The Victims of Terrorism: An Assessment of Their Influence and ...

40 The Victims of Terrorismin the belief that her efforts had a positive impact (Mosk, 2004). These women’s attempts toaffect the outcome of a presidential race demonstrates that families are becoming more adeptat identifying opportunities to effect political change.This strategy, however, created a rift in FSC, as the remaining members strongly believedthat making the passage of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations a partisan issue woulddiscredit FSC. Having remained steadfast in their belief that the creation of the commissionand the adoption of its recommendations were national issues of concern that rose above politicalparty lines, FSC remained nonpartisan throughout the hearings. While the Jersey Girls,Gabrielle, and Gallop campaigned, the others pursued their own efforts in Washington duringthe fall of 2004 for legislation that would adopt the commission’s suggestions to completelyreform the country’s national security structure, returning to Capitol Hill on a near-weeklybasis over a four-month period. 1April Gallop, forced to retire from the Army for injuries sustained at the Pentagon on9/11, has also established a consulting firm to lobby those issues of utmost importance to 9/11families, veterans, and children. This effort was not mentioned within the body of this paperbecause it is not technically a victims’ group. Although the firm, AEZ Consulting, is still inthe organizational stage, Gallop hopes time will make it a more professional and active force inWashington (Sarasohn, 2004). AEZ may be a harbinger of things to come, an example of thevariety of sophisticated mediums beyond victims’ groups that are likely to emerge and play aneven greater role in the pursuit of explanations, accountability, and a higher level of nationalsecurity.In summary, we have described the growing influence of groups formed by victims ofterrorism in the United States over the past two decades. The Pan Am 103 and 9/11 groupsshow a progression of influence in their demands for government accountability. Both sets ofgroups assumed a new level of power in their fight for justice and improved national and aviationsecurity that is unheard of among victims’ groups overseas. The success of 9/11 victims’groups in particular leaves a legacy for victims of future terrorist attacks, who may devise evenmore refined and effective methods of political pressure and lobbying. Ultimately, future victims’groups may continue to raise the bar in pressuring government to be held responsible forfailing to avert, prevent, preempt, or prepare for a terrorist attack.1 Anonymous interview, June 12, 2006.