Published on: Sep 10, 2021 and Apr 23, 2016
Four terrorists, Ramzi Yousef, Mahmud Abouhalima,Mohammad Salameh, Nidal A. Ayyad,Abdul Rahman Yasin and Ahmad Ajaj, were convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center (WTC) attack and the roots of their hatred went very deep into the Muslim communities. The World Trade Center attack demonstrated to various terrorist-groups intent on injuring American citizens that a large scale terror attack could be launched successful within America. Little would America or the world comprehend what was being planned in the next decade to come and what evil would occur a decade later in the 9/11 attack where thousands of defenseless people were murdered.
Financing for the terror operation was done by the well-known Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, Yousef’s uncle. In March 1994, two additional men were convicted of carrying out the bombing. The roots of their hatred were found in the teachings of a professor at the popular Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, the most prestigious Islamic University in the world. The professor was a blind sheik named Omar Abdel Rahman who was well respected in Egypt and a spiritual leader of the Egyptian group al-Jihad, which killed President Anwar Sadat. He stated that non Muslims are related to monkeys, dogs and pigs. Today there is still yet to be seen any Islamic scholars that are outspoken in their condemnation of the university’s’ open hostility to Western thinking and culture.
Many law enforcement leaders, public officials and the American populace are blind to the goals of terror groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood or public groups like CAIR that hide in plain view. The mouthpiece they use, the Council for Islamic Relations (CAIR), is to state that under these despicable attacks the hatred towards Muslims by Western thinkers increased and therefore accommodations for Islam must be made. The rightful focus on the victims is then distracted by their machinations and geopolitical goals.
The great need by our politicians to give into their demands even though it is not proper, good, or reasonable—continues. America is eroded from within by weak-minded or corrupt strategists while we are softened from without by our commitments to the wrong allies who nip at our borders. 23 years after the 1993 WTC bombings and last week’s claim about Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 2011 WTC attack it is clear that America’s standing in the world has been weakened; particularly by the Obama Administration.
If America is to be effective as a superpower our national and world security must be more than giving speeches. In less than a decade the world today more greatly perceives that the US is weak and this has largely been self-inflicted by an administration that focuses too much on short-term messaging rather than any sound policy. Unless we shift our myopic view of Islam and of appeasing the politically correct world, the 1993 WTC bombing and the 9/11 attack won’t be the worst attacks on American soil, those will be the beginning of something far worse.
The motivations of the persons and the group responsible for the chosen attack are rooted in Islam and the hate-teachings of Sheik Rahman who desired to rid the world of the nation state of Israel and the Jewish people. Ramzi Yousef directed the organization and execution of the bombing and he was influenced by Rahman to avenge what their group perceived as the sufferings of the Palestinian people endured at the hands of U.S.-aided Israel. New York news outlets received letters from Yousef in which he demanded an end to all US aid to Israel, a pledge by the United States to end interference with any of the Middle East countries’ interior affairs, and an end to US diplomatic relations with Israel.
Clearly Yousef believed he was justified. His letters note that he clearly understood that he was perpetrating a terrorist attack but he justified it; he noted that Israel practices terrorism and “must be faced with a similar one.” Therefore it was allowable by them to kill others. The planning for the 1993 WTC attack was very complex and involved many people.
Yousef was able to gather much of what he knew to conduct the attack from his time spent at an Al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan. His plan began in 1991 under the financing by his uncle Khalid Shaikh Mohammed Ali Fadden. Yousef traveled with a companion named Ajaj and both entered into the United States illegally. Ajaj was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport because his passport had been altered and it raised suspicions among INS officials.
Upon checking his person they discovered bomb making instructions and other materials in his luggage. Yousef too was arrested but tried to claim political asylum. One would think a person would not be so brazen and manipulative with the American law system they so detested. Upon Yousef’s release he began to assemble the 2200 pounds of TNT urea nitrate bomb and the chemicals for the bomb came from a hospital room where he was staying after being injured in a car accident.
The blast killed six people, injured more than 1,000 others and caused an estimated $600 million in damage. These items were all placed in the U-haul vehicle they intended to place inside the WTC underground parking garage. The intent was to sever the WTC support beams.
An in depth look into the terrorist activities clearly shows the bombings could have been prevented. An FBI informant had tipped the FBI regarding who was involved in the plot. In fact, Emad Salem, the informant was able to pinpoint the conspirators out of hundreds of possible suspects. Supposedly the bombers were going to be thwarted by the FBI because the informant was to switch out the explosives with a harmless powder but this never happened. Emad Salem was also supposed to be one of the bomb builders. This tactic was stopped by the FBI supervisor who believed other ideas should be considered.
It is believed by many in the media and investigators that the FBI knew far more and could have prevented the bombing. A transcript quotes Salem that he wanted to complain to FBI Headquarters but was dissuaded by an agent. Salem’s account is not disputed but nothing has been done regarding the FBI failure to stop the attack.
