It's a normal day at work when suddenly an explosion occurs, trapping hundreds of people inside collapsed buildings covered in rubble. Colleagues, friends and family are gone, never to be seen again, lost to senseless acts of terrorism. In 1993, 1998, and 2000, these events occurred in the form of terrorist attacks against U.S. targets around the world. The World Trade Center complex was a symbol of wealth and prosperity, but it quickly became the target of radical Muslims and was attacked in early 1993. Despite this attack, the American people did not think that the terrorist organization behind the attack, al-Qaeda, posed a great threat, as it failed to adequately respond to the attack and prepare for the future. Five years later, another attack occurred around the world. This attack targeted American embassies in the African countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Once again, the United States was distracted by the incident and did not react adequately. Finally, in 2000, the United States was again the victim of a terrorist attack, this time against a warship docked in Yemen. The country once again watched in horror as the unthinkable happened, leaving people to once again question their safety. Although these attacks against American targets were devastating, the United States should have learned from its mistakes to better prepare and defend itself against the September 11 attacks. The attack on the World Trade Center triggered a response from the American government, but that response did not do enough to prevent future attacks on American targets. On February 26, 1993, at 18 minutes past noon, an explosion ripped through the underground parking lot of the Trade Center complex. The attackers rented a van, filled it with explosives and gasoline, and planted the fuse, ... middle of paper ... from the past and its mistakes, to work more diligently to prevent 9/11. attacks. The bombing of the World Trade Center in New York was unexpected, but it gave the government an opportunity to improve security and avoid future attacks. The carnage at the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania once again gave the American government a chance to take action against the terrorist network responsible, but once again the government failed. Finally, the assault on the USS Cole in the port city of Aden gave the United States one last opportunity to learn and prevent something from happening again, but the following year the unthinkable happened and the 9/11 attacks occurred , which killed thousands of people. If the United States had been able to connect the attacks and understand the emerging pattern of attacks against US targets, the destruction, chaos and death of 9/11 may never have occurred..