The Global War on Terrorism (pre-9/11)
This is the first time that I have posted something this large here, so this is not going to be pretty (but I'll let you all decide for yourself):
Since the horrific events of September 11, 2001, and the resulting battles in Afghanistan and Iraq, Americans have became accustomed to the images and news and stories of terrorism abroad. With it being almost fours years since 9/11, along with no follow-up in the United States, Americans have started to grow more relaxed and most have started to let their guard down. But, as the events of Madrid, London, Beslan, and else where showed us, terrorists are patient, hiding and plotting their next move, waiting for the right time and right opportunity to strike at Americans. It took about eight years since the first World Trade Center attack in 1993 to destroy the Twin Towers in 2001, and it could be another eight years until they find the right time to attack.
But, what some people forget is that we have been attacked way before 1993. Since the overthrow of the Shah of Iran in the 1970’s, Islamic extremists have targeted mainly Western interests abroad. But 1993 was the first attack on American soil by Islamofascists.
The first real attack on Americans could be the hostage crisis in Tehran, Iran in November 1979 where close to 70 people, mainly Americans, were taken captive by radicals for 444 days because the former Shah was given life-saving treatment in America. Then President Jimmy Carter authorized a military rescue that failed tragically when their helicopters collided during refueling. This became a black eye to America and her military. Afterwards, Carter tried to negotiate their release, to no avail. The hostages were released on January 20, 1981, the day of Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. But, the loss of military personal – and Carter’s lack of will – sat the stage for more terrorist attacks to come.
Probably one of the most bloodiest attacks on Americans pre-9/11 was the homicide truck bombing of American peacekeeping forces in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983, where 243 Marines were killed when their barracks were obliterated said truck bomb. A Hezbollah terrorist – who delivered and detonated the bomb – and an Iranian trained terrorist – who built the bomb – carried out the attack. The American service people were in Lebanon to help stabilized the country during its civil war between the Shiites, Sunnis, Maronites (a Christian sect), and Druze (a secretive Islamic sect). This event may have been the first battle of the war on Terror, as well as the first casualties.
On October 7, 1985, a terrorist group lead by Mohammed Abul Abbas, and with the blessing of Palestinian terror leader Yasser Arafat, planned the takeover of an Italian cruise liner, the Achille Lauro, and directed it from a hotel suite. Four men (Youssef al-Molqi, Ibrahim Abdel Atif, Ahmed al-Hussani, and Bassam al-Asker) stormed into the main dining hall and sprayed machine gun fire into the ceiling. They then set a deadline for their demands (one of which is the release of 50 prisoners from Israeli custody).
Leon Klinghoffer, a 69 year old wheelchair bound man, was picked out by al-Molqi and murdered at point blank range after the deadline passed. His body and wheelchair were thrown overboard. Word was leaked, via the captain, that a passenger was killed.
The thugs were then ordered (by Abbas) to go to Port Said, Egypt, which the government allowed them to flee from justice. But their plane that they were on (including Abbas) was intercepted by American fighters and forced to land in Italy, where Navy SEALs were to apprehend them. Long story short, the socialist Italian government took them into custody and were given prison sentences, but almost all of them (except Abbas, who got away with “diplomatic immunity”) were released early and fled. They eventually were captured, including Abbas, who was caught in Baghdad on April 15, 2003 as the Hussein regime, which had willingly housed him, fell apart in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Abbas’ capture in Baghdad is one of many links between Saddam Hussein and international terrorism.
All of these event showed that America was at war with terrorism way before 19/11, even before 1993: the Iranian hostage crisis, the Beirut bombing, and the hostile takeover of the Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer. To deny that the war on terror was before 9/11 is to deny history.
(Well, what do you all think?)
Since the horrific events of September 11, 2001, and the resulting battles in Afghanistan and Iraq, Americans have became accustomed to the images and news and stories of terrorism abroad. With it being almost fours years since 9/11, along with no follow-up in the United States, Americans have started to grow more relaxed and most have started to let their guard down. But, as the events of Madrid, London, Beslan, and else where showed us, terrorists are patient, hiding and plotting their next move, waiting for the right time and right opportunity to strike at Americans. It took about eight years since the first World Trade Center attack in 1993 to destroy the Twin Towers in 2001, and it could be another eight years until they find the right time to attack.
But, what some people forget is that we have been attacked way before 1993. Since the overthrow of the Shah of Iran in the 1970’s, Islamic extremists have targeted mainly Western interests abroad. But 1993 was the first attack on American soil by Islamofascists.
The first real attack on Americans could be the hostage crisis in Tehran, Iran in November 1979 where close to 70 people, mainly Americans, were taken captive by radicals for 444 days because the former Shah was given life-saving treatment in America. Then President Jimmy Carter authorized a military rescue that failed tragically when their helicopters collided during refueling. This became a black eye to America and her military. Afterwards, Carter tried to negotiate their release, to no avail. The hostages were released on January 20, 1981, the day of Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. But, the loss of military personal – and Carter’s lack of will – sat the stage for more terrorist attacks to come.
Probably one of the most bloodiest attacks on Americans pre-9/11 was the homicide truck bombing of American peacekeeping forces in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983, where 243 Marines were killed when their barracks were obliterated said truck bomb. A Hezbollah terrorist – who delivered and detonated the bomb – and an Iranian trained terrorist – who built the bomb – carried out the attack. The American service people were in Lebanon to help stabilized the country during its civil war between the Shiites, Sunnis, Maronites (a Christian sect), and Druze (a secretive Islamic sect). This event may have been the first battle of the war on Terror, as well as the first casualties.
On October 7, 1985, a terrorist group lead by Mohammed Abul Abbas, and with the blessing of Palestinian terror leader Yasser Arafat, planned the takeover of an Italian cruise liner, the Achille Lauro, and directed it from a hotel suite. Four men (Youssef al-Molqi, Ibrahim Abdel Atif, Ahmed al-Hussani, and Bassam al-Asker) stormed into the main dining hall and sprayed machine gun fire into the ceiling. They then set a deadline for their demands (one of which is the release of 50 prisoners from Israeli custody).
Leon Klinghoffer, a 69 year old wheelchair bound man, was picked out by al-Molqi and murdered at point blank range after the deadline passed. His body and wheelchair were thrown overboard. Word was leaked, via the captain, that a passenger was killed.
The thugs were then ordered (by Abbas) to go to Port Said, Egypt, which the government allowed them to flee from justice. But their plane that they were on (including Abbas) was intercepted by American fighters and forced to land in Italy, where Navy SEALs were to apprehend them. Long story short, the socialist Italian government took them into custody and were given prison sentences, but almost all of them (except Abbas, who got away with “diplomatic immunity”) were released early and fled. They eventually were captured, including Abbas, who was caught in Baghdad on April 15, 2003 as the Hussein regime, which had willingly housed him, fell apart in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Abbas’ capture in Baghdad is one of many links between Saddam Hussein and international terrorism.
All of these event showed that America was at war with terrorism way before 19/11, even before 1993: the Iranian hostage crisis, the Beirut bombing, and the hostile takeover of the Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer. To deny that the war on terror was before 9/11 is to deny history.
(Well, what do you all think?)
posted by Kevin Walker at 3:38 PM
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