NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a pure what-if scenario. Suppose the 9/11/2001 terror attacks occured in London/Beijing/Moscow/Berlin/Paris instead. What would be different about the world today?

Most people would have forgotten it by now? Think of the Madrid bombings.

The Madrid bombings didn't kill three thousand people and shut down a big chunk of a major city for over a month.

Most people would have forgotten it by now? Think of the Madrid bombings.

Definitely. But why did they not?

The US would have continued in it's sleepy lazy ignorant view of the universe.

If said country wanted military action against another, the US probably would have sent troops.

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Then again. Many probably would have said "That's horrible" and then go back to eating dinner.

This is a pure what-if scenario. Suppose the 9/11/2001 terror attacks occured in London/Beijing/Moscow/Berlin/Paris instead. What would be different about the world today?

There'd either be holes in the ground, or new buildings going up in London/Beijing/Moscow/Berlin/Paris instead. And the Americans would still be talking about Monica Lewinsky's sperm-stained dress.

There'd either be holes in the ground, or new buildings going up in London/Beijing/Moscow/Berlin/Paris instead. And the Americans would still be talking about Monica Lewinsky's sperm-stained dress.

Hey now. At least clarify the american comment with republicans and or conservatives! ;)

It's a little hard to fathom that type of impact somewhere else. Like someone said, aside from the three thousand people who died that day, one of the major financial districts in the entire world was hit. As bad off as our dollar is, so much of the world's economy is run through Wall Street.

Financial impact aside, I can't really seeing anyone being as viable of a target worldwide to even consider such a monumental impact.

But regardless of what did happen, I'd still say that we'd be at war with Iraq. Bush was just itching for that. 9/11 gave him a quasi-reason (well not at all, but in his mind it did.) And I think if 9/11 didn't happen, Bush wouldn't have won re-election this year. We would have invaded Iraq and people in his own country, even the moral idiots who think that gay marriage and keeping your rights to own M-16's is more important than world peace, even those people would have seen him for the Hitler that he is.

Well, the most obvious difference is we wouldn't have attacked Afghanistan and Iraq.

Followed by the second most obvious difference, Bush would have lost re-election...to whom though, I'm not sure. The terrorist thing clouded the entire Democrat Primaries. Dean made a name for himself being anti-war, Kerry made a name for himself being a war veteran...everything would have been different.

One thing is certain, George Bush would not have been re-elected.

We wouldn't be in a war now.

George W. Bush would not have won the election.

Well, the most obvious difference is we wouldn't have attacked Afghanistan and Iraq.

Followed by the second most obvious difference, Bush would have lost re-election...to whom though, I'm not sure. The terrorist thing clouded the entire Democrat Primaries. Dean made a name for himself being anti-war, Kerry made a name for himself being a war veteran...everything would have been different.

Eh, maybe not afghanistan. I think he still would've invaded Iraq.

The Response would vary depending on which of the cities you mentioned was hit.

1) London/Paris/Berlin - Probably some large anti Muslim riots in the streets. A NATO agreement on Intelligence and Counter-terrorism activities. Diplomatic and economic pressure on the Taliban. Up to and possibly including air and Special Forces support to the Northern Alliance. America vows to help in any way it can. Arguments flare over who should be in charge of any military actions Americans or the country hit.

2) Moscow- Chechnya gets slammed by another Russian assault which cares even less about civilian casualties. Putin cracks down and boost power of secret police in a "homeland defense" measure. Soviet air force and Special Forces units launch raids on known targets in Afghanistan and across Central Asia.

3) Beijing- This one is the hardest to call. They might shrug their shoulders and call it fate or they might nuke Mecca or anything in between. China is in a bit of a bind because they are so dependant on foreign oil. Also they have a very limited ability to project military force, not to mention one of their major allies is Pakistan. The most likely scenario is they would use bribes and economic coercion to try and catch those responsible.

I think the invasion of Iraq would have happened anyway. You think the plans to invade Iraq were NOT drawn up prior to 9/11? As for the other results, maybe Afganhistan would have been invaded, also I think Bush would have been re-elected since his spin masters would have used such a huge event to their advantage.

I think the invasion of Iraq would have happened anyway. You think the plans to invade Iraq were NOT drawn up prior to 9/11? As for the other results, maybe Afganhistan would have been invaded, also I think Bush would have been re-elected since his spin masters would have used such a huge event to their advantage.


you don't think we keep plans just in case we feel the need to go with Syria, Iran, N. Korea, China, Libya, probably even some European Countries.


I bet we hace attack strategies depending on how we want to commit, what assets we have and etc. And they get updated on a constant basis. Thats what the Pentagon does. And it is not just Dubya telling he wants those plans, I guarentee the Iraqi plan is as old as Gulf War I and has been updated with the changing structure of the American Military.

It's Only common sense.

What do you think Generals do during peace time

They plan, and Train.

the original question is very interesting, but probably and hopefully we'll never know.

This is a pure what-if scenario. Suppose the 9/11/2001 terror attacks occured in London/Beijing/Moscow/Berlin/Paris instead. What would be different about the world today?

If the 9/11 attacks were to have hit another country...

1. The $(USD) would be a lot stronger
2. President Bush would have lost re-election.
3. The EU would be met with much US support/involvement
4. There would be no military action in Afghanistan, nor Iraq. (BTW, that'd be a bad thing)
5. There would be a lot less America bashing, but the US would not have as much global involvement. We'd be reverting back to our pre-Dec 7th style of globalization.

