Was the destruction of the World Trade Center a crime, or an act of war?

Question

When civilians injure civilians, isn't that crime?

War involves states.

Crime is addressed by persistent investigation, forensic studies, identification of those responsible, taking them into custody and bringing them to trial in open court where all relevant facts are brought out into the open for public view.

The first rule in forensic examination of evidence is that you disturb nothing until your studies are completed. Criminal investigation of the WTC attack was prevented by the immediate bulldozing of the site and the removal of all remaining steel which was melted down in a foundry. What was the big rush, anyway?

If successful criminal investigation of the WTC event had been conducted, then by now we might have seen Osama Bin Laden apprehended and put on trial, as the Israelis did with Adolf Eichman.

Isn't calling a crime an act of war used as a means to whip up emotions and get the people to give up liberties to a leader who appoints himself a "wartime president"

Answer 1

Killing of innocent persons is always crime what so ever justification may be there.

Answer 2

That is not an easy question. Treating the act as a ciminal action probably is a result of the long history of British fights with the IRA in Northern Ireland. For years, the Crown treated the IRA and its acts as acts of war. It followed the Geneva convention when dealing with IRA members etc.
Britian in the early 70's or late 60's changed its position to that of prosecuting a criminal actions when the IRA laucnhed attacks etc.. It captured, tried and sentenced IRA members who planned, funded or carried out attacks. This switch led to a different approach with the IRA by criminalizing them, instead of recognizing them as a fighting force.
The traditional notion of an act of war involved State action which is why the US attacked Afghanistan after 9/11 in part because they were at the very least, the hosts or supporters of the group that attacked the center. The US "plan" at the current time seems to forge an unclear path down the middle between crime and act of war. I do have years of experience in the criminal justice system and nothing taken from the worl trade center in "forensic" examinations is going to help with a trial, conviction or capture. We saw the planes fly into the buildings. From passenger manifests, the investigation found out which passengers likely hijacked the planes by who they were, where they lived, their travel, etc. Forensic evidence, the kind of which is doctored up on CSI, etc. would not help much in this type of investigation. Unfortunately, the quick destructions and clearing of debris has lead to the rampant, ridiculous speculation that 9/11 was an insde job. The buring gasolin truck in Oakland last week is clear evidence that fire can bend and warp steel.

Answer 3

It is a crime, and an act of war.

It's a new kind of war. Things change, and we are moving toward a world where borders matter less. The result is that we have stateless organizations with the capacity to wage war. As such, they can be treated that way.

To consider it purely a crime would mean that the military would not be involved in pursuing them. We'd have to file a report with IINTERPOL and enlist the help of the Pakistani police force to go arrest the wrongdoers.

It's definitely out in the open now that the the Democrats truly believe that pre-9/11 thinking was correct. Treat terrorism as isolated crimes and have the local magistrates go out and arrest the brigands.

Answer 4

In India Muslim terrorists trained by a neighboring country are killing thousands of people daily, because the neighbor is having US support . India is having a Muslim population of 150 Million and the second largest population of Muslims in the world. But nobody bothers. Even the Indian Muslims never open their mouth and say anything against the terrorists.

Normally it is difficult to find hard evidence for such crimes since most of the fellows of the suicide attack and materials must have perished. So scientific evidence cannot be found.

What can be done? Could you catch the fellows who has perpetrated the WTC crimes.Because any action will stop oil supply. As long as Oils is used as a weapon the Muslim terrorism will continue.

Answer 5

It was an act of war because Bin Laden & his Al-Qaeda were hosted by the Taliban government of Afghanistan. I think we responded appropriately by destroying the Taliban government. That was even more important than catching Bin Laden. Even today I think preventing the resurgence of the Taliban is more important than catching Bin Laden.

On the other hand, war always kills innocent civilians. Therefore, some people say all wars are wrong. I don't agree with those extreme pacifists (Jesus Christ among them), but I respect their opinion.

Answer 6

According to all civilized countries...if not in uniform and fighting/destroying/maiming...you are a SPY. Being a civilian does not give license for heinous mass-murderous deeds!
Muslim terrorists are too cheap and sneaky to don uniforms in most cases. Even Reid, the shoe bomber is said to have gone through trash bins to get cigarette buttes and empty liquor bottles to hide his "faith"
. The last thing a terrorist wants when committing an act of war on the sly...is a UNIFORM. They'd rather spend the money bribing families to sacrifice slow children as homicide bombers!

Answer 7

People inside the bush administration knew that something was about to happen. This is fact many times over, and word was out months ahead of the event, as well. They did nothing to stop it, and did much to assure its success.

Your thoughts are in line with millions of other people who see this administration and much of the American government in general (Democrats, as well), as complicit in sacrificing ordinary American's lives as if it were a resource to expend for their benefit. And for that, impeachment is not the answer for it gives an opportunity to purchase an innocent verdict.

The Bush Administration should be a disgrace to any American.

Answer 8

It is a crime and war. Osama Bin Laden terrorist Organization declared war on the West civilization,so when they targeted the W.T.C to destroy, actually they thought it is the right symbol for this civilization so it is war, but it is a terrorist action being done savagely on innocent people, so it is a crime.

Answer 9

Notwithstanding the loonies who will say it was an inside job, it was an act of terrorism perpetrated by a group who had state backing and organization and protected said group under governmental rule. That would probably make it more of an act of war than a crime.

As far as being in a "rush", it took a couple of years to clean up the site. That doesn't really seem like a "rush".

It would seem as though you are looking for a nefarious conspiracy with this. More power to you.

On a side not, have you watched the goings-on with Alcoa and Alcan? What do you think that will do to the price of tin foil hats?

Answer 10

It was an act of war and crime. They obviously have issues. Even the Irish have had their share of terrorists, but they fought for freedom and justice, a little bit different. These people have major problems.