Terror Attacks: Security Breach, Catastrophic Effects, and Post-Attack Changes

During an attack, there is always an issue of security being breached. In most cases, it can be even an inside job. It is usually a well planned and organized job which is conducted by terrorists. Mostly it has catastrophic effects. In most cases, there are a lot of deaths registered, and even some times, loss of property. The aftermath of the attack is characterized by a lot of change and the lifestyle of most people changes, and they start doing things very differently. Countries in recent years have experienced such attacks most by terrorists. America is not any different, and at the beginning of the 21st century, there was such an attack on their airport. It changed the lives of most people and changed; they changed their tactical security approach. Security detail manning the airport was hired by the airport management itself, and each airport had a different security system. Buildings in each airport were basic and did not have security features. Measures were therefore undertaken so as to ensure that such an occurrence is not experienced any time after that.

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Moreover, the employees who worked in airports were very incompetent and did not have any knowledge of how to handle security issues around the airport. There was a problem with identifying a passenger and who is not. In most cases, there was a lot of mismanagement, and it was easy to give a worker a bribe so as to pass through. The pilots were also not given enough security and could be easily attacked in the aircraft. Some of the luggage was not being checked and that which was being checked not being done properly. The country was also least expecting such an attack at the time and therefore was hard hit by the attack. It had not set up mechanics to deal with the attacks also. It did not allow its pilots to be licensed gun holders and thus were very easy to attack as they were not in a position to defend themselves. In one particular instance it the pilot was attacked by the terrorist using a fire extinguisher. The cockpit in the aircraft was not designed to protect the pilot in any way, making him vulnerable in the case of an attack and was also not restricted, and many people had access to it.

Besides, it was expected, and it affected the country so much. The tourism sector was the first to feel the heat with a great decline in tourists as they feared for their lives. The airlines were also affected as there was a decline in tourists. The government decided to take specific measures so as to ensure the economy of the country was still stable, and there was no attack which could ever happen again. Security became of national importance, and major points such as bus stations, airports, learning institutions, seaports were well guarded. After just two months, the US Congress passed a law to federalize the airport security, handing it to the Transport Security Administration. During the attack, box-cutters had been used and were even legal to the airlines under their own rules and the screening that day, which was computerized was wanting as a few hijackers by based through it. They were replaced by new types of equipment which were better. The law also included strict guidelines on passengers and better luggage screening. It also ensured that only passengers with tickets could pass through the security detail and new advanced methods were deployed to scan for weapons and other dangerous weapons.

However, there was an introduction of mini-sized vans which detected machines in airports, and currently, there are underground systems which detect anything. It was a very expensive system though very effective in being able to neutralize the chances of an attack as you will be able to know there is a potential threat and therefore being able to deal with it. It is very good at neutralizing the chances of any other attack and acting to stop it in the future. They also gave workers better methods of dealing with any threat by teaching them ways to deal with the threat.

Secondly, airplanes were transformed to cater to security. They were now customized with major overhauls such as some airlines dropping cabin curtains and fortifying their cockpits. Pilots were allowed to apply for a federal flight deck officer, giving them the ability to carry a loaded gun, thus playing the role of a federal officer. Pilots remain locked up in their cockpits with expectations of a few people like flight attendants all through the flight. There was also a step to beef up the workforce by increasing even the number of guards. They also hired better airport screeners who were more competent but had been used as scapegoats during the aftermath of the attack.

However, there was an added security cost, which needed to be addressed. "Sept. 11 fee" was tasked if the mandate to collect passenger's tickets, while TSA is collecting registering an increase in revenue. Airlines were also required to remit a portion of their luggage screening cash. The government chipped in and also deployed measures to help neutralize such an event in the future. They trained soldiers so as to make them cater to the problems that might occur in the future.

Thirdly, the government had not enacted so many laws prior to the attack. When it happened, they passed so many pieces of legislation. They were in excess of 130 which were brought by the 107th Congress a year after the attack with about 48 bills being approved or being signed into law. They were security based ranging from border security to funding of education to soldiers. The Immigration and State Department were required to share data with one another. Agencies were created to cater for security measures such as the Department of Homeland Security. The cost of running security intelligence rose tremendously. Congress also came up with a Patriot act which was meant to invade the privacy of the citizens eliminating the judicial oversight which they had been playing over the years. They could now enforce the law and domestically gaining security agency. There was also a National Security Agency which played a leading role in conducting secret operations to check email communications and eavesdrop calls between the United States and other people in the overseas without having any warrant.

In addition, the attorney general deployed policies to create a program which required all men aged between 16 to 64 of designated foreign nations yet resided in the country to register themselves. They were supposed to have their identity verified, also be fingerprinted, interviewed, and photographed. It was meant to track both the departures and even arrivals at the airport and mark those who were in the country as safe to society. There was the processing of those who were arriving as part of security measures. Those who were found to have violated their visas were deported.

In addition, buildings such as skyscrapers were built in a basic way, and they did not have any decent security features. After, the attack, there was a suggestion that was realized by the International Code Council, which showed how security could be beefed up using Architecture designs so as to withstand any possible attack. They were supposed to be long so as to ensure easy eviction of occupants. More stairways for buildings more than 42 stories were also advised. Elevators were installed and well maintained so that in case of a similar situation to be used. Walls were advanced, making them fire resistant and impact resistant for elevator shafts. The government had not been so serious with foreigners before. When the attack changed, everything changed. They started deportations of illegal residents who were in the country. They sought to protect their citizens at all cost. The rate of deportation rose tremendously by about 104%.

Eventually, all nonemergency which served civilians were grounded. It led thousands of passengers being grounded. It was meant to minimize casualties. However, air traffic control was able to handle the situation well. They ensured that a lot of aircraft with very many passengers were able to land safely without any incidents. It was a security measure that was put in place just after the attack, and it was meant to deal with the current issues. It was feared that more people could have been put in danger as they did not know the extent of the attack or even what the terrorists were planning. It was seen as an international attack as the aircraft could have attack any particular part; thus, it was very dangerous.

Finally, as clearly defined above the government has played a leading role in ensuring that the country experiences relative peace by ensuring that the security of its borders is emphasized. There is a lot still which needs to be done, but also a lot has been achieved and should be appreciated. There is a lot which has been done as clearly elaborated. More advanced security is clearly being used, and under stable, it was a key turning point in the world. As clearly defined airports are very important in determining the fate of country security. If the security of a country is compromised, it affects the country's economy and thus making it suffer economically. Tourists and investors become afraid of being in the country and making it poor. If the country had not dealt with those issues and coming up with policies to avert a similar attack, then it could have never been able to deal with the security challenges that they were there making it hard to survive from that calamity. A country can have challenges which affect the country, and in case a country is able to experience peace, it can grow very well economically. It can be very good for economic prosperity as investors can easily work and generate a lot of income.

Works cited by;

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Banta-Green, Caleb J., et al. "Washington's 911 good samaritan drug overdose law-initial evaluation results." Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington(2011).

Birkland, Thomas A. ""The World Changed Today": AgendaSetting and Policy Change in the Wake of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks." Review of Policy Research 21.2 (2004): 179-200.

Flynn, Stephen, and Stephen E. Flynn. America the vulnerable: How our government is failing to protect us from terrorism. Harper Collins, 2004.

Kazda, Antonin, and Robert E. Caves, eds. Airport design and operation. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2010.

Peterson, Barbara. "How airport security has changed since 9/11." Conde Nast Traveler 10 (2016).