PART TWO: INFORMATION REGARDING THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK IN THE UNITED STATES

I. WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON

World Trade Center

The World Trade Center in New York, consisting of two iconic towers, served as a symbol of America's robust economy. The construction of these tower buildings commenced in 1967 through the joint efforts of the New York City and New Jersey state governments. They were officially inaugurated on April 4, 1973.

Designed by the chief architect Minoru Yamasaki, the World Trade Center covers a sprawling area of 406,000 square meters. Each of the twin towers stands tall at 110 floors, with the first tower reaching a height of 417 meters and the second tower at 415 meters. These heights are only exceeded by the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada (540 meters), the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia (550 meters), and the Shanghai Tower in China (468 meters). Both the North and South towers are constructed using special compression steel and concrete, each weighing 290,000 tons with foundations extending over 20 meters deep. The base of each building reaches a height of 192 meters, with walls ranging from 20 to 90 centimeters thick. Pre-fabricated steel components were sourced from the cities of Xintan, Los Angeles, and Saint Louis, and eight large cranes, manufactured in Australia, were exclusively dedicated to the World Trade Center project.

It is estimated that each tower utilized 323,000 cubic meters of concrete and featured 43,600 windows. The total cost for the construction of both towers amounted to 700 million USD.

The World Trade Center, situated in the financial heart of Manhattan, occupies a prominent location on a spacious peninsula overlooking the Hudson River in New York City. It is in close proximity to Wall Street, where the bustling New York Stock Exchange operates, attracting some of the most influential financiers in the United States. Additionally, more than 500 major companies and international trade agencies from 26 countries have offices in the 110 floors of the twin towers. All the activities within the Center are orchestrated and managed by electronic computers. The complex houses a total of 293 large elevators capable of carrying 55 passengers each, while 71 escalators run continuously to accommodate the daily influx of 50,000 workers. The elevator system is remarkably modern, ensuring that people can travel up and down 110 floors in just one minute.

For decades, the World Trade Center has been a magnet for tourists, both American and international, welcoming over 200,000 visitors each year. The 107th floor of the tower is home to numerous upscale restaurants that are often referred to as "the world's number one window," offering breathtaking views for business magnates. Below ground, the Center houses the Manhattan Trade Center, which includes numerous subway and railway stations, as well as parking facilities. Every morning, these transportation hubs welcome tens of thousands of employees, officials, visitors, and shoppers.

In terms of design, the World Trade Center features a series of closely spaced steel columns surrounding rectangular concrete load-bearing columns. The cylindrical main load-bearing columns are interlinked to create a robust structure. Thanks to their resilience against earthquakes, the twin towers were designed to be enduring, and under normal conditions, even in light wind, the top of the tower maintains a slight oscillation compared to the center due to the steel structure.

The regular load-bearing frames inside the twin towers were required to support the considerable weight of nearly 300 elevators.

However, after the two planes collided with the twin towers in succession, they shifted the center of gravity of some load-bearing columns, significantly weakening the overall structure. The situation worsened as the impact led to the ignition of a substantial amount of aviation fuel, creating temperatures as high as 1,500 degrees Celsius. This caused the steel cores to heat for an extended period. The high temperature propagated through the steel cores, quickly affecting the entire building. Some joints melted, and the steel cores softened, causing a severe weakening of the load-bearing columns. Meanwhile, these columns still had to endure the enormous vertical compression force exerted by the entire 110-story structure. As the fire continued, the steel columns weakened progressively. At a certain point, the building began to collapse vertically from top to bottom.

The collapse of the twin towers had a profound impact on the 226.47-meter-tall One Liberty Plaza building, constructed in 1973 using steel, as well as an adjacent building, resulting in their collapse as well.

Pentagon

The Pentagon, serving as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and the nerve center for national military command and control, is more than just a building; it's a bustling "city" that houses 26,000 military and civilian Department of Defense employees, as well as an additional 3,000 support staff. This immense structure stands as a powerful symbol of American institutions and military might.

The idea for the Pentagon sprouted from the mind of Major General Brehon B. Somervell, who oversaw the construction department of the General Logistics Department office from mid-July 1941. Initially, it was conceived as a temporary solution for the War Department's workspace needs.

