AmarilloCollege2011‐2012Theme

Deconstructing911:Wherearewenow?

1957‐2011

Dedicated to the 911 Victims and Their Families

TheCultural/ReligiousDivide:Better?

BBC—Religions.TheBritishBroadcastingCorporation(BBC)haseducationasoneofitsmissions.Itprovidesconciseoverviewsoftheworld’smajorreligionsandtheculturesthatstemfromthem.SeebelowforBBC’sdescriptionsanddescriptionsfromothersources.Clickthelinksformoredetailedinformation.Note:ThesourceofthepopulationfiguresistheStatisticalAbstractoftheUnitedStates,2010.Thenumbersareroundedtothenearest1000.Judaism.Foundedmorethan3500yearsago.FromBBC—Religions.NumberoffollowersinUSA:3,137,000in1990;2,268,000in2008.

Christianity.Jesus’death,andthusthefoundingofChristianity,occurredduringthereignofRomangovernorPontiusPilate,whichisknowntobe26AD‐36AD.FromLivius.org.NumberoffollowersinUSA:151,225,000in1990;173,402,000in2008.

ThissitewascreatedbyJanaComerford,ACLibrarian.FeedbackorcommentsPhotocreditsareat

theendofthisdocument.

Pleasenote:Thiscontentisintendedtostimulatecriticalthinkinganddiscussion.Itisnotintendedtopromoteanyone’spersonalbeliefs.

Islam.“MuslimsbelievethatIslamwasrevealedover1400yearsagoinMecca,Arabia.”FromBBC—Religions.NumberoffollowersinUSA:527,000in1990;1,349,000in2008.

Agnosticism.Anagnosticis“apersonwhoholdstheviewthatanyultimatereality(asGod)isunknownandprobablyunknowable;broadly:onewhoisnotcommittedtobelievingineithertheexistenceorthenonexistenceofGodoragod.”Merriam‐Webster.Retrievedfromhttp://www.merriam‐webster.com/dictionary/

agnostic?show=0&t=1316012642Atheism.“AtheismistheabsenceofbeliefinanyGodsorspiritualbeings.ThewordAtheismcomesfroma,meaningwithout,andtheismmeaningbeliefingodorgods.”FromBBC—Religions.NumberinUSA(“noreligion”):13,116,000in1990;30,427,000in2008.Thenumbersshowtherearemoreagnosticsthanatheists.

“AlQaedaandtheJihadis.”ByPatrickLang.Theauthor,aretiredArmycolonelandexpertontheMiddleEast,clarifiessomeofthemisunderstandingsAmericanshaveaboutAlQaeda.FromAcademicSearchCompletelibrarydatabase.ACOnlineloginrequired.

Poll:“MuslimAmericans—NoSignsofGrowthinAlienationorSupportforExtremism—MainstreamandModerateAttitudes.”PewResearchCenter,August30,2011.Excerpt:“MuslimsintheUnitedStatescontinuetorejectextremismbymuchlargermarginsthanmostotherMuslimpublics,andahigherpercentageviewsU.S.effortstocombatterrorismassincerethandidsoin2007.Atthesametime,majoritiesofMuslimAmericansexpressconcernsaboutIslamicextremismhereandabroad‐worriesthatcoexistwiththeviewthatlifeinpost‐9/11AmericaismoredifficultforU.S.Muslims.”

“AreJudaismandChristianityasViolentasIslam?”ByRaymondIbrahim.2009,Summer.MiddleEastQuarterly.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchCompletelibrary

database.Abstract:“...ViolentepisodesfromthehistoryofJudaismandChristianityareexaminedinlightofclaimsfromsomereligiousscholarsthattheviolenceintheIslamictextsoftheQur'anandtheHadithisnoworsethanthatofJudaismandChristianity.....”ACOnlineloginrequired.Imageatleft:“TortureChamberoftheInquisition.”FromACompleteHistoryoftheInquisition.Westminster,London,1736.

