September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001 was the most scariest and most terrifying time for all of America. On this day there was a series of terrorist attacks by the Islamic Al-Qaeda group led by Osama Bin Laden. A total of 19 men hijacked 4 planes. The first two planes hit the twin towers. The third plane struck the pentagon. Finally, the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. These attacks killed about 3,000 people. There were many dramatic transformations that were brought on by the events of this day.

After the disastrous day, American troops went into a series of war. A month after 9/11, American troops invaded Afghanistan to try to get rid of Al-Qaeda. Two years after that, they went into Iraq and questioned President Saddam Hussein because he was suspected of producing weapons of mass destruction. The war in Afghanistan turned into the longest running war in U.S history. The U.S military still remains there to control the ongoing Taliban insurgency.

Because of 9/11, air travel has drastically changed. If you go to an airport, there is a whole lot of hoopla going on. There are long lines, full body scans, and sometimes pat-downs if the scanner goes off. You have to take your shoes and jewelry off and take everything out of your pockets to be placed in a tub and checked. Before 9/11, body scans weren’t needed, cigarette lighters were allowed, and even blades up to four inches were allowed. However, because of the events on this terrible day, airport security has took a major turn.

Another change was the immigration policy. Visas became harder to get for tourists, students, and foreign nationals. Those who were allowed into the country had to provide fingerprints and and biometric data. This new policy affected the people from Mexico and Latin America even though they had nothing to do with the terrorists act.

These attacks have profoundly shaped the world we live in today. The immigration policy, airport security, and ongoing wars were just a few of the drastic changes after this terrible day. It is important to remember what happened on this day so that we realize why some of the things are the way that they are. This day has forever changed the lives of many families and Americans.