Ramzi bin al-Shibh, as well as two hijackers, Hamza al-Ghamdi and Wail al-Shehri, as they make preparations for the attacks.[26] The U.S. never formally indicted bin Laden for the 9/11 attacks, but he was on the FBI's Most Wanted List for the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya.[27][28] After a 10-year manhunt, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that bin Laden was killed by American special forces in his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 1, 2011.[29]

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

Journalist Yosri Fouda of the Arabic television channel Al Jazeera reported that in April 2002, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted his involvement in the attacks, along with Ramzi bin al-Shibh.[30][31][32] The 2004 9/11 Commission Report determined that the animosity towards the United States felt by Mohammed, the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks, stemmed from his "violent disagreement with U.S. foreign policy favoring Israel".[33] Mohammed was also an adviser and financier of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the uncle of Ramzi Yousef, the lead bomber in that attack.[34][35]

Mohammed was arrested on March 1, 2003, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, by Pakistani security officials working with the CIA. He was then held at multiple CIA secret prisons and Guantanamo Bay where he was interrogated and tortured with methods including waterboarding.[36][37] During U.S. hearings at Guantanamo Bay in March 2007, Mohammed again confessed his responsibility for the attacks, stating he "was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z" and that his statement was not made under duress.[32][38]

A letter presented by the lawyers of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed in the U.S. District Court, Manhattan on July 26, 2019 indicated that he was interested in testifying about Saudi Arabia’s role in the 9/11 attacks and helping the victims and families of the victims of 9/11 in exchange for the United States not seeking the death penalty against him. James Kreindler, one of the lawyers for the victims, raised question over the usefulness of Mohammed.[1]

Other al-Qaeda members

In "Substitution for Testimony of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed" from the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, five people are identified as having been completely aware of the operation's details. They are bin Laden, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Abu Turab al-Urduni, and Mohammed Atef.[39] To date, only peripheral figures have been tried or convicted for the attacks.

On September 26, 2005, the Spanish high court sentenced Abu Dahdah to 27 years in prison for conspiracy on the 9/11 attacks and being a member of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda. At the same time, another 17 al-Qaeda members were sentenced to penalties of between six and eleven years.[40] On February 16, 2006, the Spanish Supreme Court reduced the Abu Dahdah penalty to 12 years because it considered that his participation in the conspiracy was not proven.[41]

Also in 2006, Moussaoui—who some originally suspected might have been the assigned 20th hijacker—was convicted for the lesser role of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism and air piracy. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the United States.[42][43]Mounir el-Motassadeq, an associate of the Hamburg-based hijackers, served 15 years in Germany for his role in helping the hijackers prepare for the attacks. He was released in October 2018, and deported to Morocco.[44]

The Hamburg cell in Germany included radical Islamists who eventually came to be key operatives in the 9/11 attacks.[45]Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, Ziad Jarrah, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and Said Bahaji were all members of al-Qaeda's Hamburg cell.[46]

Motives

Osama bin Laden's declaration of a holy war against the United States, and a 1998 fatwā signed by bin Laden and others, calling for the killing of Americans,[17] are seen by investigators as evidence of his motivation.[47] In bin Laden's November 2002 "Letter to America", he explicitly stated that al-Qaeda's motives for their attacks include:

U.S. support of Israel[48][49]

support for the "attacks against Muslims" in Somalia

support of Philippines against Muslims in the Moro conflict

support for Israeli "aggression" against Muslims in Lebanon

support of Russian "atrocities against Muslims" in Chechnya

pro-American governments in the Middle East (who "act as your agents") being against Muslim interests

support of Indian "oppression against Muslims" in Kashmir

the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia[50]

the sanctions against Iraq[48]

After the attacks, bin Laden and al-Zawahiri released additional videotapes and audio recordings, some of which repeated those reasons for the attacks. Two particularly important publications were bin Laden's 2002 "Letter to America",[51] and a 2004 videotape by bin Laden.[52]

Bin Laden interpreted Muhammad as having banned the "permanent presence of infidels in Arabia".[53] In 1996, bin Laden issued a fatwā calling for American troops to leave Saudi Arabia. In 1998, al-Qaeda wrote, "for over seven years the United States has been occupying the lands of Islam in the holiest of places, the Arabian Peninsula, plundering its riches, dictating to its rulers, humiliating its people, terrorizing its neighbors, and turning its bases in the Peninsula into a spearhead through which to fight the neighboring Muslim peoples."[54]

In a December 1999 interview, bin Laden said he felt that Americans were "too near to Mecca", and considered this a provocation to the entire Muslim world.[55] One analysis of suicide terrorism suggested that without U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, al-Qaeda likely would not have been able to get people to commit to suicide missions.[56]

