# What would have happened had 9/11 occurred in another country? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 9, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-had-9-11-occurred-in-another-country/102738 "2002-04-09T23:00:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-had-9-11-occurred-in-another-country/102738/21 "2002-04-11T05:42:09Z")
A more interesting question is what would have happened (happen?) if Osama Bin Laden was holed up on the Riveria…the Costa Del Sol…Capri…Bondi Beach…Milan… ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-had-9-11-occurred-in-another-country/102738/22 "2002-04-11T05:51:18Z")
Australia had to invoke the ANZUS treaty. Our foreign policy rests on the assumption that if anything happened (eg someone invaded), our friends America would help us out. It is in our best interests to ensure, then, that we are a friend to America and support them whenever we can. Whether they would help (given that a government’s first obligation is to its own people and not to the people in other countries) is a different matter. I think that they would honour the treaties that we have, but I also think that the scale of involvement would be less. Just as the US is making the biggest commitment (by percentage of military) to the war on terror because it’s basically them that got attacted, so it would be with Australia. We would commit our full military, and other nations would commit some of their military. The disadvantage for Australia is our military is relatively tiny. Therefore the total forces in any war against terror would be far less. The fact is that each government is bound to protect the interests of its own people before anything else. The American government (and people) will value an American life over an Australian one. The Australian government (and people) will value an Australian life over an American one. The response of each government, therefore, would be with that in mind. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-had-9-11-occurred-in-another-country/102738/23 "2002-04-11T06:06:16Z")
> [@](#): > > France actually had a major terrorist attack that the… > governement ignored. > A munitions factory was blown up in the city of Toulouse.shortly after 9/11 and a suspicious new employee from the Middle East vanished. His apartment was totally cleared out. > Many homes were destroyed and damaged as well as many schools. > The French government took the position that the explosion was an accident, althought they could not specify a cause. > Clearly, they didn’t want to take on the terrorists. It wasn’t a munitions factory, but a chemical plant. The investagations aren’t closed, but though there has been a lot of questions since it happened right after the 9/11, there are no evidences it could be have been a terrorist attack. ---
**Author:** ![Beastal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Beastal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastal)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-had-9-11-occurred-in-another-country/102738/24 "2002-04-11T16:58:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Whack-a-Mole \* > \*\* > > Ok but what form of aid has invoking that part of the treaty really entailed from Australia (I’m really asking and not being sarcastic because I don’t know)?\*\* In terms of numbers, [we have committed](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1603000/1603660.stm) 1,550 troops, including: 150 Special Air Services troops Two B707 tanker refuelling aircraft Two P3 long-range maritime planes Two navy frigates One amphibious command ship Our contribution earned [this](http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/2002/02/07/FFXJZT50CXC.html) statement from Colin Powell: > [@](#): > > Let me say that our Australian friends, in particular, have been forward-leaning in their efforts to support the war on terrorism. Heavily committed in East Timor already, Australia nonetheless offered its help immediately, and we have been grateful for that help. As for what we were ‘obligated’ to supply as part of the ANZUS treaty agreements, I’m not sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-had-9-11-occurred-in-another-country/102738.md?page=1)