# 9/11/01 - 911 emergency? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363 "2002-09-06T23:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/1 "2002-09-06T23:40:43Z")
Firstly, I’m sure that this was discussed around the time. I’m having trouble searching for it though. Basically, I was wondering if there was any evidence that this date was chosen because of the emergency connotation in the US? Or, if not, was there any reason why this date was chosen? ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/2 "2002-09-07T00:10:39Z")
The date was chosen because it fell on a day where not many people would be traveling, so the hijackers would have fewer hostages to deal with. September is historically one of the least-travelled months of the year (with kids going back to school and all), and Tuesday is one of the least travelled days of the week. It could have just as easily been 9/18 or 9/25 that we’ll remember forever…the correlation between 9/11 (the date) and 911 (the phone number) are pure coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Zymurgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba8739/32.png) [@Zymurgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zymurgy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/3 "2002-09-07T00:39:37Z")
I was talking to my sister about this. I’d like to call to your attention the fact that George H.W. Bush addressed congress on September 11th 1990. The topic of discussion would be the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. I just think that’s significant. Anybody else? I just typed september 11th and george bush into google to get many links regarding this. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/4 "2002-09-07T00:50:01Z")
I’ve wondered if the weather was a significant factor in choosing the date. After all, it’s very difficult to hit a building if you can’t see it due to fog, storms, etc. September 11, 2001 _was_ and exceptionally good flying day over almost the entire country, which would have simplified the terrorists mission. I doubt the 9/11 date was much more than co-incidence, or at most one factor among many. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/5 "2002-09-07T00:52:43Z")
Anyone know when the airline tickets were purchased? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/6 "2002-09-07T01:15:40Z")
Actually it was supposed to be a bit later but Zacharius Mussoui(sp?) was arrested and they moved up the date becuase they thought the U.S. might be on the verge of figuring things out. It is true that the day and time (Tuesday in the morning) and the particular flights were chosen because the planes were typically fairly empty. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/7 "2002-09-07T03:03:21Z")
I wish I had a better recall on this, but something very significant happened on September 11 hundreds of years ago in the Muslium world in regard to Islam vs. Christianity. Crusades, something of the sort. Can anyone help me on this? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/8 "2002-09-07T03:15:05Z")
OK, I found the answer to my own question: Christopher Hitchens: **Why the suicide killers chose September 11** > **[Christopher Hitchens: Why the suicide killers chose September 11](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/03/september11.usa2)** > > The search continues for the numinous or hieroglyphic significance of the date September 11. ---
**Author:** ![kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f9ae1b/32.png) [@kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/9 "2002-09-07T03:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Anyone know when the airline tickets were purchased? \*\* The morning of the flight. ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/10 "2002-09-07T11:31:25Z")
Nicely done. Thanks people. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/11 "2002-09-07T14:42:32Z")
September 11 was also the anniversary of the signing of Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978. It’s highly unlikely the terrorists had 911 in mind. In most of the world outside the US the date is written day-month-year, not month-day-year. So they likely thought of the day as 11-9-2001. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/12 "2002-09-07T16:31:09Z")
No, the Camp David Accords were not signed on September 11. They were signed on September 17, 1978. See: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle\_east/173277.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/173277.stm) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/13 "2002-09-07T19:42:42Z")
It was also primary election day in NY ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/14 "2002-09-07T20:01:33Z")
Walloon is quite right – as a quick look at Jimmy Carter’s appointment book for Sept 11, 1978 shows, the negotiations were still going on at that time: [http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/documents/diary/1978/d091178t.pdf](http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/documents/diary/1978/d091178t.pdf) I do remember Dan Rather mentioning it as the anniversary during the coverage on September 11, 2001, but the fact-checking was no doubt understandably a little rushed that day. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/15 "2002-09-08T07:18:46Z")
Interestingly, the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Pentagon was on September 11, 1941. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/16 "2002-09-08T07:43:35Z")
Interestingly, the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Pentagon was on September 11, 1941. ---
**Author:** ![Sparc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sparc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparc)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/17 "2002-09-08T11:19:21Z")
> [@](#): > > _[Why the suicide killers chose September 11](http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,562163,00.html)The Guardian October 3 2001 by Christopher Hitchens_ > > It was on September 11 1683 that the conquering armies of Islam were met, held, and thrown back at the gates of Vienna. Which would be September 1 1683 by the Julian Calendar, Elul 20 5443 by the Hebrew Calendar, Ramadan 19 1094 by the Hijri or Islamic Calendar, Sharivar 20 1062 by the Persian, 12.3.5.16.14 by Mayan Long Count, and 109 years pre-revolution on a Quintidi in the third decade of the month Fructidor by the French Republican Calendar. Incidentally 11 September 2001 was on 23 Jumada al-THaany 1422 by Hjiri reckoning, in numbers that would be 23/6 1422. Somehow I have hard time seeing any evidence that the date was chosen based on anything symbolic, even if that be arbitrarily significant events like the Battle of Vienna. Flight occupancy, weather and the threat of exposure after Moussaoui’s arrest seem more plausible factors in the decision. Sparc ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/18 "2002-09-09T13:03:20Z")
Since the hijackers had lived in this country for two years, they had to be aware of the 9/11 9-1-1 connection. I’m not saying it was the main reason, just that it had to have occured to them. If you want to take the connection further, the first plane to hit was Flight 11, and of course the Twin Towers look like a big “11.” I remember a commercial where they panned the NYC skyline, then turned the Towers into an “11” with a circle around it for NYC’s Channel 11. Fortunately, this was a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_alien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Go\_alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_alien)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/19 "2002-09-09T13:15:11Z")
There are only 366 dates in a leap year, otherwise 365. Every date is the anniversary of something. Look hard enough and I am sure that you can find a suitable Islamic/Christian/American/Arabic link for any date you care to select. The actual date (and flight numbers and time and what they had for breakfast) is irrelevant. Just like all the crap about nine and eleven letter words “linked” to the attacks, it’s _coincidence_. Such coincidences are the basis of scams that prats like Uri Geller rely on to make a living. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363/20 "2002-09-09T20:29:56Z")
Didn’t the Taliban-connected al-Qaida operatives have to wait until that anti-Taliban warrior leader was assassinated in Northern Afghanistan? Y’know, the one who thought he was giving a TV interview until the video camera exploded? I was under the impression that the Taliban intended to throw their Northern Alliance enemies into disarray so they’d be less likely to cooperate with any retaliatory Western attack on Kandahar, and that therefore the hijacking operation had to wait until that leader was killed. And IIRC, the two “reporters” had to wait around a week for the leader to return from the field before they could blow him up. History is very long. There are literally thousands of critically important occurrences – “hinge events,” to borrow Hitchens’s term – through the centuries, and only 365 days among which to distribute them. I wager to say that if you picked any date at random off the calendar, you could find at least one Islamic connection – say, the day some Crusade or other arrived in the Mideast, or the day Osama bin Laden’s citizenship was stripped by Saudi authorities, or whatever. _(and on preview, I see I’m not the first to make this point; damn sluggish rodents)_ The Hitchens column is interesting, but less than persuasive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-01-911-emergency/127363.md?page=2)