--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has happened here [aftermath of…" description: "\"What has happened here [aftermath of 9/11] is not war in its traditional sense. This is clearly a crime against humanity. War crimes are crimes which h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/benjamin-b-ferencz-43385_aftermath_what-has-happened-here-aftermath-of-9-11_1058536.jpg" --- # What has happened here \[aftermath of 9/11\] is not war in… ![“What has happened here [aftermath of 9/11] is not war in its traditional sense. This is clearly a crime against humanity. War crimes are crimes which happen in war time. There is a confusion there. This is a crime against humanity because it is deliberate and intentional killing of large numbers…” quote by Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/benjamin-b-ferencz-43385_aftermath_what-has-happened-here-aftermath-of-9-11_1058536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/benjamin-b-ferencz-43385_aftermath_what-has-happened-here-aftermath-of-9-11_1058536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6f/benjamin-b-ferencz-43385_aftermath_what-has-happened-here-aftermath-of-9-11_1058536.jpg) > “What has happened here \[aftermath of 9/11\] is not war in its traditional sense. This is clearly a crime against humanity. War crimes are crimes which happen in war time. There is a confusion there. This is a crime against humanity because it is deliberate and intentional killing of large numbers of civilians for political or other purposes. That is not tolerable under the international systems. And it should be prosecuted pursuant to the existing laws.” [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that the 9/11 attacks constitute a crime against humanity rather than traditional war, emphasizing intentional mass civilian killing and the need for prosecution under existing law. **In simple terms:** 9/11 is seen as a deliberate mass killing, not a war, demanding legal action. Key Takeaway Treat mass civilian killings as crimes against humanity. Themes human rights war law terrorism justice Mood serious determined urgent Type legal political When to use this quote - UN tribunals - national courts - policy debates - humanitarian advocacy Key Concepts International law genocide state responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How should the international community define and punish mass civilian attacks? - What legal mechanisms best address non‑state actors committing crimes against humanity? A Different Perspective Prosecuting such acts may face political resistance and evidentiary challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aftermath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crime Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime-humanity-391246/) [Crimes against humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-against-humanity/) [Crimes Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-happen-2571730/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [Happen War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen-war-976890/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-war-283278/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Large numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-numbers/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tolerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerable/) [Traditional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-crimes/) [War time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-time/) ## Related quotes > [Every murder or other injury, no matter for what cause, committed or inflicted on another is a crime against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/every-murder-or-other-injury-no-matter-for-what-cause-committed-or/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Dressing down is a crime against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-doonan/dressing-down-is-a-crime-against-humanity/) [Simon Doonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-doonan/) > [When you have a crime against humanity that is so awesome in scale and death, it is more than permissible to look around and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/when-you-have-a-crime-against-humanity-that-is-so-awesome-in-scale/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [We are extricating ourselves from a system that insulted our common humanity by dividing us from one another on the basis of race and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-are-extricating-ourselves-from-a-system-that-insulted-our-common/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Private appropriation of the Earth’s surface, the natural resources, and the means of life is nothing less a crime than a crime against humanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/private-appropriation-of-the-earth-s-surface-the-natural-resources/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [This crime against humanity must never be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/this-crime-against-humanity-must-never-be-forgotten/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Violence is a crime against humanity, for it destroys the very fabric of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/violence-is-a-crime-against-humanity-for-it-destroys-the-very-fabric/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ...It is a crime against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/human-trafficking-is-an-open-wound-on-the-body-of-contemporary/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If there is something occurring that is so bad that it could be considered a crime against humanity, it has to be transmitted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/if-there-is-something-occurring-that-is-so-bad-that-it-could-be/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [A single nation that has succeeded in lowering the intelligence, the morality, the quality of the human race almost throughout the globe is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-de-montherlant/a-single-nation-that-has-succeeded-in-lowering-the-intelligence-the/) [Henry de Montherlant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-de-montherlant/) > [Destruction is not the law of humans. Man lives freely only by his readiness to die, if need be, at the hands of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/destruction-is-not-the-law-of-humans-man-lives-freely-only-by-his/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free the victims and stop this increasingly aggressive crime which threatens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/human-trafficking-is-a-crime-against-humanity-we-must-unite-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I look upon air-power for destruction as a terrible crime against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-look-upon-air-power-for-destruction-as-a-terrible-crime-against/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that’s