National Security Council. September 11 th Crisis. Written By: Krutarth Amin and Cameron Krause

National Security Council September 11 th Crisis Written By: Krutarth Amin and Cameron Krause

Dear Delegates, This committee takes place during the days directly after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Tensions are high as the world waits for a federal response to the terrible actions of the hijackers; as members of the National Security Council, it is your duty to respond quickly and appropriately while keeping in mind the battles to be fought both overseas and within the United States. Delegates will need to assess the recent turn of events as well as the foreign and domestic matters that preceded the attacks that could potentially pertain to the matter at hand. Each delegate will receive portfolio powers upon arriving at committee corresponding to the person that they are representing in committee, and will be urged to act in a manner becoming of their representative. Additional research along with the brief is necessary to successfully play the role of your representative. Delegates will also be submitting resolutions to events through a system of directives; these can be written by a group of delegates or one delegate acting alone, and can be submitted once the necessary signatures are gathered. Unlike a resolution paper, directives do not have a specific format, so long as delegates clearly state what they want done. When writing directives, keep in mind that you are not allowed to overstep the power of your position (ex. the Secretary of Agriculture cannot decide to launch a nuclear missile). You can have members of your department conduct research, utilize the personnel under your command, and, as a group, make militaristic maneuvers and ask the Senate for diplomatic actions. Once you have given a directive to your chair, it will be processed and a response will be sent back to you shortly for you to either keep to yourself or publicize for the benefit of the council. Page 2

National Security Council As described by the White House, The National Security Council (NSC) is the President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. Since its inception under President Truman, the Council's function has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the President's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies. The NSC is chaired by the President. Its regular attendees (both statutory and nonstatutory) are the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the statutory military advisor to the Council, and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor. The Chief of Staff to the President, Counsel to the President, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy are invited to attend any NSC meeting. The Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget are invited to attend meetings pertaining to their responsibilities. The heads of other executive departments and agencies, as well as other senior officials, are invited to attend meetings of the NSC when appropriate. The National Security Council was established by the National Security Act of 1947 (PL 235-61 Stat. 496; U.S.C. 402), amended by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 579; 50 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). Later in 1949, as part of the Reorganization Plan, the Council was placed in the Executive Office of the President. Page 3

Members of the National Security Council President George Walker Bush - Chair The forty-third President of the United States was elected to his first term in 2000 after defeating Democratic nominee Al Gore in a competitive general election. After attending Yale University and Harvard Business School, President Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard. He also founded Arbusto Energy and was chairman of Spectrum 7 prior to running for governor of Texas. President Bush used his position as governor to launch a campaign for president in 1999. Chief of Staff Andrew Card- Chair White House Chief of Staff Card attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. As a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and and the eleventh Secretary of Transportation, Card is a decorated public servant with both executive and legislative experience. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Card approached President Bush while visiting the Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, and whispered, A second plane has hit the second tower. America is under attack." Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney The forty-sixth Vice President of the United States left Halliburton, an oilfield services company of which he was chief executive officer, to join the Republican Presidential ticket as, then, Governor Bush s running mate. Vice President Cheney served as White House Chief of Staff to President Ford and later as representative of the great state of Wyoming before becoming Secretary of Defense to President George H.W. Bush. While Page 4

the Election of 2000 was undecided, the Vice President took it upon himself to open a privately funded transition office in Washington D.C. to choose candidates to fill the Presidential Cabinet. Among his suggestions was Donald Rumsfeld for the position of Secretary of Defense. Cheney also attempted to replace the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency early in the transition period. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld The twenty-first Secretary of Defense was previously a four-term Congressman from the great state of Illinois, Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Counsellor to the President, United States Permanent Representative to NATO, and White House Chief of Staff. Within three hours of the initial hijacking of American Airlines planes, Secretary Rumsfeld raised offensive readiness to DEFCON 3, a state where the United States Air Force is ready to mobilize in fifteen minutes. Secretary of State Colin Powell A four-star general, Secretary Powell served as National Security Advisor and Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command prior to being appointed Secretary of State. As head of the State Department, Powell s role in addition to advising the President will be critical in organizing foreign allies in order to secure a coalition to fight terror. Secretary of the Treasury Paul O Neill The seventy-second Secretary of Treasury was previously part of the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford administrations. After President Ford lost reelection, O Neill moved to the private sector where he was a prominent figure. He even declined President George H.W. Bush s nomination to become Secretary of Defense, instead recommending Dick Cheney. The Page 5

