Initial Targets and Intentions
On August 19, 2001, Mohammed Atta, located in the U.S., and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, in Berlin, discussed potential targets for their upcoming attack. This conversation was later revealed through bin al-Shibh’s interrogations at Guantanamo Bay and Donald Rumsfeld’s memoir, Known and Unknown. According to Rumsfeld, their conversation was coded. ‘Architecture’ referred to the World Trade Center, ‘arts’ to the Pentagon, ‘law’ to the U.S. Capitol, and ‘politics’ to the White House.
Since 1999, al-Qaeda’s central command aimed for the attackers to target a political, a military, and a financial site. Initially, these targets were the White House, the Pentagon, and the World Trade Center. Osama bin Laden desired an attack on the U.S. Capitol, viewing Congress as a supporter of Israel. Yet, the ultimate decision rested with Atta, considering on-ground conditions.
Scouting and Final Decisions
With four pilots, Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi planned to strike all four targets simultaneously. They visited the World Trade Center and Washington D.C., even touring the Pentagon. Atta judged the White House as a difficult target due to its size and location between larger buildings.
According to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s account and FBI agents’ reconstruction, Atta and al-Shehhi eventually decided to attack the World Trade Center together, with near-simultaneous hits on both towers. The Washington targets would follow shortly after. Hani Hanjour, departing from Dulles International Airport, would target the Pentagon, while Ziad Jarrah, leaving Newark, aimed for the Capitol dome.
Challenges and Strategic Choices
Atta may not have clearly communicated his plans to al-Qaeda, though bin al-Shibh urged him to keep the White House as a target. Atta conceded but noted its complexity based on his reconnaissance.
Attack Outcomes and Hypotheticals
The impact of hitting both Trade Center towers was integral to their collapse. Engineers believe each tower might have withstood an isolated hit. The nearby 7 World Trade Center also collapsed due to the heat and debris. If al-Qaeda’s original plan had succeeded, the Trade Center might have survived.
If the plan included the White House, and it was struck, the consequences would have been profound. The destruction of this American symbol, coupled with possible high-profile casualties, could have drastically altered global dynamics.
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