GallupPoll,August2,2011:“MostMuslim‐AmericansSeeNoJustificationforViolence.”Excerpt:“MuslimAmericansarethestaunchestopponentsofmilitaryattacksoncivilians,comparedwithmembersofothermajorreligiousgroupsGalluphasstudiedintheUnitedStates.Seventy‐eightpercentofMuslimAmericanssaymilitaryattacksonciviliansareneverjustified.”

“DoestheKoranAdvocateViolence.”Thisarticlesummarizesanepisodeofthetelevisionprogram20/20inwhichDianeSawyerandBillWeirquestionscholarsaboutsomeofthecommonbeliefsAmericansholdaboutIslam.“ThePsychologicalAspectsofIslam:BasicPrinciplesofIslamandTheirPsychologicalCorollary.”Thisarticleofferssomeinteresting

insightsintoIslamicculture.Abstractfromauthor:“ThebackgroundandbasicprinciplesofIslamaredelineated.ThecentralityoftheonenessofGodandthefivepillarsoffaitharediscussed.Psychologicalbenefitsresultingfromablution,praying,fasting,almsgiving,andpilgrimagetoMeccaarenoted.Islamprovidesclearguidance,anditsteachingshavereferencetocareforthefamily,divorceandpolygamy,concernforthewelfareofparentsandtheaged,andconcernforlearningandwork.Proscriptionsagainstsuicide,sexualperversions,crime,andracialdiscriminationarealsoincluded.Muslimscanenjoyhealthyandbalancedlivesbyfollowingtheseteachings.”ACOnlineloginrequired.“Islam:GoverningunderSharia.”InformationfromtheCouncilonForeignRelations.Excerpt:“Alsomeaning‘path’inArabic,shariaguidesallaspectsofMuslimlifeincludingdailyroutines,familialandreligiousobligations,andfinancialdealings.ItisderivedprimarilyfromtheQuranandtheSunna‐‐thesayings,practices,andteachingsoftheProphetMohammed.PrecedentsandanalogyappliedbyMuslimscholarsareusedtoaddressnewissues.TheconsensusoftheMuslimcommunityalsoplaysaroleindefiningthistheologicalmanual.”

Poll:“ManyAmericansUncomfortablewithMuslims.”ByEricMarripodainCNN’s“Belief”section.ThearticleisbasedonapollbyPublicReligionResearchInstituteandtheBrookingsInstitution.AmericansondividedintheirperceptionsofMuslims,andwheretheygettheirnewsmakesadifference.

“Americansarewrestingwithfear,but,ontheotherhand,theyarealsowrestlingwithacceptance.”

—RobertP.Jones,CEOofthePublicReligionResearchInstitute

MutualMisperceptions:TheHistoricalContextofMuslim‐WesternRelations.ByGaryBrown;ForeignAffairs,DefenseandTradeGroup;16October2001.ParliamentaryLibraryofAustralia.

Excerpt:“Thisisapaperasmuchaboutperceptionsandbeliefsasabouthistoricaltruth:notallperceptionsarejustifiableinfactbut,trueorfalse,theycanhavethepowertoinformorinflamepopularreactionsandeveninfluencethepoliciesofgovernments.Thepaperdoesprovideaskeletalhistoricalbackground,butinthemainitseekstoexplainhowthisbackgroundhasledtothekindofmutualmisperceptionwhichcancausenormallylaw‐abidingpeopleinanAustraliancity(Brisbane)toburnamosque,orsomeMuslimstoidentify'thewest'astheirprincipalenemy.Crusadesartaboveisinthepublicdomain.

AreWeSaferNow?

“IstheU.S.safertodaythanbeforethe9/11attacks?”ByAshleyHayes,CNN.ManyexpertsbelievetheU.S.issaferbutcautionthatcitizensshouldnotgetcomplacent.Excerpt:“’Ithinkit'samixedbag,’saidAmyZegart,anassociateprofessoratUCLA'sSchoolofPublicAffairswhoservedontheNationalSecurityCouncilunderPresidentBillClintonin1993.‘...We'reneversafe.Thequestionis,arewemovingintherightdirection?Theanswerisyes,butwehavealongwaytogo.’"May2,2011.