The rapid expansion of the War Department gave rise to a novel concept: a single architectural marvel to house all of its various departments, a contrast to the fragmented architectural approach prevalent at the time. Despite some concerns in the U.S. Congress about the project's cost, the urgency of military involvement in Europe and the Far East led to the approval of an approximate budget of $83 million on August 14, 1941 for the new War Department headquarters.

Construction of the Pentagon commenced on September 11, 1941.

Initially, the Pentagon was planned to be situated on the Einstein farm, located at the junction of five highways and featuring a pentagonal architectural design. However, to preserve the aesthetic landscape of Washington, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to relocate the construction site 1,200 meters away to the banks of the Potomac River. This new site encompassed the Hoover Airport area, some factories, and modest residential neighborhoods.

The final design followed neoclassical architecture, featuring an outdoor courtyard surrounded by five corridors that together form a five-sided cube. The building was constructed using reinforced concrete, which incorporated 380,000 tons of sand sourced from the Potomac River and 41,492 concrete pillars. Its architectural appearance was reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol, and this design choice conserved steel for the production of warships. At the height of construction, up to 1,000 architects and 14,000 laborers worked tirelessly, operating in three shifts around the clock. Remarkably, just 16 months after the groundbreaking on January 15, 1943, the Pentagon was completed.

The Pentagon sprawls across an area of 34 hectares, featuring a central courtyard encompassing 5 hectares, which is five times the size of the National Capitol's footprint. Its total usable space exceeds 600,000 square meters, boasts 7,754 windows, and encompasses over 28,000 meters of corridors. Despite its vastness, one can traverse from one corner of the building to the other in just seven minutes.

The Department of Defense Protection Agency (DPS) operates around the clock, providing guidance and resolving emergencies, such as medical services, firefighting, and addressing traffic accidents and security issues within the building. Firefighting facilities, services, and emergency information points are strategically located along the corridors, and firefighters are on constant standby. Emergency evacuation information and escape route maps are available in all offices within the Pentagon.

Since its completion in 1943, the Pentagon has undergone three major renovations and expansion projects. It has also become a notable attraction for both American and foreign tourists. The Pentagon's tourism program began on May 17, 1976, and currently, it draws in around 100,000 visitors annually. In 1996, the Pentagon celebrated its two millionth visitor.

II. U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN WARS

Since the first presidential election in 1789, which brought George Washington into office, the United States has deployed its military in foreign conflicts on numerous occasions, including 27 large-scale engagements. From 1789 to the end of World War II in 1945, the United States participated in the following seven major wars:

The War of 1812: Erupted during the Napoleonic Wars, with a U.S. merchant ship being attacked by the British Royal Navy, leading to U.S. naval confrontations with both the British and Napoleon's forces.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848): Fought over territorial disputes along the U.S.-Mexican border, resulting in intense battles primarily in the border region, with a U.S. victory.

Spanish-American War (1898): Triggered by the mysterious explosion of a U.S. battleship in Havana Harbor, with the United States blaming Spain and sending troops into battle.

Occupation of Nicaragua (1912-1933): Driven by a desire to collect debts, the U.S. occupied Nicaragua but withdrew in 1933 amid strong opposition from the international community and the Nicaraguan people.

Occupation of Haiti (1915): U.S. forces arrived in Haiti to "teach Haiti a lesson in democracy" and remained for 19 years.

World War I (1914-1918): The U.S. officially entered the conflict with Germany on April 6, 1917, resulting in about 114,000 U.S. military casualties.

World War II (1939-1945): The U.S. entered the war on December 8, 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, with over 300,000 U.S. military casualties.

Since 1945, the U.S. military has been involved in various regions worldwide, including the Middle East, Far East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Below are the 20 largest military campaigns of the U.S. military after World War II:

Korean War (1950-1953): Under the United Nations banner, the U.S. deployed troops to assist South Korea, with 33,000 U.S. military casualties.

Suez Canal Crisis in Egypt (1956): During the crisis, the U.S. sent the Sixth Fleet with 2,500 troops in alliance with France, the United Kingdom, and Israel, until they were withdrawn.

Lebanon (1958): 3,200 U.S. Marines were sent to occupy Lebanon to protect American interests.

Cuba (April 1961): An attempt to invade Cuba's Bay of Pigs in a coup to overthrow President Fidel Castro, which ultimately failed.

