Twin Towers 1:1 Scale (NO MODS)

Approximately 1:1 scale model of the WTC Twin Towers. Enjoy the magnificence of these colossal buildings, but its history holds undeniable significance for billions of people around the world. The World Trade Center was opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001. The Twin Towers - North Tower (1 World Trade Center) and South Tower (2 World Trade Center) were once the tallest buildings in the world at the time of their completion with the, standing at 417m and 415.1m. During the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda-affiliated hijackers flew two Boeing 767 jets, one into each of the Twin Towers, tragically killing 2606 in and around the towers and 157 on board the two aircraft. The origins of al-Qaeda can be traced to the Soviet War in Afghanistan, when the CIA program Operation Cyclone channelled funds through Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency to the Afghan Mujahideen. Aid to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, an Afghan mujahideen leader amounted to more than $600 million. Towards the end of the War in Afghanistan, some foreign mujahideen wanted to expand their operations to other Islamic struggles. One of the organisations formed out of these aspirations would eventually be known as al-Qaeda. The network was founded in 1988 by Saudi- based Osama Bin-Laden, Abdullah Azzam, and other Arab volunteers during the Soviet–Afghan War, spurred on by US imperialism in the Islamic world. Stated in Osama Bin-Laden's "Letter to the American people", the motives for the attack were: - U.S. support of Israel - Bin Laden's strategy to support and globally expand the Al-Aqsa Intifada - Attacks against Muslims by U.S.-led coalition in Somalia - U.S. support of the government of Philippines against Muslims in the Moro conflict - U.S. support for the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon - U.S. support of Russian atrocities against Muslims in Chechnya - Pro-American governments in the Middle East (who "act as your agents") being against Muslim interests - U.S. support of Indian oppression against Muslims in Kashmir - The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia - The sanctions against Iraq - Environmental destruction The 9/11 attacks were used to justify U.S. imperialist interests in the Middle East such as the controversial invasion of Iraq as a part of the 'war on terror' (GWOT). The response resulted in the deaths of over 4.5–4.6 million people. Although the American public showed true solemnity for the tragic deaths of the civilians killed during the attacks, the response from the U.S. government is best encapsulated by this quote from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: *"Need to move swiftly – Near term target needs – go massive – sweep it all up. Things related and not"*