Report:“U.S.SaferThanOn9/11,ButNotSafeEnough.”ByAlanGreenblatt,National

PublicRadio.Excerpt:“TenyearsaftertheterroristattacksofSept.11,2001,theUnitedStatesisundoubtedlysaferandmoresecure,butgapsincoordinationamongthegovernmentagenciesresponsibleforsecurityremainaproblem.[Additionalproblemsare]sometimesfragmentedresponsestomorerecentcrises,unwieldycongressionaloversight

“Whilenothingisperfect,theUnitedStateshasclosedmanyofitsvulnerabilities.Evensomethingassimpleasbuyinglargeamountsoffertilizernowraisesredflags,makingitmuchmoredifficultforwould‐beterrorists.Inaddition,lawenforcementandsurveillanceauthoritiesaremoreaggressiveandabletouncoverplotsmuchearlier.”—FrancesTownsend,BushAdministrationsecurityofficial.

andlackofprogressoncreatingsecuredriver'slicensesandotherofficialidentification.”August31,2011.

“TheNewRulesofEngagement.”ByPhillipBobbitt.2010,January11.Newsweek.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchCompletelibrarydatabase.Abstract:“ThearticlediscussesstrategiesforfightingterrorisminthewakeoftheattacksagainsttheU.S.onSeptember11,2001.Theauthorcomparestheanti‐terrorismstrategiesemployedbybothformerU.S.PresidentsBushandObama.TheauthorarguesthatCongressshouldemploystrategiestopreventterroristattacksincludingthecreationofaspecialArticleIIIcourttotryterroristsandanationalidentificationcardlaw.”ACOnlineloginrequired.

GallupPoll,September9,2011:"Tenyearsin,manydoubtU.S.iswinningwaronterror.”Excerpt:“PRINCETON,NJ‐‐Americans'viewsonwhoiswinningthewaronterrorismarealmostidenticalnowtowheretheywereinOctober2001.Americansareroughlyevenlysplit,46%to42%,between

theviewthattheU.S.anditsalliesarewinningthewaronterrorismandtheviewthatneithertheU.S.northeterroristsarewinning.Despitethesimilaritybetweenviewsnowand10yearsago,therehasbeenagreatdealofchangeintheinterveningtime,includingpointsin2002and2003whentwo‐thirdsofthepublicfeltthattheU.S.waswinning.”

CivilLiberties

“AmericanMuslims’CivilLibertiesandtheChallengetoEffectivelyAvertXenophobia.”ByAishaPeña.2009,January.MuslimWorld.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchCompletelibrarydatabase.Abstract:“ThearticleexploresthenegativeimagesandstereotypingofMuslimsintheU.S.ItoutlinestheeventsthatintensifiedthenegativeimagesandstereotypesassociatedwithMuslimsincludethehostagetakeoverinIran,thebombingoftheWorldTradeCenterin1993andtheterroristattackinthe

“...therewillalwaysbeone‐offterrorattackshereandthere.Tosomedegree,terrorismwillalwaysbewithus,likepovertyandlikedisease.“—ClarkErvin,formerBushAdministrationofficial.

WorldTradeTowersin2001.ItrelatestheincreaseintheoutputofliteratureonimmigrantMuslimsandIslamintheU.S.followingtheSeptember11,2001terroristattacks.ItexplainswhyAfricanAmericanMuslimscanserveasspokespersonsonissuesofcivilandhumanrightsforallMuslimsintheU.S.”ACOnlineloginrequired.GallupPoll,January20,2010:“AmericansBackProfilingtoCombatTerrorism.”Excerpt:“ThepollresultssuggestthatAmericansseemtogivegreaterweighttoprotectingcitizensagainstpossibleterrorismthantoprotectingagainstpotential

violationsofindividualliberties.Thelargestdifferenceinsupportforprofilingamongkeyattitudinalordemographicsubgroupsisseenbypoliticalideology.Eighty‐threepercentofself‐identifiedconservativesfavortheuseofprofiling,comparedwith47%ofliberals.At70%,moderatesaremuchclosertoconservativesthantoliberalsintheirviews.”

