On the morning of September 11th, 2001, four airplanes were hijacked in the United States. These planes were deliberately flown to crash into prominent American buildings. A terrorist group called Al-Qaeda was responsible for the attacks. Al-Qaeda is an Islamist extremist terrorist group. This group has strong religious beliefs and believes the United States is corrupt and supports Al-Qaeda's opponents in spreading their religious views. 
The events of September 11th, 2001 changed American foreign policy and President George Bush declared a global “War on Terror.” The “War on Terror” began in October 2001 when the US launched airstrikes in Afghanistan against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The Taliban had provided safety for Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden. Although the United States quickly overthrew the Taliban, fighting between the US and Afghan forces continued as they battled to fight insurgents. 
It was also in 2001 that President Bush adopted a policy of preemption after 9/11. His theory was to attack a foreign adversary before they attack you. Diplomacy, or negotiating was no longer the course of action for American foreign policy. President Bush believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and supported Al-Qaeda. The United States attacked Iraq in 2003 and within months had taken over. The leader of Iraq, dictator, Saddam Hussein was caught and later executed. The US left Iraq in 2011. No weapons of mass destruction were found. 
The “War on Terror” has at times divided the country with Democrats (liberals) and Republicans (Conservatives) divided on how to end the war and the methods of war. 
Today, the United States is the world’s superpower. It has the largest economy in the world with a Gross Domestic Product well over $20 trillion. Economic influence and security directly effects our national security as seen through the events of 9/11.

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