Secretary will play a key role in ensuring American economic stability in the aftermath of these tragic attacks. Attorney General John Ashcroft Attorney General Ashcroft previously served as Attorney General of Missouri and later the Governor of Missouri. He is noted for his opinion on issues of privacy and civil liberty. Specifically, Ashcroft is in favor of allowing surveillance on private citizens and business for the sake of national security. United States National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice Advisor Rice stepped down as provost of Stanford University to become National Security Advisor to President Bush. During the summer of 2001, Rice met with Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet to discuss the prevention of terrorism. On July 10, 2001, Tenet called an emergency meeting in the White House to brief the NSC on an impending al Qaeda attack. Tenet was then asked to give a presentation to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and Attorney General Ashcroft. No further action was taken. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Henry Hugh Shelton General Shelton served two tours of duty in Vietnam, fought in the Gulf war, and led the Joint Task Force responsible for Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. He was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 1997 by President Clinton. During the morning of September 11, 2001, Shelton was on a plane travelling to a NATO meeting. He returned to Washington immediately after hearing the news. Acting Ambassador to the United Nations James B. Cunningham Page 6

Ambassador Cunningham served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Rome before becoming acting ambassador to the United Nations. He took office on January 20, 2001. Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mitch Daniels Appointed in early 2001, Daniels earned a reputation as a fiscal conservative. As the nation s economy struggled, his emphasis was in reducing spending and minimizing costs. The Office s role is to assist the president in preparing the federal budget and managing the paperwork, financials, and technical support of the other agencies. White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales Before being appointed White House Counsel, Gonzales served as Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. As Counsel, Gonzales duty is to advise the President on legal issues pertaining to his administration. His responsibilities include issues arising from ethical questions, financial disclosures, conflicts of interest, and the President s decision to sign or veto legislation. Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet In 1995, George Tenet was appointed Deputy Director of Central Intelligence by President Clinton. After the abrupt resignation of the Director and the withdrawal of the Anthony Lake s nomination, Tenet was appointed Director in 1997. Tenet sought to reinvigorate the CIA s original mission, to prevent another Pearl Harbor. In 1999, he put forward a plan for combating al-qaeda. The main point of which was experimentation with a small remote-controlled reconnaissance aircraft known as the Predator. Hellfire anti-tank missiles were adapted to be used aboard these drones for use in targeted remote bombings. National Security Advisor Rice determined that these Page 7

drones would be required but until they became fully ready that they would only be used for reconnaissance. Tenet authorized the CIA to deploy the system with weaponscapable aircraft. Director of the National Economic Council Lawrence B. Lindsey President Bush appointed Lawrence Lindsey director of the National Economic Council and assistant to the President on economic policy in 2001. Lindsey suggested to Bush on the campaign trail a $1.35 trillion tax cut plan as an insurance policy against economic downturn. As director of the National Economic Council, Lindsey s duty is to consider economic policy matters separate from domestic policy. The Council ensures and enforces that economic policy decisions are consistent with the President s promised goals. Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert S. Mueller, III Nominated by President George W. Bush, Mueller took office on September 4, 2001, a week before the 9/11 attacks. Previously a U.S. Marine, he fought in Vietnam where he received multiple medals for his gallantry and heroism. Upon returning to the states, Mueller took up litigation and became a member of the Department of Justice and ultimately was chosen to be the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco. With a life dedicated to his country, it is certain that Mueller will hold strong feelings towards the situation at hand. Page 8

