How significant was 9/11?

What is a terrorist? Why do people become terrorist?

What are the causes of terrorism?

How has the nature of terrorism changed in the 20th and 21st Century?

What were the events that led to 9/11?

What happened on 9/11?

How was 9/11 portrayed by the US government and the western media?

How was 9/11 portrayed by al –Qaeda and other terrorist groups?

How was 9/11 portrayed in the media in non-Western countries?

How did the US and the West respond to 9/11 in the short term?

Why is 9/11 significant today?

How was 9/11 portrayed in non-Western countries?

The events of September 11th 2001 were widely condemed by the media and political leaders from around the world, including from many countries that are not on particularly friendly terms with the United States. The main exception was Saddam Hussein whose initial response was "the American cowboys are reaping the fruit of their crimes against humanity," though he later offered his sympathies for the families of the bereaved.

Iraqi Television coverage of 9/11. 

Political Responses

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference and expresses deep sympathy to the American people, calling the incidents a "terrorist act, this terrible tragedy." Russian President Putin added, "the entire international community should unite in the struggle against terrorism . . . this is a blatant challenge to humanity."

Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a message to Bush, and expressed condolences to the family members of the victims of the attacks. He also expressed "grave concern" for the safety of Chinese in the United States.

Mexican President Vicente Fox said: "Today the whole world and here in Mexico began the day with this high-impact news, this criminal act of terrorism, which we reject along with all forms of violence. We want from here to express our solidarity and our support to all the victims of these acts of terrorism and their family members. We reiterate our complete, emphatic rejection of all forms of violence and all forms of terrorism."

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called the attacks in New York and Washington "horrific" and added in a televised statement: "Egypt firmly and strongly condemns such attacks on civilians and soldiers that led to the deaths of a large number of innocent victims."

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said "I send my condolences, and the condolences of the Palestinian people to American President Bush and his government and to the American people for this terrible act," Arafat told reporters in Gaza. "We completely condemn this serious operation. . . . We were completely shocked . . . It's unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable," says a visibly upset Arafat.

Sheik Ahmed Yassin, whose Islamic militant Hamas group has carried out a series of suicide bombings in Israel, said he was not interested in exporting such attacks to the United States. "We are not ready to move our struggle outside the occupied Palestinian land. We are not prepared to open international fronts, however much we criticize the unfair American position," Yassin told reporters in Gaza City.

North Korea called the attacks "tragic," adding that it "is opposed to all forms of terrorism." The U.S. State Department lists North Korea among seven national "sponsors of terrorism."

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, whom the United States has accused of backing international terrorism, called the attacks "horrifying" and urged Muslim aid groups to offer help "regardless of political considerations or differences between America and the peoples of the world." Gadhafi said, "Irrespective of the conflict with America it is a human duty to show sympathy with the American people, and be with them at these horrifying and awesome events which are bound to awaken human conscience."

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, a moderate who is struggling for power against the country's hard-line Islamic leaders, expressed "deep regret and sympathy with the victims" and said "it is an international duty to try to undermine terrorism."

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, one of three countries then recognizing the Taliban's government (Sept. 11), condemned the attacks and called for cooperation to combat the "modern-day evil" of terrorism.

Taliban's Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abul Salam Zaeef, said "It is premature to level allegations against a person who is not in a position to carry out such attacks, it was a well-organized plan and Osama has no such facilities."

Media Coverage

There is a review of the manner in which various Middle Eastern media outlets covered the first anniversary of 9/11 on this website.