Answer:
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, were a watershed moment in contemporary history. Four commercial airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda militants struck iconic targets in the United States: the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a failed attempt on another target, likely the U.S. Capitol or the White House, thwarted by the passengers of United Flight 93. The attacks resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and caused widespread shock and horror globally. The scale and audacity of the attacks underscored the vulnerabilities of modern societies to asymmetric threats and marked a turning point in global security paradigms.
In response to the September 11 attacks, the United States initiated the War on Terror, a multifaceted campaign aimed at combating terrorism globally. This included military operations in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime harboring al-Qaeda was ousted, and later, the invasion of Iraq in 2003 under the premise of eliminating weapons of mass destruction and deposing Saddam Hussein's regime. The War on Terror also involved intelligence operations, drone strikes, and cooperation with allies to disrupt terrorist networks and prevent future attacks. However, it also raised concerns about civil liberties, as measures like the Patriot Act expanded government surveillance powers and led to debates over the balance between security and individual rights.
The September 11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror had profound effects on both the Bush and Obama administrations. President George W. Bush's presidency became defined by his response to the attacks, including the initiation of the War on Terror and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. His administration faced criticism for the handling of the Iraq War and allegations of human rights abuses in the treatment of detainees. President Barack Obama, elected in part on promises to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, inherited the complexities of the ongoing conflicts and sought to recalibrate U.S. foreign policy. While he withdrew combat troops from Iraq and increased the focus on counterterrorism efforts, including the successful operation to eliminate Osama bin Laden, the threat of terrorism persisted and evolved, posing ongoing challenges for both administrations and shaping the geopolitical landscape for years to come.
