Chapter One: The Terror Trail - The roots of the worst terrorist attack in history
By Neil Mackay
THE evening had gone superbly well. Osama bin Laden bade farewell to his guests and retired to his room. February 22, 1998, was a crisp, silent evening in Kandahar, and the desert surrounding the bombed-out town in southern Afghanistan was patrolled by small squads of Taliban fighters and a cadre of bin Laden's personal bodyguard.
The Saudi millionaire, then aged 41, sat at his desk, picked up his pen and began to draft the most important announcement of his life. The handful of paragraphs he wrote that night -- for dissemination among his own supporters and Islamic terrorist leaders sympathetic to his particular brand of militancy -- set in motion the train of events which were to climax with suicide dive bombers in America.
The Birth of a New Terrorist Organisation
The four men bin Laden had earlier entertained -- with a meal of mutton stew, rice, and nan bread, accompanied by black and green tea -- were no ordinary guests. They had traveled a long way to see him and spent days thrashing out the text now lying in front of him. Those men were Ayman al-Zawahiri, head of Islamic Jihad; Adbul Salam Mohamed from Bangladesh; Abou Yassir Ahmed Taha from Egypt's Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya, representing all Islamist groups in North Africa, and Fadhi Errahmane Khalil, leader of the Pakistani movement, Ansar.
Together, they were responsible for some of the worst atrocities of the 1990s, including the 1997 massacre of 57 foreign tourists at Luxor. That night, they founded a new pan-Arab terrorist organization with the name, the International Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders. The document which ushered it into existence was a fatwa from its de facto leader, bin Laden. In it, he railed against the presence of the US and its allies in the Middle East. It read: 'The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies, civilians and military, is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible ... This is in accordance with the words of Almighty God.'
US Intelligence Failures and the Rise of Al Qaida
On February 24, when the CIA passed a classified memo on this meeting to Senator Jon Kyl, then-chairing Senate hearings into foreign terrorism, they were clear that this was a declaration of war. The touch-paper which would finally ignite in New York had been lit.
Bringing the war to mainland America wasn't a new plan, but now, thanks to the Kandahar meeting, it had fresh impetus. Bin Laden had attempted to take out New York's twin towers in 1993 when his protégé Ramzi Yousef, the British-educated and Kuwaiti-born career terrorist, tried to topple the World Trade Centre with a massive car bomb.
He failed, but within a year he had infiltrated America with new teams of sleeper agents ready for one more big push. One of the members of Tuesday's four suicide teams, Walid Al Shehri, had been living in Daytona Beach, Florida, since 1995. This suggests some sort of renewed attack on symbolic American buildings had been planned for at least six years.
But bin Laden had probably been training his men for Tuesday's atrocities for even longer. He bought a commercial jet and began recruiting his first pilots in the US in 1993. The plane had a range of around 1500 miles and was purchased in Arizona. One of bin Laden's main men in America then was Essan Al-Ridi, who worked as a flight instructor in Texas. The US military sold the plane to bin Laden, and it was the Pentagon which gave permission for the aircraft to leave the base.
America's intelligence failures also ran straight up against the new enemy that is extreme fundamentalism. While it might be possible to slip a Muslim intelligence officer into the ranks of Al Qaida, it is almost impossible to 'turn' an active Islamic terrorist. They are fighting for their faith, something most people are unlikely to betray easily.
Hotels and the Impact of Terrorism
Hotels around the world have felt the ripple effects of terrorism, especially after the devastating events of September 11, 2001. The interconnectedness of the international travel industry meant that the hospitality sector was deeply affected by these acts of violence.
Following the attacks, hotel occupancy rates plummeted as travelers became hesitant to stay in high-profile destinations. Large cities and iconic landmarks, such as the World Trade Centre, were seen as potential targets for further attacks. This sense of insecurity and fear resulted in significant losses for the hotel industry.
However, over time, hotels have adapted to the new security challenges posed by terrorism. Extensive security measures, including enhanced surveillance systems, increased staff training, and stricter access control, have become standard in many hotels around the world. These measures aim to provide a safer environment for guests and reassure them of their security.
In addition, the rise of online travel booking platforms has played a crucial role in helping hotels recover from the aftermath of terrorism. The ability to target specific markets and tailor marketing strategies has helped attract travelers to destinations that were previously considered unsafe.
Despite the challenges faced by the industry, hotels continue to be vital contributors to local economies. Their resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to the determination and adaptability of the hospitality sector. As the world evolves, hotels will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of their guests while providing exceptional experiences.
Manchester
- Manchester Hotels
- Manchester Airport Hotels
- Cheap Hotels Manchester
- Hotels Near Ao Arena Manchester
- Manchester Piccadilly Hotels