“RacialProfiling:AMatterofSurvival.”AUSATodayeditorialbyMichelleMalkin.August16,2004.Excerpt:“Post‐9/11,thebeliefthatracial,religiousandnationalityprofilingisneverjustifiedhasbecomeadangerousbugaboo.ItisunfortunatethatloyalMuslimsorArabsmightbeburdenedbecauseofterroristswhosharetheirrace,nationalityorreligion.ButanyinconvenienceispreferabletosufferingasecondmassterroristattackonAmericansoil.”

"ThosewhowouldgiveupEssentialLiberty,topurchasealittleTemporarySafety,deserveneitherLibertynorSafety."

—BenjaminFranklin

"Congressshallmakenolawrespectinganestablishmentofreligion,orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereof;orabridgingthefreedomofspeech,orofthepress;ortherightofthepeoplepeaceablytoassemble,andtopetitiontheGovernmentforaredressofgrievances.“—FirstAmendmenttotheU.S.Constitution.

CommonReader:ExtremelyLoud&IncrediblyClose

PleasevisittheACLibrary’sCommonReaderPage.AC’sCommonReaderPage.AuthorJonathanSafranFoer(photoatrightbyDavidShankbone)isscheduledtobeinAmarilloNovember2tospeakattheGlobe‐NewsCenterforthePerformingArtsat7p.m.

ConspiracyTheoriesandMythsSnopes.comisthemostprominentsitefordebunkingurbanlegendsandmyths,conspiracytheories,andrumors.Thispageaddressesthoserelatedto911.

“TheTopSeptember11ConspiracyTheories.”Listedbelowarethemainconspiracytheories,whicharedebunkedinthearticle.FromAmerica.gov.2009.1) TheWorldTradeCenter(WTC)twintowersweredestroyedbycontrolleddemolitions.2) NoplanehitthePentagononSeptember11.Instead,itwasamissilefiredbyelements

“frominsidetheAmericanstateapparatus.”3) UnitedAirlinesflight93,whichcrashedinPennsylvania,wasshotdownbyamissile.4) WorldTradeCenterbuilding7wasdestroyedbyacontrolleddemolition.5) TheplanesthathittheWorldTradeCentertowerswereremotelycontrolled.6) InsidertradinginthestocksofUnitedAirlinesandAmericanAirlinesjustbefore

September11isevidenceofadvanceknowledgeoftheplot.7) FourthousandJewsfailedtoshowupforworkattheWorldTradeCenteronSeptember

11.8) AlQaidaisnotresponsiblefortheSeptember11attacks.

“Warisloudandclose.Asforthenovelitself,Ihopethereaderfeelsitloudlyandclose.”

—JonathanSafranFoer

ReadcompleteinterviewinMotherJonesmagazine.

“911TruthMovement.”ExcerptfromMissionStatement:“TOEXPOSEtheofficialliesandcover‐upsurroundingtheeventsofSeptember11th,2001inawaythatinspiresthepeopletoovercomedenialandunderstandthetruth;namely,thatelementswithintheUSgovernmentandcovertpolicyapparatusmusthaveorchestratedorparticipatedintheexecutionoftheattacksforthesetohavehappenedinthewaythattheydid.”Photoatleft.Protestorfor911TruthMovement.2007.AvailableunderCreativeCommonsLicense.

“Debunkingthe911Myths.ASpecialReportfrom

PopularMechanicsmagazine.”Excerpt:“Thefollowingcontentisfromanin‐depthinvestigationoftheconspiracytheoriessurroundtheattacksof9/11,whichwaspublishedintheMarch2005issueofPopularMechanics.ThatcoverstorywasexpandedandpublishedinAugust2006asabooktitledDebunking9/11Myths.Thefullyrevisedandupdated2011editionofthebookisnowonsale.”

