SPECIAL COVERAGE
Attacks on Washington and New York City
September 11, 2001
Quick Time Video of Attack on the World Trade Center
Second commandered American Airline
passenger jet hits second tower
Statement from the American Anti Discrimination Committee:
From: Ghassan AbulGhanam
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 9:02 AM
Subject: Attacks on Washington, N.Y.
Dear ADCers and Friends,
As we woke up today to the tragic news of three plane crashes into N.Y.C and Washington, please allow me to share with you the following points that are an early statement of ADC Fresno:
1. We have been, for a long time, trying as Arab-Americans to bring to the attention of the American people the atrocities being committed around the world, using American weapons subsidized by our tax money, as is the case with Israel. Israel has been receiving in excess of $10 Million a DAY in aid, mostly in the form of guns and warplanes being used to terrorize the civilian population of Palestine. We have repeatedly warned that such policy will eventually bring the U.S. into this conflict as a direct party. The decision by successive U.S. administrations to ignore such atrocities, and the arrogance with which this administration has dealt with the issue only expedited this eventual confrontation - if it turns out to be the work of a pro Palestinian group. Violence begets violence! What do you expect when you wage war against a people that have done you no harm..?!
2. Regardless of early indications of responsibility, this has the appearance of a well-orchestrated attack on a global level. I personally do not believe that Ben Laden or other Palestinian groups (mentioned as a possible suspect already) are capable of logistically masterminding such an operation, I would not discount the prospect of the Mossad having a hand in this ; Worldwide, public opinion has been steadily moving away from support of Israel, and has started seeing the Palestinians as the victims they are, in spite of substantial P.R. campaigns waged by Israel. This could very well be (another) attempt by Israel to demonize Arabs and Muslims, and to bringing them to a direct military confrontation with the U.S. The hope would be to turn public opinion around, enabling the current vicious Israeli government to quench Sharon's thirst for blood with a free hand and even more overt U.S. support. This should quiet down the criticism of the American people towards their governments collusion with Israel against Palestinian civilians..., so goes the theory. The Mossad has performed similar acts in the past, as has been documented by its own (Victor Ostrovsky- By Way of Deception), and I wouldn't be surprised if they had a hand in this one as well!
Arab-Americans, in general, and Fresno area ADC members express their deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims of this horrendous attack and their families. Blood shed, on either side, is not something we stomach, and we condemn this attack, as well as the daily attacks against Palestinians in the occupied territories. We take this opportunity to call on all parties, again, to stop the cycle of violence that has spread beyond the immediate borders, as has been expected. We call upon the United States government to exercise its global responsibility by playing the role of moderator and bringing the parties to the negotiation table.
Ghassan AbulGhanam
ADC Fresno
Terror attacks hit U.S.
September 11, 2001 Posted: 1457 GMT
People walk away from the World Trade Center as ash rains down.
NEW YORK -- Terrorists struck the United States Tuesday morning in harrowing, widespread attacks that included at least three commercial jet crashes into significant buildings.
• In the first attack, a plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by another plane into the second tower about 20 minutes later. Both towers later collapsed.
• American Airlines told CNN that it lost two planes in "tragic accidents:" Flight 11 from Boston with 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard and Flight 77 from Washington Dulles airport with 58 passengers and six crew aboard. Both planes were en route to Los Angeles
• About an hour later, a plane crashed into the Pentagon, part of which later collapsed.
• United Airlines Flight 93 airliner headed from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, crashed near Somerset, Pennsylvania -- police said initial reports indicated no survivors. It was not known if this was connected to the attacks. United also said it was "deeply concerned" about Flight l75 from Boston to Los Angeles.
• The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in Washington evacuated.
• In the first ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide have been stopped at their departure airports.
• All international flights were diverted to Canada.
• Israel has evacuated all its missions around the world.
• President Bush cancelled an appearance in Florida to return to Washington, calling the crashes "apparent terrorist attacks" and "a national tragedy."
• In Chicago, the Sears Tower was evacuated; United Nations in New York evacuated.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta was evacuated. CDC was preparing bioterrorism teams in case they become necessary.
• The New York Port Authority said it had closed all bridges and tunnels into the city.
• New York's Bellevue Hospital was designated command central for handling the catastrophe. Several hospitals have already reported receiving victims with burns and head injuries.
• U.S. stock markets were closed after the New York attacks.
• US/Mexico border has been closed
• The LAX has been closed.
An anonymous caller told Abu Dhabi television in the Gulf that the radical Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine was responsible for the two New York crashes, but a senior DFLP official in the Palestinian territories denied any involvement.
``I emphasize that the story released on Abu Dhabi TV by an anonymous person is totally incorrect,'' Tayseer Khaled, a senior official of the DFLP politburo in the Palestinian territories, told Reuters.
