Soon after, the US and its allies are distracted by plans for another war in Iraq. Mr Bush evokes the spirit of the post-World War Two Marshall Plan when he calls for the reconstruction of Afghanistan in a speech at the Virginia Military Institute. Every time they kill us, we kill them." 17 April 2002 Bush calls for Afghan reconstruction don't understand any language but the language of force. So if avenging the killing of our people is terrorism, let history be a witness that we are terrorists. In an inflammatory video circulating among supporters of al Qaeda, Bin Laden refers to attacks on US buildings, saying: "It is what we instigated for a while, in self-defence. 20 October 2001 Bin Laden nearly admits involvement Most of the Taliban's forces are beaten within the space of about two months but bin Laden escapes. The UK is reported to be heavily involved. 7 October 2001 Airstrikes on Afghanistanīombing of targets inside Afghanistan begins the US-led invasion of the country. The US and UK deploy CIA and MI6 operatives into Afghanistan with the aim of bringing on board Afghan warlords disaffected with the Taliban. Mr Bush convenes a war council at Camp David with senior officials to discuss the options for striking back at al Qaeda - including an invasion of Afghanistan - should the Taliban refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden and close terror training camps.īy the end of the weekend, Mr Bush uses the phrase "war on terrorism" for the first time. 15/16 September 2001 Bush declares war on terror The aftermath 14 September 2001 Congress authorises military actionĬongress passes legislation authorising "Use of Military Force Against Terrorists", which is signed on 18 September by Mr Bush. 9.30am Faller kills firefighter on ground Seven minutes later, the plane is turned round and heads towards Washington DC. One passenger calls his wife telling her the plane has been hijacked, and that another passenger has died after a stabbing.Īfter she tells him about the WTC attacks, he says he has heard the hijackers speak about crashing his plane. In the following minutes, air traffic controllers hear the sounds of a struggle, moans from one of the pilots and a flight attendant being silenced. On Flight 93, hijackers attempt to take over the aircraft.īut with only three "muscle men" as the FBI later dubbed them, and with the pilots knowing the World Trade Center had been hit, it is not as easy for them to do so. He later gives a televised speech at the school to youngsters and teachers at which he says two planes had crashed into the WTC "in an apparent terrorist attack on our country". 9:37 am – Hijackers aboard Flight 77 crash the plane into the western façade of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing 59 aboard the plane and 125 military and civilian personnel inside the building.Bush speaks to children, staff and the media at Booker Elementary Schoolīush is moved to a neighbouring classroom by the US Secret Service, where he and senior officials monitor what is taking place.9:31 am – Speaking from Florida, President Bush calls the events in New York City an “apparent terrorist attack on our country.”.9:24 am – The FAA notified NEADS of the suspected hijacking of Flight 77 after some passengers and crew aboard are able to alert family members on the ground.9:21 am – The Port Authority closes all bridges and tunnels in the New York City area.9:08 am – The FAA bans all takeoffs of flights going to New York City or through the airspace around the city.9:03 am – Hijackers crash United Airlines Flight 175 into floors 75-85 of the WTC’s South Tower, killing everyone on board and hundreds inside the building.9:02 am – After initially instructing tenants of the WTC’s South Tower to remain in the building, Port Authority officials broadcast orders to evacuate both towers via the public address system an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people are already in the process of evacuating.