Have Americans been attacked by terrorists before???

NewsHour Features:

Terrorist Attack

U.S. Response

September 11 background

Attack Investigation

Outside Links:
Extra is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.

The FBI

The Federal Aviation Administration

U.S. State Department Counterterrorism Office

For Teachers:
Full coverage of Special Educational Resources for the Attacks

Strikes Against the Taliban
October 12, 2001

It's been over a month since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the United States continues to fight the war against terrorism both abroad and on its own soil.

Bombing raids

The United States and Britain have launched daily bombings on Afghanistan to weaken the Taliban's military and to destroy terrorist training camps used by Osama bin Laden and others.

Early airstrikes have hit anti-aircraft weapons, command centers, airfields and other fixed targets. Now the strikes are aimed at Taliban troops, trucks and other moving targets, military officials say.

Bombing Taliban troops is meant not only to kill the militia's fighters but also to spread fear, confusion and desertion in the Taliban's ranks. Military planners hope that will weaken the
Taliban enough for it to either collapse on its own, or fall to the various rebel forces.

Without shelter from the Taliban, military officials say, bin Laden and his network will be less of a threat and much easier to track down.

According to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the Taliban's military has been weakened, though they retain some jet fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters.

President Bush said in a press conference on Thursday evening much has been accomplished in the war against terrorism during one month since the attacks, but that much more work was still left to be done.

Bombing was limited Friday since it is a Muslim holy day (like Saturday or Sunday for Jewish or Christian people) but might continue in the future.

The United States did not fly its usual daily mission to drop humanitarian food packages over Afghanistan Thursday but were due to continue Friday.

Anthrax reports

Early Friday, officials announced an employee working for NBC News in New York City tested positive for anthrax, a germ commonly found in the soil in other countries and rarely fatal to humans.

The woman is taking antibiotic drugs, and doctors say she should be fine.

It was the fourth report of anthrax in the United States in the past few weeks, but there is no evidence yet linking the NYC case to anthrax found in Florida.

President Bush says the latest case of anthrax is worrisome -- but he vows America won't be "held hostage" by fear.

Anthrax, whether the inhaled or skin variety, is caused by anthrax bacteria spores that mainly infect farm animals. The disease was more common during the early 20th century, when the bacteria sometimes entered the United States on imported animal hides. One common source of the disease was shaving brushes made from infected horse hair.

Left untreated, around 5 percent of cases turn into a dangerous bloodstream infection, which is almost always fatal. However, if it is detected early, treatment with antibiotic drugs is almost always successful. Health officials around the country are working to identify anthrax early and supply any necessary treatments as soon as possible.

For more on this topic, the Online NewsHour is following stories on the investigation and the U.S. reaction.

Please share your thoughts and feelings in our online community forum.