``The DFLP is against hijacking planes and against endangering the lives of civilians who are not connected with the struggle of this region,'' he said.
September 11, 2001
US Borders Still Open After Attacks on NYC & DC
by Greg Bloom, FNS Editor
International border crossings in El Paso, TX and Santa Teresa, NM are open and have been open all day despite widespread reports on major television and radio news networks stating that the US border with Mexico has been closed. Major media sources stated that the US borders with Mexico and Canada were closed after the hijacking of four airliners and attacks against the World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
Enrique Ray, an Assistant Public Affairs officer in the INS El Paso office, said that major media reports describing the closure of the US-Mexico border are "totally inaccurate." While Ray could not confirm if some ports had been closed on the border between the two nations, he said that all of El Paso's international bridges are still open to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Ray said that he has heard no discussion of closing the ports although he did say that travelers should expect delays twice as long as usual.
An INS Public Affairs officer in Washington DC said that the US's northern and southwestern borders remain open but are on a Level 1 Alert which is a, "sustained, intensive, anti-terrorism operation."
Jim Coleman of the New Mexico Border Authority said that there are "normal operations" at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico port which is approximately fifteen miles from El Paso, TX.
Doug Mosier, the Public Affairs officer for the US Border Patrol's El Paso Sector, said that Border Patrol action in the field continues the same as ever with 24-hour patrols. As far as apprehensions are concerned he said that it was, "business as usual." However, the El Paso Sector compound is on a "heightened state of alert," Mosier stated. The Border Patrol's El Paso Sector is responsible for the state of New Mexico and the two western-most Texas counties, Hudspeth and El Paso.
The Federal Building in downtown El Paso, only a few blocks from the US-Mexico border was still open as of noon today, September 11. Calls to the Federal Protective Services, which is allegedly responsible for the building, were not returned.
Many city buildings and city offices in El Paso, Texas have been closed for non-essential business according to a city website.
In New York City, both 110-story buildings at the World Trade Center were each hit by one presumably hijacked airliner. The towers later collapsed and some estimates predict as many as 10,000 casualties although the actual figure could vary significantly.
Another plane struck the Pentagon in Washington D.C. There have been no estimates on casualties there. A fourth plane crashed near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Frontera NorteSur
On-line news coverage of the US-Mexico border
To see our site or subscribe for free to our daily news service go to:
http://frontera.nmsu.edu
FNS is an outreach program of the Center for Latin American and Border Studies New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Greg Bloom, Editor
Email address: frontera@nmsu.edu
(505) 646-6817
IAP condemnation of the terrorist attack on our nation
Islamic Association for Palestine
10661 South Roberts Rd, Suite 202
Palos Hills, IL 60465
Tel: 708 974 3380
Cell: 708-710-0099
Fax: 708 974 3389
Pager: 1 800 916 8286
e-mail: iapinfo@iap.org
Website: www.iap.org
Media Contact: Rafeeq Jaber, IAP President
(Chicago - September 11, 2001) - The Islamic Association for Palestine condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly act of terrorism on our nation this morning.
We in the Muslim and Arab community are deeply hurt by this terrorist act. Our deepest sympathy goes to the victim's families and our prayers are for the rest of the country. It is very important during these sad times that all Americans-stand together.
We further call on all media outlets to not point any fingers on any segment of our society, especially the Muslim and Arab communities.
We should have learned from the Oklahoma tragedy not to rush for judgment, and let the investigations take its course.
=====
Proudly Serving Palestine and AlQuds
_________________________________
Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP)
10661 South Roberts Rd, Suite 202 Palos Hills, IL 60465
Tel: 708 974 3380 / Fax: 708 974 3389 /Pager: 1 800 916 8286
http://www.iap.org
E-mails: iapinfo@iap.org OR iapinfo@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
LATIN GRAMMYS UPDATE
Awards Show Canceled
The second annual Latin Grammy Awards scheduled for tonight at the Forum in Los Angeles have been canceled in light of the apparent terrorist airplane attacks on the East Coast, organizers said.The cancellation, announced by Michael Greene, head of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, came as several buildings around the Los Angeles area were being closed or evacuated as a precaution. A spokesman for the academy, Bernard Alonso, said Greene decided to call off the awards show "in light of the events that have been transpiring," referring to the airliners that crashed early Tuesday into the World Trade Center towers in Manhattan and into the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.
The statement posted this morning on the Grammys Web site:
"Due to the unimaginable events that have occurred this morning, The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, The Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and CBS have canceled tonight's 2nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards show. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and everyone who has been impacted by these horrific events."
There has been no further word on when the Awards show might be rescheduled.