In the 1998 fatwā, al-Qaeda identified the Iraq sanctions as a reason to kill Americans, condemning the "protracted blockade"[54] among other actions that constitute a declaration of war against "Allah, his messenger, and Muslims."[54] The fatwā declared that "the ruling to kill the Americans and their allies—civilians and military—is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque of Mecca from their grip, and in order for their [the Americans'] armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim."[17][57]

In 2004, Bin Laden claimed that the idea of destroying the towers had first occurred to him in 1982, when he witnessed Israel's bombardment of high-rise apartment buildings during the 1982 Lebanon War.[58][59] Some analysts, including Mearsheimer and Walt, also claimed that U.S. support of Israel was one motive for the attacks.[49][55] In 2004 and 2010, bin Laden again connected the September 11 attacks with U.S. support of Israel, although most of the letter expressed bin Laden's disdain for President Bush and bin Laden's hope to "destroy and bankrupt" the U.S.[60][61]

Other motives have been suggested in addition to those stated by bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Some authors suggested the "humiliation" that resulted from the Islamic world falling behind the Western world—this discrepancy was rendered especially visible by the globalization trend[62][63] and a desire to provoke the U.S. into a broader war against the Islamic world in the hope of motivating more allies to support al-Qaeda. Similarly, others have argued that 9/11 was a strategic move with the objective of provoking America into a war that would incite a pan-Islamic revolution.[64][65]

Planning

The attacks were conceived by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who first presented it to Osama bin Laden in 1996.[66] At that time, bin Laden and al-Qaeda were in a period of transition, having just relocated back to Afghanistan from Sudan.[67] The 1998 African Embassy bombings and bin Laden's February 1998 fatwā marked a turning point of al-Qaeda's terrorist operation,[68] as bin Laden became intent on attacking the United States.

In late 1998 or early 1999, bin Laden gave approval for Mohammed to go forward with organizing the plot.[69] Mohammed, bin Laden, and bin Laden's deputy Mohammed Atef held a series of meetings in early 1999.[70] Atef provided operational support, including target selections and helping arrange travel for the hijackers.[67] Bin Laden overruled Mohammed, rejecting potential targets such as the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles for lack of time.[71][72]

Bin Laden provided leadership and financial support, and was involved in selecting participants.[73] He initially selected Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, both experienced jihadists who had fought in Bosnia. Hazmi and Mihdhar arrived in the United States in mid-January 2000. In early 2000, Hazmi and Mihdhar took flying lessons in San Diego, California, but both spoke little English, performed poorly in flying lessons, and eventually served as secondary—or "muscle"—hijackers.[74][75]

In late 1999, a group of men from Hamburg, Germany arrived in Afghanistan; the group included Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, Ziad Jarrah, and Ramzi bin al-Shibh.[76] Bin Laden selected these men because they were educated, could speak English, and had experience living in the West.[77] New recruits were routinely screened for special skills and al-Qaeda leaders consequently discovered that Hani Hanjour already had a commercial pilot's license.[78] Mohammed later said that he helped the hijackers blend in by teaching them how to order food in restaurants and dress in Western clothing.[79]

Hanjour arrived in San Diego on December 8, 2000, joining Hazmi.[80]:6–7 They soon left for Arizona, where Hanjour took refresher training.[80]:7 Marwan al-Shehhi arrived at the end of May 2000, while Atta arrived on June 3, 2000, and Jarrah arrived on June 27, 2000.[80]:6 Bin al-Shibh applied several times for a visa to the United States, but as a Yemeni, he was rejected out of concerns he would overstay his visa.[80]:4, 14 Bin al-Shibh stayed in Hamburg, providing coordination between Atta and Mohammed.[80]:16 The three Hamburg cell members all took pilot training in South Florida at Huffman Aviation.[80]:6

In spring of 2001, the secondary hijackers began arriving in the United States.[81] In July 2001, Atta met with bin al-Shibh in Spain, where they coordinated details of the plot, including final target selection. Bin al-Shibh also passed along bin Laden's wish for the attacks to be carried out as soon as possible.[82] Some of the hijackers received passports from corrupt Saudi officials who were family members, or used fraudulent passports to gain entry.[83]

There is some idea that 9/11 was selected by the hijackers as the date of the attack because of its resemblance to 9-1-1, the phone number to report emergencies in the U.S. However, Lawrence Wright wrote that the hijackers chose it because September 11, 1683 is when the King of Poland began the battle that turned back the Muslim armies from the Ottoman Empire that were attempting to capture Vienna. For Osama bin Laden, this was a date when the West gained some dominance over Islam, and by attacking on this date, he hoped to make a step in Islam "winning" the war for worldwide power and influence.[84]

