At 8:45 the first hijacked jetliner drove into the North Tower. Another jet came crashing into the South tower nine minutes later. The towers levelled with the horizon while Guilford students attended their 9:55 classes. Twenty minutes before the students were freed, a third jet plunged into the Pentagon. One more plane crashed outside Pittsburgh.

The incessant rush of new terrors gave way to New York’s mayor Rudolph Giuliani tolling with the bells and President Bush heralding America’s defenses.

“The number of deaths will be more than we can bear, said Giuliani soon after the towers were struck. “Our hearts go out to all the families that will suffer. They do not deserve this.”
But it was Bush’s phrase that echoed among students: “We will hunt (the terrorists) down.”

Meanwhile, first year Adam Rosenblatt read Psalm 20 in front of the Hut. “May the Lord answer you on the day of distress,” Rosdenblatt swayed with friends. “May the name of the God of Yaakos fortify you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion.”
Leaders around the world sent their sorrows to the United States. Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi condemned the”vile and brutal affront against humanity.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Bush that“these inhuman acts must not go unpunished.”

Iraqi television and Guilford’s Amnesty International meeting both hit on the notion of the attack being punishment itself.

“Our foreign policy is such that we can expect this to happen,”said Ben Hebner. And yet, where was this prophesied?