On September 11, 2011, the United States was attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists where over 3000 people lost their lives and many more reported serious injuries. The attack involved four passenger planes. Led by Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda terrorists attacked the four planes and used them as targeting missiles to bomb several areas. Among the four, 2 landed on the World Trade Center causing immense destruction on the Twin Tower. The third plane landed on the Pentagon and the fourth on a field in Pennsylvania. All passengers on board the planes lost their lives including 19 terrorists. This attack forced then US President George Bush to launch a manhunt against terrorists who greatly threatened the security of America and its citizens. However, several arguments have been put forward regarding the possibility of preventing the attack. A written report to the CIA regarding the attack and the terrorists involved is said to have been suspended. It is said that this report did not reach intelligence agencies such as the FBI, which could have initiated investigations that probably could have led to the arrest of the terrorists and thus prevented the attack. This was facilitated by the CIA's involvement in illegal operations in the country. President Trump also believes that the attack could have been avoided if there had been strict immigration rules. However, the CIA director stated that he had done everything in his power to protect the nation and prevent such attacks, but the September 11 attack could not be avoided. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay On September 11, 2011, the United States woke up to witness the desperate deaths of several US citizens. It happened when four American planes were hijacked by 19 Al-Qaeda militants who carried out attacks in different parts of the United States. Two of the planes landed on the World Trade Center, immensely destroying the Twin Towers, the third plane flew towards the Pentagon while the fourth landed on a field in Pennsylvania. The terrorist attack resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people (Huddy, Khatib&Capelos, 2002). The attack brought about several changes and initiatives that would help combat terrorist attacks. This incidence was also used to define the government of the then US president George W. Bush (Carafano, 2007). However, many believe that this attack could have been prevented, while others believe that it is impossible to prevent such an attack. This essay will explain how the 9/11 attack could or could not have been prevented and the reasons behind it. After the three planes crashed on their targets and the fourth failed to reach the target, President George Bush, who was in Florida at the time made his return to the White House. After his return, he addressed the people of the United States and the world at large, declaring that although terrorists attack the greatest buildings, attacks can never shake the foundations of America. “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our buildings, but they cannot touch the foundations of America.” (Carafano, 2007). The president also referred to a military plan in which he said there will be no distinction between the terrorists involved in the attack and those who harbored them, declaring that all terrorists will face the wrath of the capable U.S. military . The operational power of the Taliban terrorists was brought to its knees within two months of the attack (Huddy,Khatib & Capelos, 2002). This fight against terrorists led to the killing of the architect of the attack, Bin Laden, during the regime of President Barrack Obama in 2011 (Carafano, 2007). However, one question continues to arise: Can the 9/11 terrorist attack be prevented? A former FBI agent known as Mark Rossini believes he could have prevented the attack if he had carefully considered a memo informing the FBI about the possibility of the attack. Special agent Rossini and his partner Doug Miller were tasked with following Osama Bin Laden and his moves. After carrying out their assignment, they drafted a memo explaining to their superiors what they had gleaned from their several months of spy work. The note contained information about the possibility of such an attack. There was also information that Khalid Al-Midhar, suspected of being an Al Qaeda terrorist, was traveling to the Middle East and returning to the United States after obtaining a US visa. The alleged terrorist also helped fly Airline Flight 77 to the Pentagon. Unfortunately, the draft note never reached the FBI because, according to Miller, a CIA agent told them to wait (Zegart, 2009) . Rossini and Miller were also strictly instructed not to share the information they possessed with anyone, including their bosses. After obeying their orders, there was a breakdown in communication between the two agencies involved, termed an intelligence failure. This rupture triggered the attack that led to the loss of lives of nearly 3,000 people on the day of the terrorist attack. If the note had reached the bosses, investigations could have been launched which, hopefully, would have led to the capture of the terrorists, thus saving the lives of the people who died on the day of the attack (Zegart, 2009). The information contained in the memo was critical to the nation's security. Since the two agencies involved are responsible for gathering intelligence and protecting the nation, such information should not have been taken for granted. Even the orders directing the two officers to resist should not have been given as at that time the United States desperately needed to stop the dangerous Al Qaeda terrorists. There was no need to hide such sensitive information. If action could have been taken on the information gathered, then perhaps the attack could have been prevented (Zegart, 2009). Another reason the CIA prevented the memo from reaching the FBI was because the agency was complicit with Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency trying to recruit Khalid and Azmin, both citizens of Saudi Arabia (Zegart, 2009 ). The two were residents of Lemon Grove and Claremont in 2000 and were also on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. This simply means that the CIA was carrying out illegal operations on US soil. At such a time, the agency has never been competent and its leaders have never been enthusiastic about carrying out the tasks entrusted to them. If the agency had remained faithful to the operations it was supposed to carry out, the terrorists would not have been able to remain in the United States, which could have prevented the attack. Furthermore, President Donald Trump argues that if tough immigration policies had emerged, the attack could have been prevented (Worland, 2015). Lately, the president has been tough on people coming in and out of the United States, especially non-Americans. In his statement, he states that “I am extremely hard on people who come to this country.” (World, 2015). Under Trump's reign, foreigners have come under severe scrutiny.