In this Tuesday, September 11, 2001 file photo, smoke billows from the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Picture: AP / Gulnara Samoilova Source: AP
- This year marks 10th anniversary of attacks
- US�is thinking positive, looking forward
- Al-Qaeda threat diminished; fresh attacks possible
THE White House has issued detailed guidelines to government officials on how to honour the 10th anniversary of September 11, instructing them to "present a positive, forward-looking narrative" to foreign audiences.
According to The New York Times, the White House has distributed two sets of documents - one directed to American embassies and consulates and aimed at foreign audiences, with the other directed to federal agencies and focused on US citizens.
The guidelines targeted to Americans directs officials to stress the importance of national service and highlight steps the government has taken to prevent another terrorist attack in the US, The Times reported.
The guidelines aimed overseas also instruct officials to praise international partners in the fight against violent extremism and remember victims of terrorism around the world, the newspaper said.
"A chief goal of our communications is to present a positive, forward-looking narrative," the foreign guidelines said, according to The Times.
One official, speaking anonymously, told The Times that another goal is to show the world that the US understands the September 11 attacks were not "just about us".
Both sets of documents also instruct officials to warn that Americans must be prepared for another terrorist attack, The Times said.
Al-Qaeda, however, is downplayed as a major threat following the death of Osama bin Laden.
The guidelines say al-Qaeda terrorists "still have the ability to inflict harm," but that the network has become "increasingly irrelevant," The Times reported.
The New York Times said it received copies of the internal documents from officials in several agencies involved in September 11 anniversary planning.
Read more at The New York Times.
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