Post 9/11 and The Media...

...Post 9/11 and The Media...

The 9/11 attacks were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks led by Al-Qaeda that occurred in the United States of America in the spring of 2001. In total 2,933 people, including the attackers died in the attacks whilst many buildings were destroyed.

The Media's Reaction: The media's reaction has caused the United States to respond to the attacks by launching a "War on Terrorism", invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, who had harboured Al-Qaeda terrorists, and enacting the USA PATRIOT Act. Many other countries also strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded law enforcement powers.

Stereotypes have been cast among Muslims, due to the events that took place on this day. Al Jazeera, which is the only independent news network in the Middle East gained worldwide attention following the 9/11 attacks when it broadcasted Osama bin Laden and his acquaintance Sulaiman Abu Gaith defending and justifying the attacks, as a result showing that they were in favour of the attacks occurring. Al Jazeera received a lot of criticism for this as the network was accused for engaging in propaganda on behalf of the terrorists by the United States. This led to an attack on network when its office was destroyed by a U.S. missile strike during the US invasion of Afghanistan on November 13 2001.

Conspiracy theories had followed after the 9/11 attacks. Proponents of these conspiracy theories have suggested that individuals inside the United States possessed detailed information about the attacks and deliberately chose not to prevent them, or that individuals outside of Al Qaeda planned, carried out, or assisted in the attacks.

Some theorists believe that the World Trade Center did not collapse because of the crashing planes but was demolished through the use of explosives. These conspiracy theories also allege that the 9/11 attacks in 2001 were either intentionally allowed to happen or were a false flag operation orchestrated within the United States government.

These conspiracy theories have left the public pondering on what could be the real motives behind these attacks, and trying to figure out why these places were targeted.