TERRORISM LAW & POLICY


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TERRORISM LAW & POLICY - SEPTEMBER 2001
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September 11

Two hijacked airliners crashed into the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. Thousands were feared dead when the towers collapsed more than an hour after the impacts. A third hijacked airliner crashed into the Pentagon. A fourth, possibly bound for another target in Washington, D.C., crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, apparently after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers. The Federal Aviation Administration suspended all air traffic in the United States and diverted international flights to Canada. Federal offices and public buildings in Washington, New York, and other major cities were closed. President George W. Bush was in Florida at the time of the attacks. He flew first to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and then to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska before returning to the White House. During his first stop, he said: "The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake: We will show the world that we will pass this test." That evening, he said that "the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities" would be used to find the terrorists and bring them to justice. "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."

September 12

President Bush met with his national security advisers and with leading members of Congress. He also telephoned the leaders of Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, China, and Russia as the first steps toward building an international coalition against terrorism. He called the attacks "acts of war" and announced that he would ask Congress for additional funds to protect the nation’s security. The U.S. Congress met to approve a joint resolution pledging support to President Bush in his efforts to find and punish the terrorists. Both the UN General Assembly and Security Council approved by acclamation resolutions condemning the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and calling on member states to cooperate to bring the "perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of the outrages" to justice. The North Atlantic Council invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, thereby considering the terrorist attacks on the United States to be an attack on all member states, and pledged any necessary assistance.

September 13

President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft urged the American people not to hold Arab-Americans and Muslims responsible for the terrorist attacks and pledged a swift response to violence against them. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta announced that U.S. airspace would be reopened to commercial air traffic. Airports would reopen on a case-by-case basis under more intense security. The only major airport that remained closed was Reagan National, in view of its proximity to downtown Washington.

September 14

Congress authorized President Bush to use all necessary military force against the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks, their sponsors, and those who protected them. The Senate approved the resolution by a vote of 98-0; the House of Representatives’ vote was 420 to 1. The House and Senate also unanimously approved a supplemental spending bill authorizing up to $40 billion for disaster relief, counterterrorism, and military operations.

September 15

September 17

September 18

President Bush signed into law the Congressional resolution authorizing the use of force to respond to terrorist attacks and the $40 billion emergency appropriation bill.

September 19

September 20

President Bush addressed a joint session of Congress, proclaimed that "freedom and fear are at war," and warned the Taliban to hand over bin Laden and all other al-Qaida leaders, free its prisoners, and close its terrorist training camps or face the consequences. He talked of a long campaign against terrorism and warned all countries that they would be regarded as hostile regimes if they continued to support terrorism. Bush announced the establishment of a Cabinet-level Office of Homeland Security, and nominated Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania as Director.

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

President Bush signed an Executive Order freezing the assets of 27 organizations and persons known to be linked to al-Qaida and suspected of funding terrorism. He called on foreign banks to follow his example or have their U.S. assets frozen.

September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a U.S.-sponsored resolution calling on member states to end financial, political, and military connections with terrorist groups, and to freeze their assets. Member states would report every 90 days to a 15-member compliance council.

October...

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