“911ConspiraciesWon’tStop.”CBSNews.September11,2011.Excerpt:“Whilethereisnoonetheoryunitingthem,itcangenerallybesaidtheybelievetheU.S.governmentand/ortheJewsand/oranyoneotherthanunhingedterroristsorchestratedtheeventsof9/11inordertofurthertheirowndarkandsecretiveagenda.”“Paranoia,9/11,andtheRootsofConspiracyTheories.”PsychologyToday(onlineversion).9/11andthepsychologicalrootsofconspiracytheories.PublishedonSeptember11,2008byIlanShrirainTheNarcissusinAllofUs.Excerpt:“...conspiracytheorieshelpuscopewithdistressingeventsandmakesenseoutofthem.Conspiraciesassureusthatbadthingsdon'tjusthappenrandomly.Conspiraciestellusthatsomeoneoutthereisaccountable,howeverunwittinglyorsecretlyorincomprehensibly,soit'spossibletostopthesepeopleandpunishthemandinduecourseleteveryoneelsere‐establishcontrolovertheirown

“Healthyskepticism,itseems,hascurdledintoparanoia.WildconspiracytalesarepeddleddailyontheInternet,talkradioandinothermedia.Blurryphotos,quotestakenoutofcontextandsketchyeyewitnessaccountshaveinspiredaslewofelaboratetheories:ThePentagonwasstruckbyamissile;theWorldTradeCenterwasrazedbydemolition‐stylebombs;Flight93wasshotdownbyamysteriouswhitejet.Asoutlandishastheseclaimsmaysound,theyareincreasinglyacceptedabroadandamongextremistshereintheUnitedStates.”

—EditorsofPopularMechanicsmagazineinspecialreport(seeabove.).

lives.Conspiraciesalsoremindusthatweshouldn'tblameourselvesforourpredicaments;it'snotourfault,it'sthem!”

DeathofOsamaBinLaden“BinLaden'sdeathmayhavelittleimpactonwar,terrorthreat.”ByTomWatkins,CNN.Excerpt:“’ButnoonedeniedthattheslainleaderofalQaedaleavesastaggeringlegacy.‘BinLaden'sobjectivein9/11wastosuckerusintoaninvasionofAfghanistanwiththeideathatwe'dbeboggeddownthereforalongtimeandwouldimpoverishourselves,’[Frank]Andersonsaid,notingthattheUnitedStatesnowfacesahugedebtburdenandhasincurredtensofthousandsofcasualties.

Acrosstheworld,"hislegacyisatleasthundredsofthousandsofdeadpeople,thevastmajorityofwhomwereMuslims.[Andhehasalsocaused]‘veryseriousdamagetoPakistanasaviablenationstate.’"—FrankAndersonisthepresidentoftheMiddleEastPolicyCouncilinWashington.BinLaden’sstatedreasonsforattackingtheWest:"I'mfightingsoIcandieamartyrandgotoheaventomeetGod.OurfightnowisagainsttheAmericans."‐‐QuotedbyAl‐QudsAl‐Arabinewspaper.“HostilitytowardAmericaisareligiousduty,andwehopetoberewardedforitbyGod....IamconfidentthatMuslimswillbeabletoendthelegendoftheso‐calledsuperpowerthatisAmerica.”TimeMagazine

"WedeclaredjihadagainsttheUSgovernment,becausetheUSgovernmentisunjust,criminalandtyrannical.Ithascommittedactsthatareextremelyunjust,hideousandcriminalwhetherdirectlyorthroughitssupportoftheIsraelioccupation."‐OsamabinLaden‐toCNNinMarch1997.

