if terrorists had just targeted the pentagon and other military targets, would the usa people be as upset?

Question

I know this is a sensitive question as it is only just over 5 years ago - BUT the world trade center was a civillian target and US citizens are understandably upset about it, my thought as someone from the UK that has been brought up with terrorist bombings affecting civillians is - if it had just been MILITARY sites within the USA would there have been as much outrage by the people because it was an attack within the US boundaries

i will add that it wasn't just american civilians died at the WTC it was civillians from all over the world or it would of been called the american trade center not WORLD Trade center (ok american citizens were the bulk of casualties but not the only ones)

Answer 1

I dunno.. I would imagine that they won't be as emotionally affected by it as they were by the attacks on the WTC. However, I think that the US government would still try to play it up for all it's worth, and perhaps rightly so as it still would be an attack on their homeland.

Think of Pearl Harbour.

Mind you, regardless of what targets were hit, if they used the same method as the did on September 11th, a large number of civilians would've died - 3 passenger aircraft's worth of civilian lives. That still would have cut a deep emotional wound. So my answer to your question would be yes, and no.

Answer 2

No, not as upset - that's one of the big problems that US citizens have with terrorism is that they go after 'soft targets' that are completely helpless. It seems cowardly, although it is perfectly understandable - it would be foolish to expect otherwise. The terrorists use the tactics available to them, no more or less.

US citizens would be just as angry about an attack on military installations, but not as upset, if you understand what I mean. It just hits deeper when innocent people get killed.

For the record, most decent US citizens hate hearing about civilians being killed in other countries, too. We don't want that to happen. At least I don't.

Answer 3

The people in the Pentagon were members of the Military but they were not in combat,when they went to work that day they didn't expect to be blown to bites or burned to death,so in a way the human beings let me say that again the ' HUMAN BEINGS ' that were murdered at the Pentagon on September 11th 2001 were Innocent citizens just like the people that were murdered in the towers and the passengers on the four jetliners.

Answer 4

That's a very good, and fair, question. I think that we Americans would be highly upset at any attack on US soil. But, however, if they HAD attacked military instillation's instead of civilians, I believe we wouldn't have been as outraged,we still would be outraged at being attacked on our own soil, but, not as much as if it weren't civilians.


This is just my opinion, but, just think, they hi-jacked airplanes full of innocent civilians. How cowardly was that, instead of attacking military bases? To kill thousands of innocent Americans for no reason, with-out provocation, in disguise.

Answer 5

id say yes, because it is still an attack on their country, and Amreican people still died in the attack at the pentagon. there is still outrage when one of our army men dies out in Iraq which is kinda the same thing.

Answer 6

I'm sorry they didn't hit the White-House while Bush & his gang were in it,also cia h.q. at Langley.Those poor souls in the Twin Towers,& the planes were innocent.

Answer 7

yeah id say they'd b just as pissed, cos it was an attack on their soil

Answer 8

im a ukean as well and i understand that

Answer 9

just military targets, would be OK we'd cheered and be merry with our lives......what are you NUTS????????

Answer 10

Sure it's gonna suck if that happens.