The September 11 attacks were condemned by world leaders and other political and religious representatives and the international media, as well as numerous memorials and services all over the world. The attacks were widely condemned by world governments, including those traditionally considered hostile to the United States, such as Cuba, Iran, Syria, Libya, North Korea, and Afghanistan. Reports of Arabs in New Jersey celebrating the attacks are uncorroborated and many have been linked to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.
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 perpetrators of the attacks.
United States
In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the Bush administration declared a war on terror, with the stated goals of bringing Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to justice and preventing the emergence of other terrorist networks. These goals were to be accomplished by means including economic and military sanctions against states perceived as harboring terrorists and increasing global surveillance and intelligence sharing. Within hours after the September 11 attacks, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld speculated on possible involvement by Saddam Hussein and ordered his aides to make plans for striking Iraq; although unfounded, the association contributed to public acceptance for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The second-biggest operation of the war on terror outside of the United States, and the largest directly connected to terrorism, was the overthrow of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan by a US-led coalition.
Presidential address President George W. Bush quoted Psalm 23 in a nationally-televised address immediately following the attacks:
America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."
Bush also called for solidarity with Muslims and Islam following attacks on Arab-Americans and Muslims, stating "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."
Religious leaders In a joint statement by the 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.
Reverend Billy Graham gave a sermon at the Washington National Cathedral for a memorial service to the victims of the terrorist attacks, declaring the need for spiritual renewal, and imploring Americans to bond together through struggle and strengthen their faith, and not to fragment and disintegrate as a people and nation.
Two days following the attacks, on the Christian television program The 700 Club, televangelist 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". Host Pat Robertson concurred with the statements. Both evangelists came under attack from Bush for their statementsDavid John Marley, Pat Robertson: an American life (2007) p 273 and Falwell subsequently apologized.
Five days following the attacks, Reverend Jeremiah Wright gave a sermon at the United Trinity Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, claiming that the attacks were recompense for various injustices that the United States and Americans had perpetrated, before stating that now was a time for self-examination.
International reactions After the attacks many governments and organizations in the western world and several pro-U.S. allies expressed shock and sympathy, and were supportive of burgeoning efforts to combat terrorism. Among them are:
Non-Islamic governments : President Fernando De La Rua expressed his "most absolute repudiation" against the terrorist attacks, and offered assistance to the United States which materialized in the form of medical and humanitarian assistance in support of the US-led intervention in Afghanistan. Humberto Roggero, then head of the opposition Justicialist Party, also condemned the attacks, as did other members of the government and society. The government announced three days of national mourning with all flags half mast. : Prime Minister John Howard was in Washington D.C. on the morning of the attacks and invoked the ANZUS Treaty, saying it demonstrated "Australia's steadfast commitment to work with the United States." : Church bells tolled in unison. : Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt expressed "deep shock and dismay." Hundreds of people held hands to form a human chain showing solidarity in front of the Brussels World Trade Center. : President Fernando Henrique Cardoso expressed "horror" and condemned the terrorist attacks and sent a message to President Bush in solidarity with the victims as well as condemning all forms of terrorism. Cardoso also expressed worry for Brazilian residents and tourists of the United States as well as for the Brazilian and global economy. Rio de Janeiro put up billboards that showed the city's famous Christ the Redeemer statue embracing the New York City Skyline. 3 days of mourning was announced. : The government declared September 13 a national day of mourning. People gathered in town squares to light candles and pray. : A year after the attacks, President Alexander Lukashenko offered his condolences in a personal letter to president George W. Bush, stating that "the Belarusian nation which survived the horrors of World War II and the Chernobyl disaster understands very well what the citizens of the United States of America had to go through." Burma (Myanmar): The Burmese government issued a letter to the United Nations on November 30, 2002, outlining its commitment to all counter terrorism efforts. The Burmese government stated its opposition to terrorism and declared government officials would not allow the country to be used as a safe haven or a location for the planning and execution of terrorist acts. : Prime Minister Jean Chrétien proclaimed September 14 a national day of mourning and said of the attacks, "It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault upon thousands of innocent people." Transport Canada and Nav Canada activated emergency protocols and commenced Operation Yellow Ribbon in response to the first plane hitting the World Trade Center, allowing all commercial flights entering the U.S. to land at Canadian airports and remain there. Many of those flights were directed to Gander International Airport, where extra RCMP personnel was deployed. Foreign travelers were housed and fed in Gander following the attacks. : The Chilean government of Ricardo Lagos through his foreign minister, expressed his condemnation of the attacks, in solidarity with the victims, in addition to lending their support to the United States in the fight against terrorism, and convening the leaders of the Rio Group in order to take joint action in relation to terrorism and the position of the United States. : General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Jiang Zemin said he was "shocked" and sent his condolences to President Bush, while the Foreign Ministry said China "opposed all manner" of terrorism. In Beijing, tens of thousands of people visited the U.S. Embassy, leaving flowers, cards, funeral wreaths and hand-written notes of condolence on the sidewalk out front. : Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa offered his condolences to the U.S. General Consulate in Hong Kong. According to a government spokesperson, the Hong Kong Police Force was "watching developments closely and will take any necessary precautionary measures to ensure that public safety continues to be maintained". Commonwealth realms: Queen Elizabeth II expressed "growing disbelief and total shock". She later ordered the U.S. national anthem to be played at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, with traffic on The Mall coming to a halt during the tribute.Graves, David (September 14, 2001) Palace breaks with tradition in musical tribute The Telegraph. Retrieved August 24, 2011 : President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez declared 2 days of mourning. : Many school children in Dubrovnik took time to observe a moment of silence. : The government expressed their "pain and solidarity" with its longtime adversary and offered air and medical facilities to help. : Prime Minister Paul Nyrup Rasmussen condemned the attack and expressing its solidarity with the Americans. Several hundred people laid flowers at the American embassy in Østerbro in Copenhagen. : People gathered in Nuuk and other town squares to light candles and offer prayers. : President Hipólito Mejía declared 3 days of mourning. : President Lennart Meri sent a letter of condolences to George W. Bush: "Estonia has stood with the United States in the past and we stand with our American friends in this hour of tragedy", Meri wrote and added that "terrorism in all forms must be fought with every means possible, and that Estonia will support the United States in bringing those responsible for the attack to justice." : Buses and other public transport came to a stop to pay tribute to the victims of the attacks. : Following the attacks, President Jacques Chirac released a statement: "It is with great emotion that France has learned of these monstrous attacks—there is no other word—that have recently hit the United States of America. And in these appalling circumstances, the whole French people—I want to say here—is beside the American people. France expresses its friendship and solidarity in this tragedy. Of course, I assure President George Bush of my total support. France, you know, has always condemned and unreservedly condemns terrorism, and considers that we must fight against terrorism by all means." The French newspaper of record, Le Monde, ran a front-page headline reading ("We are all Americans"). : Chancellor Gerhard Schröder described the attacks as "a declaration of war against the entire civilized world." Authorities urged Frankfurt, the country's financial capital, to close all its major skyscrapers. The new Jewish museum in Berlin cancelled its public opening. In Berlin, 200,000 Germans marched to show their solidarity with USA. Three days after the attacks, the crew of the German destroyer Lütjens manned the rails as they approached the American destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, displaying an American flag and a banner reading "We Stand By You".