9/11 Anniversary
A Florida Motel Manager Let the "Clean-cut" Guest Have an Overnight Visitor
Marwan al-Shehhi shared his room with Mohammed Atta. They shopped in Target, Circuit City, Payless Shoes, Lowe's.
Why Mohammed Atta Chose That Particular Tuesday in September for the Attack
Mohammed Atta logged into his Travelocity account to shop for flights from Washington Dulles airport and from Boston, departing around 8:00 am on September 11.
Waterboarded at a CIA Black Site, the "Number One Terrorist" Gave Up a Name
"The time for training is over," al Qaeda member Abu Zubaydah said on an intercepted call. After torture, he pointed the CIA to the 9/11 mastermind, KSM.
9/11 to COVID-19: What Changed?
With the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack rapidly approaching, it's worth considering why America has responded so differently to a crisis that has left more than 600,000 dead.
New 9/11 Clue: A Phoenix Field Office Agent Spotted bin Laden's Strategy
The special agent noted an "inordinate number" of suspicious flight students; guessed the terrorists' intentions; made four recommendations. FBI HQ did none.
Don't Be "Spun Up" Over Moussaoui, Minneapolis Agents Were Told by FBI, CIA
Field office agents were also rebuked for seeking information. "Things work much better when our agencies are communicating HQ to HQ," the CIA said.
The FBI's Bin Laden Unit Had an 'Oh, S--t' Moment, 3 Weeks Before 9/11
The FBI and CIA's a fatal mistake—confusing Khalid al-Mihdhar, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and "Khallad"—allowed 9/11 mastermind KSM to escape attention.
The "Insecure" German Terrorist Who Loaned Mohammed Atta His Computer
The 9/11 Commission wrote that Said Bahaji had "no personality and limited knowledge of Islam." But three of the 9/11 hijackers attended his wedding.
After Afghan Debacle, Stop the Nation-Building Crusades Once and for All
We need a prudential, hardheaded foreign policy that secures the American way of life without falling prey to democratization exportation delusions of grandeur.
The Hijackers Debated: Hit Only One WTC Tower, Target White House Instead?
The men used code. "Architecture" meant the World Trade Center, "arts" was the Pentagon, "law" was the U.S. Capitol building, "politics" was the White House.
The FBI's Radical Fundamentalist Unit Ignored This Radical Fundamentalist
Zacarias Moussaoui was flagged as a possible "airline suicide attacker," but the intelligence community failed to connect him to other information they had.
Navy to Wear Marine Corps Dress Blue Uniforms vs Air Force on 9/11 Game
Navy will pay homage to the USMC as Americans will reflect upon the 20th anniversary of the worst attack on U.S. soil in history.
Passengers Defeated the Well-trained Hijacker Assigned to Flight 93
Ziad Jarrah took his 9/11 role seriously. But a delay in takeoff from Newark Airport gave passengers the information they needed to fight back.
It's Easy to Get Knives and Razors Onto a Plane, the Hijackers Found
The FAA warned that terrorists might use everyday objects modified into weapons. But the team knew—from experience—their box cutters wouldn't cause a problem.
The Flight Instructor Was Struck by the Hijacker's Meaning of "Joy Ride"
Real pilots like to fly planes. What explains a flight school student who doesn't? FBI agents went to search Zacarias Moussaoui's rooms.
Bush Launched an Attack a Month Before 9/11—Against Iraq, Not Al-Qaeda
A foreign enemy was "trying his darndest to bring down a coalition aircraft," said a Pentagon spokesman. He didn't mean Osama bin Laden.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's 9/11 Role Was a "Surprise" to U.S. Intelligence
Terrorist mastermind KSM had two visas and was on a watch list. yet no one in the State Department, immigration, FBI or intelligence community paid attention.
With One Month to Go Before 9/11, Mohammed Atta Had a Meeting in New Jersey
Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver. The "emir" of the September 11 plot got familiar with flight patterns—and with First Class service.
The Day a Minnesota Flight Instructor Was a Better Detective than the FBI
Zacarias Moussaoui was strong evidence that al-Qaeda planned other operations. His arrest should've created panic about the possibility of an imminent attack.
9/11 Pilot Hani Hanjour Took Extra Flights to Check Out D.C. Airspace
The Saudi national prepared more carefully for his role than did the other pilots, familiarizing himself with the air traffic out of Dulles airport.
Osama bin Laden's Hand-picked Hijacker Was Almost Fired from 9/11 Plot
Although the CIA knew of Khalid al-Mihdhar's ties to al-Qaeda, he was able to meet Mohammed Atta in New Jersey on August 9th. It went badly.
This 9/11 Hijacker Used Cash, VISA Card to Pay for Practice Flight Time
In Florida, Marwan al-Shehhi roomed with flight-school buddy Mohammed Atta. The two men may not have behaved like the "bad Muslims" of post-9/11 reports.
As 9/11 Came Closer, Bush's Team Was Focused on Saddam Hussein's WMDs
On August 7, 2001, the intelligence team discussed Iraq's rumored weapons of mass destruction—another misreading that led to disaster.
Inside the Briefing Where Bush Heard That Bin Laden Planned to Strike
On August 6, 2001, the Presidential Daily Briefing discussed al Qaeda threats. The FBI and CIA worried about an attack—and about which agency might be blamed.
TikTok Video of Woman's Childhood Diary Entry on 9/11 Goes Viral
The account, which posts a woman's diary entries as a child, shared her post as the 9/11 attacks happened in real time.
Dramatic Unseen Photos of 9/11 Attack Found in Family Album
Liam Enea said the photos were taken by his great aunt, who lived in an apartment at 310 Greenwich Street in New York City. Her terrace faced south toward the World Trade Center.
Honoring the Former College Football Players Who Lost Their Lives on 9/11
At least 10 former college football players were among the people who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks 19 years ago.
On 9/11, Remember the Veterans Who Stood to Defend America
September 11, 2001, was a day that left millions of Americans terrified, confused and angry. But it also served as another test of this great nation's resolve and its commitment to freedom and liberty.
How To Watch 9/11 Memorial Services Live
Commemorative services honoring lives lost on September 11, 2001, will be available to live stream online Friday morning.
Why the 9/11 Death Toll Is Still Rising Today
The death toll from the 9/11 attacks continues to rise as first responders succumb to related diseases such as cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.