September 12, 2001: Emergency Briefing On September 11, 2001, a group of fugitives believed to be members of an Islamic extremist group known as al-qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners with the intent to crash the planes into national landmarks and places of international prominence. Three of the four airliners did in fact reach their intended destinations, with one airliner failing to do so. Regardless, the death toll climbs as we speak and nationwide distress reverberates around the world. American Airlines Flight 77: Scheduled to travel from Dulles to Los Angeles. This was the first flight to reach its destination, being the North Tower located in the World Trade Center in New York City, NY. At 8:45 AM, the plane hit the building near the 80th floor, severing the upper levels of the 110-story building from primary escape routes and instantly killing citizens located near the collision point. Less than two hours later, at 10:30 AM, the North Tower collapsed, raining even more debris upon the rescue workers and victims in the streets below. United Airlines Flight 175: Scheduled to travel from Boston to Los Angeles. Just 18 minutes after Flight 77 crashed into the North Tower, Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. Hitting lower than the first plane, Flight 175 hit the building near the 60th floor. Through a combination of the strain that the initial impact placed on the building as well as the weakened steel structure due to the burning jet fuel, the South Tower collapsed at 10 o clock in the morning, followed by the North Tower half-an-hour later. American Airlines Flight 11: Scheduled to travel from Boston to Los Angeles. After both Flight 77 and Flight 175 collided with the Twin Towers, Flight 11 entered the District of Columbia s airspace and crashed into the western-facing side of the Pentagon at 9:45 AM. While not as heavily populated as the Twin Towers or the region surrounding them, the Pentagon Page 9

sustained massive damage as the remaining jet fuel from the jetliner ignited and created an inferno. United Airlines Flight 93: Scheduled to travel from Newark to San Francisco. Due to a delay in takeoff, passengers aboard Flight 93 learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center and were quickly able to figure out that there plane was another part of the terrorist attack. In a grand act of valor, the passengers attacked the hijackers in the cockpit using a fire extinguisher, boiling water, and any other weapon they could get their hands on. The passengers were successful in the sense that they stopped the flight from reaching its intended destination; Flight 93 crashed in an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing everyone onboard. In New York City, over 3,000 people died in the vicinity of the World Trade Center, including both civilians, paramedics, police, and firefighters. In addition, more than 10,000 people were treated for injuries caused by the attacks, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to severe trauma. At the Pentagon in Washington D.C., 125 military personnel were killed. There were no survivors from any of the planes. All members of the National Security Council have been recalled to Washington, D.C. The Vice President is to be given priority security detail and moved to Camp David in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. The President has returned from his trip to Florida to the security of the White House. Page 10

Notable Points of View Iran President Mohammad Khatami, elected in 1998, called for increased dialogue with the U.S., but many Iranian conservatives opposed changing policy on Israel, nuclear energy, and support for terrorism that the U.S. demanded. Iran is an alleged supporter of al- Qaeda. An article in the Wall Street Journal in May 2001 stated, officials of the Iranian government helped arrange advanced weapons and explosives training for al-qaeda. However, they are deeply resentful of Saddam Hussein s regime after facing disastrous losses in the Iraq-Iran War of 1980. Nevertheless, in 2001 Iran s representatives have shown to be receptive to cooperating the U.S.; however, U.S. negative attitudes towards Iran could change this. Strategically speaking, Iran has the potential of becoming an important military ally in the region, if U.S. officials are willing to pursue a more cooperative relationship. Israel As one of the United States most prominent allies in the Middle East, Israel provides a crucial military position for the U.S. in the region. While the relationship between the U.S. and Israel is strong, it also hurts foreign relations with other Middle Eastern powers that do not recognize Israel as a sovereign nation and vice versa. Afghanistan In 1996, President Burhanuddin Rabbani was overthrown and the Taliban become the unofficial head of government in Afghanistan. Though the group was once supported by the U.S. during the Cold War, its inhumane actions against civilians has seen the government shunned and reprimanded by most of the world. An Islamic jihadist group, Page 11