Vietnam (1965-1973): The Vietnam War, with the largest U.S. military deployment since World War II, resulted in around 55,000 U.S. military casualties.

Dominican Republic (1965): The U.S. dispatched 30,000 troops to intervene in the Dominican Civil War.

Laos (1946-1973): A U.S. military campaign against the communist Pathet Lao forces in Laos.

Iran (1980): A U.S. rescue mission to free American hostages held in Tehran by the Iranian government.

Lebanon (1983): A truck bomb attack on the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut resulted in the deaths of 239 U.S. military personnel. The U.S. deployed troops from Syria to threaten terrorist groups.

Grenada (1983): After a pro-Cuban faction assassinated Grenada's prime minister, the U.S. sent 1,900 troops.

Libya (April 1986): Under the pretext of counterterrorism, the U.S. conducted military operations against Libya, including bombings in Tripoli and Benghazi.

Panama (December 1989): The U.S. sent troops into Panama to apprehend General Manuel Noriega, who was accused of drug trafficking, and brought him to the U.S. for trial.

Persian Gulf - Operation Desert Storm (1991): The U.S. launched Operation Desert Storm, with troops engaged in the Gulf War from August 1990 to January 1991, culminating in victory.

Somalia (1992-1994): U.S. troops were deployed in Somalia in 1992. By 1994, the U.S. withdrew due to public outrage following an incident where a U.S. soldier was killed, dragged through the streets, and displayed on television.

Iraq: January 17, 1993: The U.S. launched missile strikes on an Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad in response to what was claimed to be an assassination attempt on former U.S. President George H. W. Bush.

Haiti (1994): Under the United Nations auspices, the U.S. sent troops to Haiti to reinstate President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power.

Bosnia (1995): U.S. aircraft bombed Bosnian Serb forces to aid Muslim and Croat factions in Bosnia.

Iraq (September 3, 1996): The U.S. launched cruise missile strikes against Iraq in response to a missile attack on the U.S. aircraft patrolling the northern no-fly zone.

Afghanistan and Sudan (1998): In the name of countering terrorism (Osama bin Laden was in Afghanistan at the time), the U.S. fired cruise missiles into Afghanistan and Sudan, resulting in casualties.

Yugoslavia (1999): The U.S., together with NATO, officially intervened in Kosovo to help ethnic Albanians, resulting in bombings and severe damage in Yugoslavia.

III. MAJOR ATTACKS AGAINST THE U.S.

April 1983: Bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killed 63 people, including 17 U.S. military personnel.

October 1983: U.S. military command headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, was bombed, killing 241 U.S. military personnel and 58 others.

April 1985: Bombing of a U.S. military base in Rota, Spain, killed 18 people and wounded 82 others.

June 1985: A TWA airline plane was hijacked in Beirut and terrorists killed six U.S. passengers in a café in Athens, Greece.

August 1985: Bombing of a U.S. military base in Phuoc Phuoc, Germany, killed two people and injured 20 others.

November 1985: Terrorists hijacked an Egyptair plane, killing 60 U.S. passengers.

December 1985: Simultaneous attacks on U.S. and Israeli airline offices in Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria, killed 20 people.

April 1986: A restaurant in Berlin, Germany, was attacked, resulting in one U.S. soldier's death and 44 U.S. soldiers injured.

December 1988: The bombing of a large U.S. passenger plane, a Boeing 747, over Lockerbie, Scotland, killed 259 people.

February 1993: The first bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City, a 110-story skyscraper, killed six people and injured over 1,000.

April 1995: The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA, was bombed with a truck loaded with explosives, resulting in 168 deaths and hundreds of others wounded.

July 1996: A U.S. military base in Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia, was bombed, killing 19 U.S. military personnel and injuring 400 others.

July 1996: A terrorist attack occurred during an outdoor concert at the Atlanta Olympic Games, resulting in two deaths and 110 injuries.

June 1998: U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were simultaneously bombed, killing over 260 people and injuring more than 5,000.

February 2000: An explosion occurred behind the 40-story Barclays bank building on Wall Street, New York.

October 2000: The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Cole was bombed while docked in Aden, Yemen, resulting in the deaths of 17 U.S. sailors and extensive damage to the ship.