"...FortheAmericanforcestoexpectanythingfrommepersonallyreflectsaverynarrowperception.ThousandsofmillionsofMuslimsareangry.TheAmericansshouldexpectreactionsfromtheMuslimworldthatareproportionatetotheinjusticetheyinflict."toTimeMagazine.Dec.1998.

“WesworethatAmericawouldn'tliveinsecurityuntilweliveittrulyinPalestine.ThisshowedtherealityofAmerica,whichputsIsrael'sinterestaboveitsownpeople'sinterest.Americawon'tgetoutofthiscrisisuntilitgetsoutoftheArabianPeninsula,anduntilitstopsitssupportofIsrael."‐OsamabinLaden,October2001.

LegacyofSeptember11Attacks“9/11TaughtDifferentlyAroundTheWorld,TuftsGradFinds.”BySachaPfieffer,WBUR,NationalPublicRadio,BostonUniversity,September8,2011.Excerpt:“It’sthatwhenyou’rethinkingaboutthewaythatastoryistold,youmightimaginethatonewordchosenorsubstitutedforanotherwouldnotmakemuchofadifference.Butwhenyoutakealltheselittlechangestogether,yougetatonethatisverywell‐defined.So,forexample,inthewaythatyou

woulddescribethepeoplewhoexecutedtheattacksof9/11,whetheryoucallthem“attackers”orwhetheryoucallthem“assailants”orwhetheryoucallthem“individuals”hasveryadifferentconnotationandcreatesaverydifferentimageinone’smindwhenyou’rereadingthattextbook.”

“911Study:MultipleHealthWoesPersistfor911RescueWorkers.”ByErynBrown.LosAngelesTimes.September1,2011.Excerpt:“NowresearchersledbyateamfromtheMountSinaiSchoolofMedicineinNewYorkCityhavereportedanewthatphysicalandmentalillnesseswereverycommonacrossalargegroupof9/11emergencyresponders—andremainedpersistentfor10%to30%ofthemafullnineyearsafterthedisaster...Morethan

50,000peoplearebelievedtohavehaveworkedinrescue,recoveryandcleanupoperationsattheWorldtradeCentersite.”FEMAphotoatleft.

“TheLong‐TermLegacyof911.”ByDavidSirota.Salon.July26,2011.Excerpt:“Butmaybethemostprofoundlegacyof9/11istheattack'seffectonourveryconceptofwarsandenemies.Before9/11,thoseideaswerefiniteandtangible‐‐thoughtherewereredscaresandMcCarthyistcrusadesthatarguedotherwise,weforthemostpartbelievedthatconflictshadbeginningsandendsandthatvillainscouldultimatelybethwarted.ButthePost‐traumaticstressof9/11haselicitedakindofneuroticpsychosisthatembracesPermanentWarandallowenemiestooccupyapsychologicalspaceusuallyreservedforimmortalbogeymen.”

“OnlytimewilltellifSeptember11,2001,wasadefiningmomentforanentiregenerationandthebeginningofanewerainAmericanhistoryorjustaterriblenationaltragedythatoccupiedourmindsandwrenchedemotionsforashortwhilebeforeitfadedintomemory.”—Dr.PatriciaSomers(fromarticle)

CQResearcherReport:“Remembering911.”ByKennethJost,CQResearcherOnline,September2,2011.In‐depthreportonvariousaspectsofthe911legacyfromaverywell‐respectedpublication.ACOnlineloginrequired.

PsychologicalandEmotionalAftermathofAttacks

“After911:TheMentalHealthCrisisthatNeverCame.”PublishedonSeptember6,2011,byJamesC.Coyne,Ph.D.,inTheSkepticalSleuth.ReproducedinPsychologyToday.Excerpt:“Thebestevidencecontradictsearlyclaimsthattheseeventshadlong‐lastingnegativeeffectsorthatwatchingtheeventsontelevisioninflictedavirtualtraumaontheAmericanpeople.Earlierclaimswereexaggeratedandcouldhavebeenshown