known as Al-Qaeda, is also located within Afghanistan and was under the protection of the Taliban until 1998; on August 7, 1998, Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a group of attacks on U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, resulting in the death of many U.S. citizens. Due to these events and the leadership of the nation, Afghanistan holds a shaky relationship with the U.S. Saudi Arabia An ally to the U.S. during the Gulf War in 1991, Saudi Arabia is one of the most influential nations in the Middle East. The largest producer of oil in the world and a chief member of OPEC, the nation holds good relations with the U.S.; however, Saudi Arabia is against most U.S. intervention in the Middle East and does not view Israel as a sovereign authority. While Saudi Arabia will support U.S. intervention if it is necessary, it is reluctant to contribute wholeheartedly to a foreign effort. Iraq Iraq became a nation at the end of World War I and a monarchical government was created by the British. In 1979, Saddam Hussein rose to power, overthrowing the monarchy and imposing a secular rule. In 1980, Hussein invaded Iran with support from the United States, and in 1990 he invaded Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War. Since the Gulf War, the world has kept an eye on Iraq in hopes of preventing Hussein from trying to spread his influence. The nation is also accused of possessing weapons of mass destruction and using biological and chemical warfare to achieve its goals. While sanctions have been placed on Iraq, it remains a dangerous nation in the Middle East. United Nations Page 12

As a member of the United Nations as well as holding a position in the Security Council, the United States is heavily involved in the international organization. Due to the number of participating nations in the UN and its global position of respect and power, the United Nations is a necessary partner for gaining global support and aid towards any U.S. action, though the process is a timely one and may not get the necessary job done. OPEC The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is the world s largest power in the field of oil, its member nations controlling 81% of the world s crude oil. Many of these nations are found in the Middle East, such as Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Due to the importance of oil in the world, OPEC holds significant power, and actions taken by the organization can drastically help or hurt the U.S. and the courses of action it takes in the current situation. NATO Comprised of 19 member states in 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in 1949 as both a political and military alliance. While the organization aims to resolve disputes in a peaceful fashion, NATO has the military capacity to create crisismanagement operations under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. This grants NATO immense power should one of its member nations be attacked (known as collective defense), and the organization is able to act more deliberately than other international groups that the U.S. belongs to. American Red Cross The American Red Cross is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the United States, with a goal of helping those who have been affected by a disaster as well as Page 13

educating the nation in fields such as first aid and primary care. Through blood drives, donations, and charity events, the American Red Cross consistently helps people and saves lives when people are in need. While only one example of a humanitarian organization, the size of the American Red Cross makes them nationally accessible and always prepared for when disaster strikes. United States Congress Unlike the President, the United States Congress is directly elected by the people and therefore is more in-tune with the beliefs and ideals of the nation as a whole. It is also stated in the U.S. Constitution that Congress holds the power to declare war and maintain an army and navy; the Senate is the congressional body that is permitted to approve treaties as well, giving this branch of government significant power when it comes to military intervention. The political makeup of Congress was fairly even with 212 Democrats, 221 Republicans, and 2 Independents in the House and a 50-50 split in the Senate. Typically this would make getting things done in Congress nearly impossible due to the lack of congressmen willing to cross the aisle ; but due to the events that have recently transpired on September 11, a general consensus can be found within the Capitol as many representatives want retaliation. Because of this political climate, the overarching discrepancy within Congress is between the Hawks and Doves, those who call for swift military action and those who prefer a calmer, more thought-through plan, respectively. Page 14

Discussion Questions What is the current state of the nation? Collectively, what steps should the nation take in reaction? Who engineered the attack? Was it foreign, domestic, or both? Did American intelligence agencies know of an impending attack? If so, why did they not make the proper preparations? Is the best solution to this problem to act quickly and decisively or to spend the time to create a more complex plan? Have foreign governments acted in cooperation with al-qaeda? What role do foreign figures play in aiding the United States in this moment of peril? Domestic figures? What measures should be put in place to prevent this crisis from happening again? How will the recent events affect currently undergoing foreign operations and affairs? How will the council restore peace and organization to a traumatized nation? What steps must be taken to protect the American economy? Will surveillance play a role in the decisions of the council? To what extent? What is the United States of America willing to do to find those culpable and bring them to justice? Page 15

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