George W. Bush would not have won the election.

Only those who think having a democracy is a defeat, lost.

The US would have continued in it's sleepy lazy ignorant view of the universe.

If said country wanted military action against another, the US probably would have sent troops.

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Then again. Many probably would have said "That's horrible" and then go back to eating dinner.

The US is still ignorant. I mean, we re-elected the single worst president in the history of the US. I'd say we were all just high last month, but pot's still illegal here. If we don't snap out of it, the idiot will get another four years... and he's already having 8!
Spare the world... burn the South.

The US is still ignorant. I mean, we re-elected the single worst president in the history of the US. I'd say we were all just high last month, but pot's still illegal here. If we don't snap out of it, the idiot will get another four years... and he's already having 8!
Spare the world... burn the South.

The WORST? Go back to Government class. He hasn't been as bad as some other Presidents. One who does not know his history, can never grow.

Hey now. At least clarify the american comment with republicans and or conservatives! ;)

No you partisan bastard, he said American and he means it. It is for reasons such as this that our nation is so divided. Too many people forget that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, they are Americans...not republicans or democrats, not right or left, not red or blue...Americans.

The US is still ignorant. I mean, we re-elected the single worst president in the history of the US. I'd say we were all just high last month, but pot's still illegal here. If we don't snap out of it, the idiot will get another four years... and he's already having 8!
Spare the world... burn the South.

Single-worst president? Congradulations, your ignorant and uninformed viewpoint no longer matters.

Pot is still illegal, as it should be.

He won't get another 4 years. You learn that when you go to 5th grade.

Burn the South? Get over yourself and get an education.

No you partisan bastard, he said American and he means it. It is for reasons such as this that our nation is so divided. Too many people forget that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, they are Americans...not republicans or democrats, not right or left, not red or blue...Americans.

Finally, someone gets it.

The US is still ignorant. I mean, we re-elected the single worst president in the history of the US. I'd say we were all just high last month, but pot's still illegal here. If we don't snap out of it, the idiot will get another four years... and he's already having 8!
Spare the world... burn the South.

grow up, just because your choice lost doesn't mean that the opponent is satan himself. history has judged the presidents not in their own time but many many years after their time. we won't know just how good or bad of a president Bush is until at least a decade from now. keep in mind EVERY single little thing anyone does as president is subject to review and criticism by political scholars for centuries. don't think that running an entire powerful country is easy.

Single-worst president? Congradulations, your ignorant and uninformed viewpoint no longer matters.

Pot is still illegal, as it should be.

He won't get another 4 years. You learn that when you go to 5th grade.

Burn the South? Get over yourself and get an education.

Here Here!

We'd have a new president.

Honestly, without the horribly mismanaged War on Terror and Bush's other war, he's got squat.

This is a pure what-if scenario. Suppose the 9/11/2001 terror attacks occured in London/Beijing/Moscow/Berlin/Paris instead. What would be different about the world today?that country would call for help. US would assist with manpower, money and whatever that country needed. US would support that country in it's fight against Terrorism. In other words, the US would do for that country what Fance/Germany/Russia/Canada hasn't done for the US after 9/11.

Afghanistan/Iraq would still be attacked, and Bush, without a war to distract him, would concentrate on the economy, making it better

Hey, we are fantasizing... right?

Eh, maybe not afghanistan. I think he still would've invaded Iraq.
No way. The American people would not have supported it. Even with the terrorist attacks, American people were split nearly down the middle.

Bush may be strong-willed, but he isn't an idiot.

We would have put pressure on Iraq, nothing more.

Pot is still illegal, as it should be.
Define illegal.

Medical marijuana ballots are passing in states carried heavily by Bush.

A full legalization ballot in Alaska was defeated by a smaller margin than Kerry's loss...think about the implications of that.

Pot legalization is coming and no one can stop it.

Define illegal.

Medical marijuana ballots are passing in states carried heavily by Bush.

A full legalization ballot in Alaska was defeated by a smaller margin than Kerry's loss...think about the implications of that.

Pot legalization is coming and no one can stop it.

Illegal: Any action or statement which violates any charter, chapter, ordinance, rule, law or agreed set of policies within a business, township, mass, state, or group of states. Illegal = Against the law.

Why are you asking for a definition? No matter what a public opinion is, illegality doesn't change. Edit: No matter what YOU think, pot is illegal.

There are no implications. The legalization of medicinal marijuana has no bearing on the legalization you are speaking of. Furthermore, is the illegality of pot a State or Federal crime? The U.S. would lose a lot of money if they didn't need to crack down on int'l drug trades. It doesn't matter if it was legalized or not in a state. Unless you lived there, declared residence there, and had the pot fully removed from your system before entering any other state, then it does not apply to you.

It will eventually be legalized yes, but not within the next 15 years. Trust me on that one.

Secondly, stick with the thread topic.

I think the invasion of Iraq would have happened anyway. You think the plans to invade Iraq were NOT drawn up prior to 9/11? As for the other results, maybe Afganhistan would have been invaded, also I think Bush would have been re-elected since his spin masters would have used such a huge event to their advantage.
You do realize that basic plans are kept relatively updated for invading pretty much every country in the world right? Especially high profile countries like Iraq, Russia, China, Saudi, possibly France as well.

You do realize that basic plans are kept relatively updated for invading pretty much every country in the world right? Especially high profile countries like Iraq, Russia, China, Saudi, possibly France as well.and those countries (as well as others) have the same plans as well.

I know, but Ammazia seems surprised by it.