On September 11, 2001, the United States’ economic center in New York, its worldwide military headquarters at the Pentagon, and its public air transport network were targeted by synchronized terrorist strikes. America, its regional partners, and the United Nations Security Council moved with speed and creativity to safeguard the country. The government aimed at safeguarding its population by creating new state agencies and conducted several military operations abroad to eliminate dangers and improve stability. The effects of the 9/11 incident on Homeland Security, aviation safety protocols and Middle Eastern nations’ public perception are discussed in this essay.
Homeland Security
Over the last two decades, defensive efforts have resulted in significant improvements in domestic security—but at significant human, monetary, and strategic prices. In addition to leading multinational coalitions in three significant operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and against the Islamic State, the US undertook military and intelligence activities in dozens of other nations (White, 2017). Nonetheless, what stands out is the constancy with which some of the most serious issues are caused by uncorrected policy blunders in the United States and the unforeseen repercussions of well-intentioned acts. The United States is safer from international terrorist strikes at home, but domestic terrorist risks have grown.
Efforts of Boosting Security
In the aftermath of 9/11, there were no further major international terror attacks in US. However, in the aftermath of the incident, the government developed new structures such as Department of Homeland Security, the Directorate of National Intelligence, and National Counter-terrorism Center (White, 2017). Thus, the above was the outcome of several lines of efforts by the government to boost security. In addition, the government increased the availability of funds to intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Furthermore, extra security strategies have been adopted in the US in order to restore faith in aviation travel. In 2011, the government established new defense and intelligence capabilities that aided in the foiling of multiple attacks and the location of terrorist operatives and commanders, including Osama Bin Laden (Weaver, 2018). The US substantially increased its capacity to detect and destroy terror funding networks, as well as modify its techniques to address the danger of terrorism in the cyber realm, in order to keep ahead of continuously evolving technology. The US defense and intelligence agencies created or maintained counter-terrorism partnerships across the world, enabling the US to do more than it could by itself. Though some of these measures came with high financial, ethical, and strategic potential costs, this military, intelligence, and law enforcement operations yielded a vital benefit, strengthening domestic security. Border patrols were also beefed up, with more officers hired and new screening methods used.
Changes and Improved Security in Airport and the Aircraft
Before September 11, 2001, privatized security apparatus rented by both the airline and airport conducted screening in the US. Consequently, the government established Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in November 2001 to take charge of all the operations, including airlines’ and airports’ security duties (Weaver, 2018). On the plane as well, special precautions were made to enhance security as strengthened, bulletproof, as well as cockpit doors that are lockable became common on all passenger airplanes, among other enhancements made by TSA. Throughout the flight, people are not permitted to entry in the pilot’s cabin. Moreover, CCTV cameras have been installed in some planes so that the pilots can observe everything that is happening in the passenger compartment. Pilots are now permitted to possess weapons, but they must first get training and obtain a license. Moreover, additional air marshals have been deployed to strengthen security on flights in the United States.
Improved Security Screening
Since the attack, security at all checkpoints in airports has increased considerably, and officers have been effectively educated in identifying weapons and explosives. In an effort to replace the old-fashioned metal sensors, several US airports now have comprehensive screening equipment, that utilize millimeter wave technologies for searching hidden weapons or explosives on travelers’ bodies (Weaver, 2018). Previously, initial body screening gadgets sparked a considerable discussion as the visuals they created were assumed graphic and offensive. The screeners showed people’s nude bodies, which many saw as an infringement of individual privacy. In recent years, improved body scanners have been deployed that do not generate a picture but instead notify TSA screeners to regions on the body where an unidentified object or substance may be concealed. The identified area(s) are then physically inspected by a TSA security screening tool.
Identification Checks
After the September 11th occurrence, any travelers from eighteen years and up are demanded to produce a legal government-issued paperwork in order to board a flight. Airports security have the mandate to inspect any individual’s and worker’s identity at any time to ensure the data on the ID corresponds to the information on the issued permit. (Weaver, 2018). A person may only travel without proof of identity in rare circumstances. If permitted for flying without an ID, the individual and their carry-on belongings will be subjected to further screening.
Change in Public View of Middle Eastern Countries
There was unity and cooperation among people of all walks of life in the United States before the 9/11 assault. However, following the tragic occurrence, suspicion shattered this spirit, as most Americans became apprehensive of persons of Middle Eastern background. Muslims and the Islamic religion were increasingly associated with violence by the general population. Americans concluded that, compared to other faiths, Islam was more likely to provoke violence among its adherents. As a result, People branded the Middle East the epicenter of terrorism, which made the region the number one adversary of the United States. Thus, no one wanted to interact with them in any manner.
Americans strongly backed military action against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks in the weeks and months after the assaults. A large percentage of citizens were in support of military intervention by the US, including the deploying the military in nations suspected of funding terrorist operations. This was done in retaliation for whoever was behind the terrorist acts. More Americans stated that the effective way to avoid future attacks was to intervene militarily overseas rather than build up security at home, indicating public support for military engagement. As a result, the Americans approved the resolution to use force in Afghanistan and any other country in the Middle East that appeared to sympathize or identify with the culprits (Weaver, 2018). Apart from overseas, the growth of anti-Muslim prejudice in the aftermath of 9/11 has had a significant impact on the United States’ rising Muslim population. From 2007 to 2017, growing numbers of Muslims in the United States claimed that they had individually faced discrimination in one way or another.
Conclusion
The September 11 terrorist incident on American territory was one of the most catastrophic in human history. To defend itself from such future assaults, the United States government implemented extreme security measures to safeguard the safety of its citizens, including the establishment of new security structures, including DHS, and the enhancement of existing ones. It also significantly expanded funding for intelligence and law enforcement organizations. Stringent identity check processes were implemented, and flight safety protocols were improved using contemporary airport screen technology. Most airplane cockpit doors are strengthened and impenetrable to prevent unwanted entrance. The repercussions of the attacks affected not only Americans but the whole world, including the Muslim population.
References
Kim Hee Jeong. (2017). Constitutional questions on the military call-out legislation in case of terrorist attack. Public Law Journal, 18(1), 55-83. Web.
Petrelli, N. (2021). Analytical innovation in intelligence systems: the US national security establishment and the craft of ‘net assessment’. Intelligence and National Security, 1-18. Web.
Weaver, J. (2018). The 2017 National security strategy of the United States. Journal of Strategic Security, 11(1), 62-71. Web.
White, R. (2017). Homeland Security. Journal of Socialomics, 06(02). Web.