become ever more aggressive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/human-trafficking-is-a-crime-against-humanity-we-must-unite-our-2/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Crimes happen, but some are preventable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-bedi/crimes-happen-but-some-are-preventable/) [Kiran Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-bedi/) ## More by Benjamin B. Ferencz > [I prefer law to war under all circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/i-prefer-law-to-war-under-all-circumstances/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [People get discouraged. They should remember, from me, it takes courage not to be discouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/people-get-discouraged-they-should-remember-from-me-it-takes-courage/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [War makes murderers out of otherwise decent people. All wars, and all decent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/war-makes-murderers-out-of-otherwise-decent-people-all-wars-and-all/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [There can be no peace without justice, no justice without law and no meaningful law without a Court to decide what is just and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/there-can-be-no-peace-without-justice-no-justice-without-law-and-no/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [Nuremberg taught me that creating a world of tolerance and compassion would be a long and arduous task. And I also learned that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/nuremberg-taught-me-that-creating-a-world-of-tolerance-and-compassion/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [If it's naive to want peace instead of war, let 'em make sure they say I'm naive. Because I want peace instead of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/if-it-s-naive-to-want-peace-instead-of-war-let-em-make-sure-they-say/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [Well, if it's naive to want peace instead of war, let 'em make sure they say I'm naive. Because I want peace instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/well-if-it-s-naive-to-want-peace-instead-of-war-let-em-make-sure-they/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) > [I don't think I'm an idealist. I'm a realist. And I see the progress. The progress has been remarkable. Look at the emancipation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-b-ferencz/i-don-t-think-i-m-an-idealist-i-m-a-realist-and-i-see-the-progress/) [Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) [Explore all 9 Benjamin B. Ferencz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-b-ferencz/) ## More Aftermath quotes > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“She might have been there for you in the aftermath, but I was there when everything came crashing down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-duke/she-might-have-been-there-for-you-in-the-aftermath-but-i-was-there/) [Megan Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-duke/) > [Most people may not think about it, but the aftermath of war is very costly. Costly not just in lives, but the treatment. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/most-people-may-not-think-about-it-but-the-aftermath-of-war-is-very/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > ['Life's That Way' was an extraordinarily difficult book to write, because it wasn't written as a book. It was written as a journal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/life-s-that-way-was-an-extraordinarily-difficult-book-to-write/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [It's common knowledge that every act has an aftermath factor. It can be positive or negative. Whatever the result its always important that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/it-s-common-knowledge-that-every-act-has-an-aftermath-factor-it-can/) [Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11, people had not a good time, but a deep, profound, rousing time, woke up from their ennui and isolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-people-had-not-a-good-time-but-a-deep/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [They were anticipating a different kind of immediate aftermath of the fall of Baghdad, it turned out to be not exactly as they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/they-were-anticipating-a-different-kind-of-immediate-aftermath-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It's the story of a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-a-brilliant-fusion-of-fact-and-fiction-jayne-anne-phillips-has/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11 and in the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, few questioned the idea that the United States was likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-and-in-the-build-up-to-the-invasion-of-iraq/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [In the aftermath of any war or genocide, healing and reconciliation are ultimate aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-the-aftermath-of-any-war-or-genocide-healing-and-reconciliation/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I wish I had been more mature. I wish I had handled the immediate aftermath of the accident involving my family better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-wish-i-had-been-more-mature-i-wish-i-had-handled-the-immediate/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [But I don't know what to him about the aftermath of killing a person. About how they never leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-i-don-t-know-what-to-him-about-the-aftermath-of-killing-a-person/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [We need to have a modicum of faith in people's common sense, creativity and will to survive and prosper even in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/we-need-to-have-a-modicum-of-faith-in-people-s-common-sense/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [ I can't think of any time we had a discussion \[with Dre\] about the aftermath of what happened the night before. We just had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-can-t-think-of-any-time-we-had-a-discussion-with-dre-about-the/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) [Browse all 218 Aftermath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What has happened here [aftermath of 9/11] is not war in its traditional sense. This is clearly a crime against humanity. War crimes are crimes which happen in war time. There is a confusion there. This is a crime against humanity because it is deliberate and intentional killing of large numbers of civilians for political or other purposes. That is not tolerable under the international systems. And it should be prosecuted pursuant to the existing laws.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin B. 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