tobeinaccurateevenatthetimetheyweremade.AvailableevidencenowatteststotheresiliencyoftheAmericanpeople.”“Acceptingthe‘NewNormal.’”ByJayTolson,U.S.News&WorldReport,September11,2006.Abstract:“[Discusses]thedeclineinthesenseofsolidarityandconfidencethatmostU.S.citizensfeltwithoneanotherandthenationalgovernmentinthewakeoftheSeptember11,2001attacks.Itexploresthecountry'sinitialwillingnesstoacceptincreasedsecuritymeasuresaswellasitseagernesstosupportregimechangeinIraq.ThearticleconsidersU.S.citizens'changingattitudesastimepassesandmoreinformationabouthomelandsecurityandforeignpolicyisrevealed.”ACOnlineloginrequired.

SayyidQutb:“LeadingTheoristofViolentJihad”“ALessoninHate:HowanEgyptianStudentCametoStudyAmericaandLeftDeterminedtoWageHolyWar.”ByDavidVonDrehle,February2006,Smithsonianmagazine.Excerpt:“[SayyidQutb,seephotoatleft]seethedatthebrutishnessofthepeoplearoundhim:thewaytheysaltedtheirwatermelonanddranktheirteaunsweetenedandwateredtheirlawns....Hewrote,‘TheAmericangirliswellacquaintedwithherbody’sseductivecapacity....Sheknowsseductivenessliesintheroundbreasts,thefullbuttocks,andintheshapelythighs,sleek

legsandsheshowsallthisanddoesnothideit.’”Qutbbecamea“leadingtheoristofviolentjihad.”HewasexecutedbytheEgyptiangovernmentin1966.OsamabinLadenwasastudentofQutb’sbrother,whotaughtatauniversity.

“TheWorldisanUndutifulBoy!”:SayyidQutb’sAmericanexperience.ByJohnCalvert.IslamandChristian‐MuslimRelations,Vol.11,No.1,2000.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchCompletelibrarydatabase.Excerptfromabstract:“ThearticleanalyzestheimagesofAmericaputforwardbySayyidQutb(1906‐1966),theprominentEgyptianideologueofIslamism,duringandimmediatelyfollowinghisstudymissiontotheUSbetween1948and1950.ItarguesthatQutb'sunderstandingofAmericawasconditionedbyhistendency...topositaculturaldividebetweena'spiritualEast'anda'materialistWest.’”ThearticlequotesseveralofQutub’swritingsaboutthehabitsandcharacteristicsofAmericans.ACOnlineloginrequired.“TheStruggleWithinIslam.”ByRobinWright,Smithsonian,September2011.Abstract:“ThearticlediscussesthechangeinattitudesofMuslimstowardextremismsincetheterroristattacksofSeptember11,2001,whichunleashedanangrybacklashagainstextremism.ItreportsthatopinionpollsinmajorMuslimcountriesfromvariouscontinentsanddisparategroupsshowedstrongsentimentagainstAlQaedaandsupportformodernizationanddemocratization.ThisistrueespeciallyamongyoungpeoplewhoarereportedtobeamajorityinmostMuslimcountries.”

U.S.WarsintheMiddleEast

“9/11MediaCoverageBringsIraq,AfghanistanWarsBackHome.”ByMichaelCalderone,HuffingtonPost,September9,2011.Excerpt:“Veterancorrespondentswho'vespentmuchofthepastdecadecoveringIraqandAfghanistansaythewarsstillmeritcoverage,buttheyalsoacknowledgethefinancialstrainonnewsorganizationsandtheneedtofindcompellinganglestointerestawar‐wearypublic.”

“IraqTroopWithdrawal:ObamaAdministrationSupportsReducingU.S.ForcesTo3,000ByEndOf2011.”

“AmericansintentionallyderidewhatpeopleintheOldWorldholdsacred.”—SayyidQutb

“ThebestdaysarewhenanAfghancomesuptoyouthankingyouforeverythingthatyouhavedonetohelpthemandformakingtheir(home)abetterplacenowthattheTalibanaregone,”[Bruno]deSolenni wrote. He was killed by an improvised explosive device nine days later. From article by Adam Spencer, The Daily Triplicate, September 12, 2011.