Additionally, in 2005, a six-member jury of the State Supreme Court found the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey guilty of negligence in protecting the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. Any person, whether terrorist or innocent could at that time drive a vehicle into the WTC parking garage and walk away without being questioned. Because the Port Authority believed keeping the lot closed to the public was too costly, it did not keep the area manned by security.
The attack did not achieve the intended goals of the terrorists. The bomb opened a 98 ft. wide hole through four sublevels of concrete and cut off the World Trade Center’s main electrical power line and also knocked out the emergency lighting system. Hundreds of people were trapped in elevators. Six people were killed and 1,042 others injured though the terrorists would probably like it to be 1042 dead. The terrorists exploited the weaknesses but the attempt was a failure because the design was able to take the impact.
Just 20 days after the bombing new security measures were put in place. Around the World Trade Center Plaza “blast mitigators” were placed in and that would assist bomb technicians in the event of the discovery of a bomb, fireproofing was improved and also, the Port Authority’s police in New York were given training as bomb technicians would in order to improve protection of the World Trade Center, including restrictions to parking lot access and electronic identification badges for building tenants.
The Port Authority spent a total of $700 million on renovations, with safety upgrades like battery-powered stairway lights and a separate emergency command center in each building over an 8 year period. Since 1993 a security industry of static and mobile cameras have been mounted virtually anywhere but this did not save the WTC during 9/11. Today globally a culture is greatly aware of the impact of terrorism on the world and they have a strong opinion on how security monitoring should keep them protected. No legislation was until the Patriot Act came after 9/11 and it may have prevented the 1993 WTC bombings if done earlier; but hindsight is 20/20. Yousef’s uncle, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, finished the job when hijackers flew jetliners into the twin towers on 9/11.
The lessons here for the 1993 World Trade Center Bombings were just a shadow of a tipping point in what would become a new type of war against the evolving threat of terrorism. By 9/11 the full outline of a pointed program to eradicate terrorism would follow.
However, any gains made would be eroded by President Obama’s conflicting goals of seeming to protect America while simultaneously opening our literal and figurative borders that could protect it against external danger. He continually deemphasizes terrorism coming from the Middle East while giving Iran what it demands. Obama continually described al Qaeda as being “on the path to defeat” or “decimated.” even after the al Qaeda-linked attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya killing a U.S. ambassador and three other American heroes.
Congresses’ obvious scheming and unartful designs intended to accomplish something remotely useful strategical fails again and again. They have pathetically failed to transform anything. Under them the Middle East, North Africa and even crucial parts of Central Asia are in turmoil. ISIS arose from the anarchy that came out of this administration’s Foreign Policy failures such as in Libya, Syria and Iraq. A major theme of Obama’s presidency has been that Al Qaeda’s was on the run, was contained or a JV team- this is theatrical hackery that many Americans should see for what it is. He is motivated by political allegiance, public relations interests, and other unknown reasons but invariably it is the West that is the sucker for believing he has our interests in mind.
23 years on Omar Abdel-Rahman the blind sheik still remains a symbol of jihad throughout the extremist world. He is an inspiration, as are other scummy, influential Islamic leaders, to those who hate Western thinking and bent on confronting it with annihilation.
Terrorists groups are no longer affecting regional areas. In fact, they are affecting the world because they are recruiting, training, raising funds and building logistical networks to conduct attacks against the United States. Our foreign allies need to wake up; Brussels, France, England wake up. Iran is seeking to dominate the eastern Mediterranean with its Shiite brand of Islam. Europe (the EU) eschews any kind of military confrontation. Americans are paralyzed because of the Obama Administration and the politically correct world. Any gains made after 9/11 are being lost by the kabuki happening in Congress. Western leadership in other nations operate the same as ours-stick their heads in the sand and maybe the threat goes away.
Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Fear is the anticipation of evil.” This is when we get that unpleasant emotion caused by a belief that something dangerous is going to happen. Take away a nations resolve to fight back by removing good leadership, degrading the military and its weapons, leaving groups like ISIS alone, can weaken the confidence of a nation to fight back. Without confidence there is fear. We must not wait for terrorism to strike on the scale of the WTC attacks again. In order to combat global terrorism there must be a clear and definitive plan that is enacted. Our warriors and supporters must be allowed to fight without impediments. An aggressive posture must be taken in order to communicate the resolve of this nation to terrorists. Terrorists will attack regardless, but it is best to affirm our intent to them and our own nation that we are united and capable, in order to deter those straddling the fence. “You will die by our choosing and not your own, by our rules and not yours-make no mistake.”
Have we learned anything from these two attacks? Precious little. If anything can be learned by watching a weak leadership like President Obama’s and our Congress it is that a third attack of major proportions is due to happen. With President Elect Trump stepping in, things just might change.
References
Department of Homeland Security Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security: Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations. Mar 17, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/preventing-terrorism-and-enhancing-security
History.com 2014. The World Trade Center. The 1993 Bombing of the World Trade Center. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-trade-center
USFA.FEMA. Nov 20th, 2014. Com U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series. The World Trade Center Bombing: Report and Analysis, New York City, New York Retrieved from USFA-TR-076/February 1993http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-076.pdf
Apr 23, 2016 at 09:49