The Pentagon Attack: An Intentional Strategy for Hidden Gains

On September 11, 2001, the 9/11 hijackers targeted the economic, political, and military power centers of the United States. The primary targets were the World Trade Center, the White House, and the Pentagon. While the attacks on the World Trade Center and the White House succeeded, the attempt on the Pentagon failed due to the heroic actions of the passengers on flight 93.

Immediate and Long-Term Impacts

The cost of the attacks was immense. Over 3,000 people lost their lives, thousands were injured, and over $100 billion USD was damaged. The immediate impacts were devastating, but the long-term ramifications cannot be ignored. The US's response to the 9/11 attacks led to significant loss of life around the world, with many of those killed being Muslims. This response also changed the global perception of Muslims and increased anti-Muslim sentiment worldwide.

The Hidden Benefits for the Pentagon

The Pentagon emerged as the greatest beneficiary from the attack on that fateful day. The media was reluctant to criticize the military's lack of preparedness, a situation that had been known since 1995 and had received warnings from 12 foreign countries, four FBI offices, and the CIA. Questioning the military's total failure on that day could have been seen as unpatriotic.

Media Censorship and Budget Increases

The renovation project on the attack sector, which was mostly empty, provided a cover for the military. The construction equipment and visible renovation work from outside the building made it appear that the area was undergoing major changes. These measures effectively silenced any criticism directed at the military's lack of preparedness. The Pentagon also used the attack as a pretext to claim they were caught by surprise, paving the way for massive budget increases. Furthermore, news of the massive budget request overshadowed the admission on September 10, 2001, that the Pentagon could not account for $2.3 trillion in expenditures.

Strategic Failure: Targeting the Wrong Sector

The attack on the west side of the Pentagon, which was mostly unoccupied, failed to achieve maximum destruction. The hijackers should have targeted the east side, where the top brass were located, as this area would have caused more significant devastation. Tactically, if the plane had penetrated the roof tangentially to the Pentagon structure, the attack would have resulted in far greater destruction. This suggests that the planners might not have fully anticipated the political and logistical impacts of their actions.

Conclusion

The 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon were an intentionally strategic move with hidden gains for the Pentagon. The media's reluctance to question the military's failures and the subsequent budget increases highlighted the Pentagon's ability to leverage national grief and fear for political and financial gains. While the attacks were catastrophic, the ripple effects on the global stage provided unintended benefits for the military establishment.