Prior intelligence

In late 1999, al-Qaeda associate Walid bin Attash ("Khallad") contacted Mihdhar, telling him to meet him in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hazmi and Abu Bara al Yemeni would also be in attendance. The NSA intercepted a telephone call mentioning the meeting, Mihdhar, and the name "Nawaf" (Hazmi). While the agency feared "Something nefarious might be afoot", it took no further action. The CIA had already been alerted by Saudi intelligence about the status of Mihdhar and Hazmi as al-Qaeda members, and a CIA team broke into Mihdhar's Dubai hotel room and discovered that Mihdhar had a U.S. visa. While Alec Station alerted intelligence agencies worldwide about this fact, it did not share this information with the FBI. The Malaysian Special Branch observed the January 5, 2000 meeting of the two al-Qaeda members, and informed the CIA that Mihdhar, Hazmi, and Khallad were flying to Bangkok, but the CIA never notified other agencies of this, nor did it ask the State Department to put Mihdhar on its watchlist. An FBI liaison to Alec Station asked permission to inform the FBI of the meeting but was told: "This is not a matter for the FBI."[85]

By late June, senior counter-terrorism official Richard Clarke and CIA director George Tenet were "convinced that a major series of attacks was about to come", although the CIA believed the attacks would likely occur in Saudi Arabia or Israel.[86] In early July, Clarke put domestic agencies on "full alert", telling them, "Something really spectacular is going to happen here. soon." He asked the FBI and the State Department to alert the embassies and police departments, and the Defense Department to go to "Threat Condition Delta".[87][88] Clarke would later write: "Somewhere in CIA there was information that two known al Qaeda terrorists had come into the United States. Somewhere in FBI there was information that strange things had been going on at flight schools in the United States... They had specific information about individual terrorists from which one could have deduced what was about to happen. None of that information got to me or the White House."[89]

On July 13, Tom Wilshire, a CIA agent assigned to the FBI's international terrorism division, emailed his superiors at the CIA's Counterterrorism Center (CTC) requesting permission to inform the FBI that Hazmi was in the country and that Mihdhar had a U.S. visa. The CIA never responded.[90]

The same day in July, Margarette Gillespie, an FBI analyst working in the CTC, was told to review material about the Malaysia meeting. She was not told of the participants' presence in the U.S. The CIA gave Gillespie surveillance photos of Mihdhar and Hazmi from the meeting to show to FBI counterterrorism, but did not tell her their significance. The Intelink database informed her not to share intelligence material on the meeting to criminal investigators. When shown the photos, the FBI were refused more details on their significance, and they were not given Mihdhar's date of birth nor passport number.[91] In late August 2001, Gillespie told the INS, the State Department, the Customs Service, and the FBI to put Hazmi and Mihdhar on their watchlists, but the FBI was prohibited from using criminal agents in the search for the duo, which hindered their efforts.[92]

Also in July, a Phoenix-based FBI agent sent a message to FBI headquarters, Alec Station, and to FBI agents in New York alerting them to "the possibility of a coordinated effort by Osama bin Laden to send students to the United States to attend civil aviation universities and colleges". The agent, Kenneth Williams, suggested the need to interview all flight school managers and identify all Arab students seeking flight training.[93] In July, Jordan alerted the U.S. that al-Qaeda was planning an attack on the U.S.; "months later", Jordan notified the U.S. that the attack's codename was "The Big Wedding" and that it involved airplanes.[94]

On August 6, 2001, the CIA's Presidential Daily Brief ("PDB"), designated "For the President Only", was entitled "Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in U.S." The memo noted that FBI information "indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks".[95]

In mid-August, one Minnesota flight school alerted the FBI about Zacarias Moussaoui, who had asked "suspicious questions". The FBI found that Moussaoui was a radical who had traveled to Pakistan, and the INS arrested him for overstaying his French visa. Their request to search his laptop was denied by FBI headquarters due to the lack of probable cause.[96]

The failures in intelligence-sharing were attributed to 1995 Justice Department policies limiting intelligence sharing, combined with CIA and NSA reluctance to reveal "sensitive sources and methods" such as tapped phones.[97] Testifying before the 9/11 Commission in April 2004, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft recalled that the "single greatest structural cause for the September 11th problem was the wall that segregated or separated criminal investigators and intelligence agents".[98] Clarke also wrote: "There were failures in the organizations failures to get information to the right place at the right time."[99]

TLDR; it was an inside job

[visualsoulphotography]

Flashback Friday... why the hell not! This was from a set I did with the always gorgeous @acaciaturner ________________ #model #michiganmodel #stonycreek #detroitphotographer #fashion #editorial #lifestyle #portrait #portraitmood #moodyportraits #portraitpage #pursuitofportraits #loveofportraits #visualsoflife #visualsoul #sony #sonyalphaclub (at Stony Creek Metropark)