(KMOX) - This September 11 marks the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, and changed the nation forever. Since then, efforts have been underway to protect the homeland, take out terrorists overseas and search for potential terrorists in our midst.
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But have they worked? Are we safer than we were on 9/11? What are the primary terror threats we face today?
In his 5-part series, KMOX's Brian Kelly takes an in-depth look at where we stand 20 years after 9/11.
PART ONE: THE DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
In the words of CBS Analyst Col. Jeff McCausland, the attacks of 9/11 taught the United States humility. When the first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York, we were hoping it was an accident. Moments later, when the second plane hit the south tower, it confirmed this was a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
In Washington, one Metro East Congressman was at the Pentagon, moments before it was hit by a third plane. An Illinois Senator was evacuated from the Capitol, with no idea where to go.
In St. Louis, local authorities tried to secure the Gateway Arch and federal buildings. Lambert Airport was crowded with passengers on diverted planes. Many simply prayed.
PART TWO: THE WAR ON TERROR
On Sept. 12, President George W. Bush called the attack an act of war.
Weeks later, American troops went into Afghanistan to track down those responsible, the terrorist group al Qaeda. He promised that the "War on Terror" would not end there.
In 2003 the U.S. went into Iraq, to remove Saddam Hussein.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan became America's longest war.
PART THREE: PROTECTING THE HOMELAND
While American troops took the fight to the terrorists overseas, efforts were underway to protect the homeland. Congress passed the Patriot Act, which expanded the government's power to surveil Americans, a power some say has been abused. It also brought together federal law enforcement agencies under the Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, local police and fire departments expanded their cooperation with federal authorities and their neighboring departments. They added intelligence units to identify potential terror suspects in their communities and improved their ability to respond to attacks, including chemical and biological warfare.
PART FOUR: PROTECTING THE SKIES
The terrorists who executed the 9/11 attacks took advantage of lax airport security at three major airports, to board four airliners with crude weapons they used to overtake the crews. Two months later the Transportation Security Administration was formed to take over airport security.
While the amount of scrutiny passengers face has increased, has it actually increased flight safety or, as one analyst contends is it just the "pointy object patrol"?
Some of the terrorists learned how to fly the planes at flight schools in the U.S. Could they do that today?
PART FIVE: TODAY'S TERROR THREAT (airs Friday morning)
The war in Afghanistan crippled al Qaeda, but did not eliminate it. In fact, it's membership has grown exponentially since 9/11. But some say today's primary terror threat comes from organizations inside the United States, which use the same technique as foreign terror groups to recruit and radicalize its members.
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has experts worried that that country will again serve as a base for al Qaeda and terrorist organizations from Syria, Iraq and southeast Asia, increasing the threat.
Then there's the new world of cyber terrorism and maybe our biggest fear: nuclear terrorism.
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