On 11 September 2001, the acts of war that Americans experienced were far worse than anything we have seen since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Successful attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the loss of thousands of lives ripped away American illusions of safety from international terrorism. The horrific attacks perpetrated by Islamic terrorists associated with the Al-Qaeda organization caused Americans to ask why it happened. Why do Muslims hate America? Why didn't we know? Moreover, what could we have done to prevent such a barbaric act? The attacks of September 11th are not the first attacks by Islamic terrorists on America or American interests. Al-Qaeda terrorists are also responsible for terrorist attacks on service members in Somalia, destruction of the Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and attacking the USS Cole. Osama bin Laden's decree to kill Americans and their allies' signals dynamic challenges to American security. Developing strategies against terrorism requires a discerning review of the causes and proximate reasons why Al-Qaeda terrorists attacked American interests.