Works Cited

"Al-Jazeera offers accounts of 9/11 planning." CNN (2002): n. pag. Web. 5 May 2011.

Choonara, Joseph. "‘Racism against Muslims Has Rocketed since 9/11’|11Feb06|Socialist Worker."Socialist Worker (Britain) — an Anticapitalist, Revolutionary Weekly. 11 Feb. 2006.

CNN Wire Staff. "Osama Bin Laden, the Face of Terror, Killed in Pakistan - Page 7 - CNN." CNN World. 01 May 2011. Web. 5 May 2011.

"Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda leader, dead - Barack Obama." BBC News (2011): n. pag. Web. 6 May 2011.

"September 11, 2001." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 6, 2011). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3045302414.html

Taylor, Alycia B., and Sara Steedman. "The Evolution of Airline Security Since 9/11." International Foundation for Protection Officers. Dec. 2003. Web. 05 May 2011.

White, Deborah. "Iraq War Facts, Statistics at March 31, 2011 - Iraq War Casualties, Spending."Liberal & Progressive Politics & Perspectives. 12 Apr. 2011. Web. 7 May 2011.

Johnny Hugh, Age: 55, May 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, I am ten years older but am still reading the news. I never thought I would say this but Osama Bin Laden was just killed while in his mansion in Pakistan. It was an elaborate compound and BBC News says, “The size and complexity of the structure in Abbottabad "shocked" US officials” (BBC News). Osama was living in the compound with his family including his multiple wives. The raid was well executed and they shot Osama bin Laden in the head even though he attempted to use one of his wives as a shield. Fearing that Bin Laden’s grave would turn into a shrine and become a turning point for Al-Qaeda to gain momentum, the United States gave Bin Laden a traditional burial to sea. That is all the news that we have at the moment but I would like to give a shout out to Obama and SEAL team six for their excellent work. We just now have to hope that this doesn’t turn on us and Al-Qaeda comes back with another attack. Ladies and gentlemen, I say we end the killing and the war now. I think that we have had enough and we should be able to relax and be peaceful for once.

Matthew Hughes, 23, 6:00p.m., May 23, 2011

Yesterday I was in Times Square celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden. The feeling of national pride within the crowd was immense, and many were crying because they felt a closure for the family members who died in the towers. My friends and I from New York University were hooting and hollering because we wanted to be a part of history. According to CNN it stated, “For several months before that last tape's release, however, U.S. officials had received specific information about where bin Laden may have been hiding in Pakistan, according to President Barack Obama. On Sunday, the president said he ordered an operation -- carried out by a handful of U.S. troops -- to kill Bin Laden in Pakistan. They did so after a firefight, bringing out the Al-Qaeda leader's body with them after their mission was complete. "His demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity," Obama said in a speech announcing bin Laden's death. "Justice has been done” (CNN Wire Staff). I am proud of Obama for taking out the evil that had us running in circles looking for him for years. I will never forget last night, for we were all one nation under God with the biggest sense of nationalism.

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Mary Wether, age 53, 1:00p.m., April 13, 2011

Yesterday I had been writing a letter to my son who has been in Iraq since 2005. I miss him very much and I prayed for him so that the Lord will keep him safe. According to an article I read it stated, “ About $900 billion of US taxpayers' funds spent or approved for spending through November 2010” (White). I had become upset when reading these statistics because we could be solving world hunger and other issues that are in need of our help, but no we choose to fight an endless war that I pray will end soon. When my son told me he wanted to fight in Iraq I thought he was joking. Never in my life did I think I would become an army mom, but look at me now. I have prayed each day for the safety of him and every U.S male and female in service that they will win and come home. I wish he chose something else because now I pray so much I might as well become a saint. The article stated that 4,444 U.S. soldiers had passed away, and all I can do is pray my son will not become a part of that number (White). May God bless all the mothers who had or still have to go through the wordiness feelings that I go through on a daily basis.

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Betty Blue, age 81, January, 2004

I remember the terrorist attacks in 2001 very well. They were a scary time for the United States, but what really stuck out to me was how the United States reacted to what had happened. George W. Bush declared war on terrorism and we launched Operation Enduring Freedom (September 11, 2001). The main goal was to bring down Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden. The United States was still fired up from the recent attacks. We were unsuccessful, but we did do a little bit of damage indirectly. After that, the United States attempted to clear Iraq of their weapons of mass destruction which we later found out they didn’t have any. The United States was successful in bringing down Saddam Hussein who was a corrupt ruler. The United States continued to make changes with the USA Patriot Act and the Department of Homeland Security. The 9/11 attacks had a huge impact on the way we run our country now and the way U.S. citizens run their daily lives. Probably the most noticeable change is in the airport security, but as long as it is keeping me safe, I won’t complain. I have seen this country go through a lot and I would love to see it stick around for a lot longer.

Greg Getzan, age 35, 3:15p.m., December 20, 2003

My newlywed, Mariah, and I landed in New York yesterday so we could visit my family for the Christmas holiday and all its cheers. However, since that attack on the twin towers the airplane system has been a pain in the butt. My wife and I had to stand in line at the airport for nearly 50 minutes just to be checked in and get through security. I almost had not made the flight because I had not gauged our timeline well enough. According to this article I had read it stated, “Most of the new regulations proposed security of the baggage and the passengers on the plane. According to the TSA, as quoted in the article by Gerald L. Dillingham, "[The TSA has] confiscated more than 4.8 million prohibited items (including firearms, knives, and incendiary or flammable objects) from passengers" (2003, p. 8). The Department of Homeland Security has also backed up this fact by stating "airport screeners have, since February 2002, intercepted more than 7.8 million items, including 1,437 firearms, 2.3 million knives, and 49,331 box cutters - the terrorists' weapon of choice on 9-11. Attempts at concealment included razor blades hidden in tennis shoes (Gips, 2003)” (Taylor). This had shocked me and after I read it I appreciated what the TSA does to make our country the safest it can be. May God Bless America!

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