ByJoshuaHersh,HuffingtonPost,September7,2011.Excerpt:“AdministrationandPentagonofficialshadhopedtosecureIraqi‐governmentapprovalforalargertrooppresenceinIraqinto2012,withtheU.S.recentlypushingforafinalfigureofaround10,000.Butadministrationofficialshavelatelycometobelievethatapprovalwouldbehardtogetforanythingmorethanafewthousandtroops.Thetrooppresencewouldprobablyincludesomecombinationofmilitarytrainersandairandnavaladvisers,thesourcesaid,addingthatsomePentagonofficialsfearthe3,000numbermaybetoosmalltoachieveeventheirlimitedmissions.”“USmilitarydeathsinAfghanistanat1,656.”(AsofSeptember13,2011.)CBSNews.com.Excerpt:“SincethestartofU.S.militaryoperationsinAfghanistan,13,896U.S.servicemembershavebeenwoundedinhostileaction,accordingtotheDefenseDepartment.”“USmilitarydeathsinIraqwarat4,475Tuesday,accordingtoAssociatedPresscount.”(AsofSeptember13,2011).TheWashingtonPost.Excerpt:“SincethestartofU.S.militaryoperationsinIraq,32,191U.S.servicemembershavebeenwoundedinhostileaction,accordingtotheDefenseDepartment’sweeklytally.”

Photo/ImageCredits911Victimphoto:AmeliaV.Fields.U.S.DefenseDepartmentphoto.“Familiesof9/11VictimsTourMemorialConstructionSite.”2007.“911wasaninsidejob”signphoto.Author:DamonD’AmatofromNorthHollywood,CA.MadeavailablethroughCreativeCommonsAttributionGenericLicense2.0.911TruthMovementdemonstrator.2007.Demonstratorunidentified.AirportSecurityScan.U.S.TrafficSafetyAdministration.“TheTSABlog.”2010.RetrievedSeptember13,2011,fromhttp://blog.tsa.gov/2010/03/backscatter‐advanced‐imaging‐technology.html.Flight93Memorial.Frommycentraljersey.com.“Flight93memorialhelpsfamilykeepmemoryofWatchungvictimalive.”September9,2011.GroundZeroWorker.FEMAphotographbyMichaelRieger.September24,2001.Hands.Microsoftclipart.“Legacy”section"TributeinLight"photo.PhotobyDenoitfromWikimediaCommons.SeeDenoit’sphotopage.MichelleMalkinphotograph.FoxNewstelecast.PhotofromTheHuffingtonNews.

MostWantedTerroristsbanner.FromtheFBIWebsite.OsamabinLaden.U.S.CommerceDepartmentSite.InformationAccessDivision.Retrievedfromhttp://www‐lpir.nist.gov/projects/tv2003/active/topics/example.images/binladen_headshot.jpg.PresidentObama.FromU.S.StateDepartmentofficialblog.PresidentsObamaandBush.FromGeorgeW.BushWhitehouseArchives.2009.Quran/Koran.Microsoftclipart.Religioussymbols.Microsoftclipart.SoldierinAfghanistan.PhotobyU.S.DepartmentofDefense.ArmyPfc.StevenHamiltongivesaidtoanAfghanboy.PhotobySpc.TiaP.Sokimson,U.S.Army.StatueofLiberty.PhotobyLasloVargafromWikimediaCommons.2007.“TributeinLight”Memorial.“ThisimageorfileisaworkofaU.S.AirForceAirmanoremployee,takenormadeduringthecourseoftheperson'sofficialduties.AsaworkoftheU.S.federalgovernment,theimageorfileisinthepublicdomain.”WikimediaCommons.

U.S.Constitution.FromtheNationalArchives.

WomaninPurpleScarf.U.S.StateDepartmentphoto.Photographer:RandyWest.