Background of the Study

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The September 11 attacks were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al- Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 al- Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others working in the buildings. Both buildings collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There were no survivors from any of the flights. 1 The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and the Pentagon Memorial was built adjacent to the building. The rebuilding process has started on the World Trade Center site. In 2006, a new office tower was completed on the site of 7 World Trade Center. The new 1 World Trade Center is currently under construction at the site and, at 1,776 ft 541 m upon completion in 2013, it will become the tallest building in North America. Three more towers were 1 www.qub.ac.ukschoolsSchoolofEnglish...saidyeat.htm . Accessed on October 05 2010 originally expected to be built between 2007 and 2012 on the site. Ground was broken for the Flight 93 National Memorial on November 8, 2009, and the first phase of construction is expected to be ready for the 10th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2011. 2 The Reactions to the September 11 attacks included condemnation from world leaders, other political and religious representatives and the international media, as well as numerous memorials and services all over the world. The attacks were denounced by the governments of countries traditionally considered hostile to the United States, such as Cuba, Iran, Libya and North Korea. However in some cases celebrations of the attacks were also reported, and some groups and individuals accused the United States in effect of bringing the attacks on itself. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks support for the United States right to defend itself was expressed across the world, and by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1368. Many countries introduced anti terrorism legislation and froze the bank accounts of businesses and individuals. They suspected of having connections with al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden, the presumed perpetrators of the attacks. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, Bush administration declared a war on terrorism, with the stated goals of bringing Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to justice and preventing the emergence of other terrorist networks. These goals would be accomplished by means including economic and military sanctions against states perceived as harboring terrorists and increasing 2 David, Halberstam. New York September 11 by Magnum Photographers. New York: Power House Books. 2001, p.83 global surveillance and intelligence sharing. Immediately after the September 11 attacks US officials speculated on possible involvement by Saddam Hussein, although unfounded, the association contributed to public acceptance for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The second-biggest operation of the US Global War on Terrorism outside of the United States, and the largest directly connected to terrorism, was the overthrow of the Taliban rule from Afghanistan, by a US-led coalition. 3 In a Joint Statement by American Muslim Alliance, American Muslim Council, Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, Association of Muslim Social Scientists, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Islamic Medical Association of North America, Islamic Circle of North America, Islamic Society of North America, Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, Muslim American Society and Muslim Public Affairs Council, stated American Muslims utterly condemn the vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts. Following the attacks television evangelist Jerry Falwell called the event a punishment from God and laid the blame on paganists, abortionists, feminists and gays and lesbians, claiming that they helped this happen. He subsequently apologized. After September 11, people who looked from East in even the most superficial ways were often the focus of suspicion. Even politicians and celebrities were subject to scrutiny if they happened to wear the wrong hairstyle or article of 3 Steven, Brill. After How America Confronted the September 12 Era. New York: Avenue of the Americas. 2003, p.127 clothing. During a recess from Congress in 2007, for example, Republician Idaho representative Mike Simpson grew a beard but reportedly shaved it off when his wife told him, he looked like a terrorist. When David Letterman grew a beard during a writers strike the same year, a fan joked, “Is David becoming a terrorist with all that hai r?” urging him to get rid of it. 4 Another example that give description about East character after September 11 are; The Kingdom 2007, directed by Peter Berg, attempts to reveal a realistic portrait of modern East life specifically Arab through the eye of a team of FBI agents investigating terrorist bombing. Most Hollywood films that have attempted to do so have failed to be fair in their portrayal of East, The Kingdom is no different. Jack G. Shaheen 2001, a noted expert on representations of East filmic imagery has documented at length in his books and article that East in film are the cultural other and as seen through Hollywood‟s distorted lenses, East look different and threatening. Projected along racial and religious lines, the stereotypes are d eeply ingrained in American cinema. He also notes, The Kingdom is Hollywood‟s most anti East post September 11. September 11 attacks, seems to be one of the East opponents upon the west. And many people think that it is one of the expressions that shows the differences of representation between the East and the West. Even David Ignatius shows it into a novel which is adapted into a film that deals with the incident of September 11 attack.Because film seems to be a great media to express something. Film deals 4 David , Halberstam. New York September 11 by Magnum Photographers. New York: PowerHouse Books. 2001, p.87 with story that produces the intentions. Film tells stories, as do plays, television shows, comic, books, paintings, dances, and many other cultural phenomena. 5 Body of Lies is a 2008 American spy film based on the novel of the same name by David Ignatius that sets in context of the Middle East and the war on terror unfold the story of three men battling a terrorist organization seems to be one of many films that show the different representations between the East and the West. The film is taken and adapted from the novel written by David Ignatius. In March 2006, Warner Bros hired screenwriter William Monahan to adapt the novel penetration by David Ignatius into a feature film, which would be directed by Ridley Scott. In April 2007, with the novel re-titled Body of Lies and the film similarly re-titled, actor Leonardo DiCaprio was cast in the lead role. After DiCaprio was cast, Russell Crowe was courted for a supporting role, to which he formally committed after Monahan‟s script was revised by Steve Zaillian, who scripted Scott and Crowe‟s American Gangster. Roger Ferris DiCaprio is a CIA case officer in Iraq, tracking down a terrorist called Al- Saleem. While following a lead, Ferris‟s asset with whom he has become good friends is killed during a car chase involving terrorist, rocket-propelled grenades and two misile-firing U.S. helicopters. Ferris recovers from his injuries at a U.S. facility in Qatar before he is sent to Jordan to run down some intelligent has recovered in Iraq. Meanwhile unknown terrorists plan to follow up an off screen 5 Bordwell, David. Film Art An Introduction 4 th ed, Wisconsin : Mc Graw-hill, Inc, 1993, p.231 series of bus bombings in Sheffield, with more attacks in Manchester but blow themselves up when the police find their cell. 6 From the simple description above, the writer is interested in doing a research about the representation of West and East through the character of Roger Ferris and Saleem in Body of Lies Film.

B. Focus of the Study