The world has seen many acts of terrorism on a grand scale; the Oklahoma bombing in 1995 and the IRA bombing of Manchester, England, in 1996. But the acts of September 11th this year will be forever remembered as the worst acts of terrorism the modern post-World War II world has ever seen, if not the worst ever. Many analysts have estimated that around 5000 have been lost due to the attacks, more than on December 7th 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces. The attacks on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington have received condemnation from world leaders all over the world, as the attacks sent ripples throughout the international system, much like a pebble being thrown into water. For example, Tony Blair called the attacks "an attack on Britain as well", a very clear and definitive speech illustrating the whole-hearted international condemnation of the attacks. The effects of these attacks will be felt for many years to come as the inte!.
rnational world comes to terms with the attacks. Airport security will be changed forever, the threat of terrorism forever in the publics mind and the threat of further attacks taking place, be it in the form of suicide bombers or chemical and biological attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks are believed to be Islamic Fundamentalists, working for Osama Bin Laden's terror network, Al-Qaeda. But the question that arises from the September 11th attacks is why? This essay will investigate will analyze why the attacks took place, focusing on the push of globalisation threatening Islam, what is Islamic Fundamentalism, the Israeli factor and Samuel P. Huntington's international politics theory of "the clash of civilizations. This essay will also focus on the long-term effects of the attacks on September 11th.
The movement believed to be behind the attacks on Tuesday, September 11th is believed to be the Al-Qaeda network, headed by Osama Bin Laden.