9/11: Seven Years Later

Seven years after the 9/11 attacks | BET remembers. See photos and more.

Unity - In an unusual gesture of political solidarity, Barack Obama and John McCain will stand together at Ground Zero to honor the 2,974 Americans who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

1 / 14

Unity - In an unusual gesture of political solidarity, Barack Obama and John McCain will stand together at Ground Zero to honor the 2,974 Americans who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Defining Event - As Bush winds down his presidency, the attacks of 9/11 and the aftermath stand as the defining events of his time in office. He will mark the day by going to the Pentagon for the unveiling of a Sept. 11 memorial.

2 / 14

Defining Event - As Bush winds down his presidency, the attacks of 9/11 and the aftermath stand as the defining events of his time in office. He will mark the day by going to the Pentagon for the unveiling of a Sept. 11 memorial.

In Rememberance - The National September 11 Memorial and Museum foundation launches a national curriculum to help teach high school students about the attacks.

3 / 14

In Rememberance - The National September 11 Memorial and Museum foundation launches a national curriculum to help teach high school students about the attacks.

The Attack - On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States reeled in shock and horror after 19 men hijacked four airliners and turned them into guided missiles. The jets slammed into New York's World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania countryside, killing nearly 3,000 people in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil .

4 / 14

The Attack - On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States reeled in shock and horror after 19 men hijacked four airliners and turned them into guided missiles. The jets slammed into New York's World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania countryside, killing nearly 3,000 people in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil .

The Pentagon - The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and a small memorial was built on the site.

5 / 14

The Pentagon - The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and a small memorial was built on the site.

ADVERTISEMENT
World Trade Center - Rebuilding the World Trade Center site has proved more difficult, with controversy over possible designs as well as the pace of construction. The selection of the Freedom Tower for the site has drawn extensive criticism, forcing the abandonment of some parts of the project.

6 / 14

World Trade Center - Rebuilding the World Trade Center site has proved more difficult, with controversy over possible designs as well as the pace of construction. The selection of the Freedom Tower for the site has drawn extensive criticism, forcing the abandonment of some parts of the project.

Illnesses - The thousands of tons of toxic debris resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers consisted of more than 2,500 contaminants, including known cancer-causing agents. Many rescue and recovery workers have reported suffering from a series of debilitating illnesses linked to their exposure to the debris.

7 / 14

Illnesses - The thousands of tons of toxic debris resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers consisted of more than 2,500 contaminants, including known cancer-causing agents. Many rescue and recovery workers have reported suffering from a series of debilitating illnesses linked to their exposure to the debris.

Conspiracy Theories - Various conspiracy theories have emerged after the attacks, suggesting that individuals inside the United States knew the attacks were coming and deliberately chose not to prevent them, or that individuals outside of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda planned, carried out or assisted in the attacks.

8 / 14

Conspiracy Theories - Various conspiracy theories have emerged after the attacks, suggesting that individuals inside the United States knew the attacks were coming and deliberately chose not to prevent them, or that individuals outside of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda planned, carried out or assisted in the attacks.

Troops to Afghanistan - Bush sent U.S. troops into Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001 to strike al-Qaeda training camps and remove the Taliban rulers who harbored bin Laden. The Taliban fell quickly. Bin Laden slipped away.

9 / 14

Troops to Afghanistan - Bush sent U.S. troops into Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001 to strike al-Qaeda training camps and remove the Taliban rulers who harbored bin Laden. The Taliban fell quickly. Bin Laden slipped away.

Attackers Captured - Many key lieutenants, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, were captured. Others were killed.

10 / 14

Attackers Captured - Many key lieutenants, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, were captured. Others were killed.

ADVERTISEMENT
The Iraq War - On March 19, 2003, with solid support from Congress, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein. The decision was justified largely on grounds — later proved false — that Saddam was building weapons of mass destruction that, Bush said, "could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."

11 / 14

The Iraq War - On March 19, 2003, with solid support from Congress, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein. The decision was justified largely on grounds — later proved false — that Saddam was building weapons of mass destruction that, Bush said, "could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."

A Connection? - Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney repeatedly sought to link Saddam to the Sept. 11 attacks. But the independent Sept. 11 Commission concluded there was no such relationship. Bush eventually stopped making that connection, but still cast Saddam as a terrorist threat.

12 / 14

A Connection? - Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney repeatedly sought to link Saddam to the Sept. 11 attacks. But the independent Sept. 11 Commission concluded there was no such relationship. Bush eventually stopped making that connection, but still cast Saddam as a terrorist threat.

New Threats? - Al-Qaeda's masterminds remain beyond U.S. reach, stirring violence and plotting new attacks on the West, officials and analysts say. U.S. intelligence worries that al-Qaeda is using Pakistani safe havens to prepare for attacks on the West.

13 / 14

New Threats? - Al-Qaeda's masterminds remain beyond U.S. reach, stirring violence and plotting new attacks on the West, officials and analysts say. U.S. intelligence worries that al-Qaeda is using Pakistani safe havens to prepare for attacks on the West.

No Attack Since - So far, the United States has not suffered another terrorist attack, though some allies have. Bush says the United States and its allies have thwarted some major plots.

14 / 14

No Attack Since - So far, the United States has not suffered another terrorist attack, though some allies have. Bush says the United States and its allies have thwarted some major plots.