22 years after 9/11: Reflection on America's response and impact on Central Asia

The September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11, were a series of coordinated hijackings and suicide attacks carried out in 2001 by 19 militants affiliated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. These attacks targeted various locations in the United States, making them the deadliest acts of terrorism on American soil in U.S. history.

The attacks unfolded with the hijacking of four planes flying over the eastern United States. Teams of hijackers simultaneously took control of these aircraft. Two of these planes were deliberately crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The first plane struck the North Tower at 08:46 Eastern Time (12:46 GMT), followed by the second plane crashing into the South Tower at 09:03. Within less than two hours, both of the 110-story towers collapsed, engulfing the area in massive clouds of dust.

At 09:37, a third plane targeted the western façade of the Pentagon, the massive headquarters of the U.S. military located just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane, after passengers courageously fought back, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03. It is believed that the hijackers had intended to target the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Tragically, a total of 2,977 people lost their lives in these attacks, not including the 19 hijackers. All 246 passengers and crew members aboard the four hijacked planes perished. At the Twin Towers, 2,606 people lost their lives either during the attacks or later due to injuries sustained. Additionally, 125 individuals were killed at the Pentagon. The victims of these attacks spanned all ages, from the youngest, two-year-old Christine Lee Hanson, who was aboard one of the planes with her parents, to the oldest, 82-year-old Robert Norton, who was traveling with his wife Jacqueline to a wedding on another plane.

The September 11 attacks were in large part precipitated by Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, who held misguided beliefs about the United States in the lead-up to the attacks. In response to these devastating attacks, the U.S. government undertook immediate and long-term measures, including rescue operations, legislative changes, military actions, and restoration projects.

Immediate Response

• Immediate rescue operations were initiated at the World Trade Center site.
• Civilian aircraft were grounded to ensure safety.

Investigations

• The 9/11 Commission was established to provide a comprehensive account of the circumstances surrounding the attacks. The commission released its findings in the 9/11 Commission Report.
• The Central Intelligence Agency Office of Inspector General conducted an internal review of the CIA’s performance in the lead-up to the attacks.

Legislative Changes

• The U.S. federal government enacted the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
• The USA PATRIOT Act was passed to enhance the detection and prosecution of terrorism and other criminal activities.

Military Action

• The U.S. declaration of War on Terrorism resulted in military engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Restoration Projects

• Cleanup and restoration efforts were initiated, ultimately leading to the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan.
• Federal grants supported the development of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Derivatives of U.S. "War on Terror"

However, it's important to note that some argue that the U.S. response to 9/11 has contributed to Afghanistan and Central Asia's current economic challenges. One of the most economically significant decisions made post-9/11 pertained not only to whether to engage in military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan but also how to finance these conflicts and the associated increases in defense and homeland security spending.

The U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks was swift and decisive, with a sequence of actions taken in Afghanistan:

Military Action

• On October 7, 2001, U.S. and British forces launched Operation Enduring Freedom, an airstrike campaign targeting al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds, including Kandahar, Kabul, and Jalalabad.
• Ground forces followed, swiftly overtaking Taliban strongholds with the assistance of Northern Alliance forces, culminating in the capture of Kabul by December 6 and the official end of Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

Shift to Reconstruction

• President George W. Bush, during a speech on April 17, 2002, called for a Marshall Plan to aid in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
• Congress allocated over $38bn for humanitarian efforts and the training of Afghan security forces.
• Hamid Karzai was chosen to lead the transitional government.

  

Continued Presence

• Approximately 8,000 American troops remained in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) overseen by NATO.
• The U.S. military shifted its focus to Iraq in 2003.

These actions marked the beginning of what would become a 20-year-long War in Afghanistan. The war concluded with the Taliban regaining control just two weeks before the planned withdrawal of all U.S. troops from the region in August 2021.

The U.S. actions in Afghanistan post-9/11 also had significant repercussions on Central Asia:

Security Concerns

• The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan raised concerns about potential security threats, with fears of worsening political stability and security in Afghanistan. These concerns extended to the broader region and the potential expansion of instability, posing significant regional challenges.

  

Political Dynamics

• The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan following 9/11 led to substantial shifts in the political dynamics of Central Asia. Afghanistan's neighboring countries had to navigate the often conflicting demands of the United States and its liberal international order while also accommodating the Chinese and Russian opposition to the enduring U.S. military presence.

Economic Consequences

• Economic consequences were also anticipated, particularly related to regional trade and energy infrastructure development. The weakening of Afghanistan's central government and the potential rise of radical groups could set back the nation's development by decades and create more challenging problems for the international community to address in the future.

Geopolitical Shifts

• Critics contended that the Biden administration's management of troop withdrawal damaged Washington's global credibility and left a regional vacuum in Central Asia that China and Russia were keen to fill.
• Central Asia, however, has evolved into a multipolar space where various countries exert influence through new organizations, norms, and networks, often overlapping and competing with those of the United States and its allies.

The overall impact of the 9/11 attacks both on the U.S. and Central Asia was tremendous. It was not only about the lost lives of civilians and soldiers but also the economic and political consequences that still impact some parts of the world.

Written by Nigora Umarova

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