Saturday

On September 11, 2001, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out on the United States by the extremist group Al-Qaeda. The attacks involved four hijacked commercial airplanes, two of which were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse. Another plane was flown into the Pentagon building in Virginia, causing significant damage, while the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overcome the hijackers.

The attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, including passengers and crew on the planes, workers in the World Trade Center towers, and first responders who were attempting to rescue people from the buildings. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in US history and a turning point in global politics.

The 9/11 attacks led to significant changes in US policy, including the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, the creation of the Transportation Security Administration, and the launch of the War on Terror, which included the invasions of Afghanistan and, later, Iraq. The attacks also had a profound impact on global attitudes toward terrorism, national security, and civil liberties.

In 2003, the United States led a coalition of countries, including the United Kingdom, in an invasion of Iraq. The invasion was based on the belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and posed a threat to global security. However, this assertion was later found to be false, and no WMDs were ever discovered in Iraq. The UK’s Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair, strongly supported the invasion and committed British troops to the effort.

The invasion began on March 20, 2003, with a massive air and ground assault on Iraq. The US-led coalition quickly gained control of the country’s major cities, but faced ongoing resistance from Iraqi insurgents, who launched a guerrilla war against the occupying forces. The war lasted for several years, with coalition forces facing significant challenges in maintaining security and stability in Iraq. The conflict led to the deaths of thousands of US and coalition troops, as well as an estimated 100,000 Iraqi civilians.

The decision to invade Iraq was highly controversial, with many people around the world protesting. Critics argued that the intelligence used to justify the invasion was flawed and that the war was illegal under international law. The conflict also sparked a wider debate about the ethics of military intervention and the responsibility of world powers to maintain global security. The war remains a highly contentious issue, with ongoing debates over its legality, morality, and long-term consequences.

Saturday takes place on February 15, 2003, the day of the global anti-war protests that preceded the invasion of Iraq. The character of Daisy, Henry’s daughter, is a vocal opponent of the war, while Henry believes that Saddam is a tyrant and dictator who will continue committing atrocities until stopped. The characters’ disparate views reflect the wider political and social climate of the time, as well as their personal experiences and unique generational perspectives.

Overall, having some knowledge of the Iraq War and the UK’s involvement in it provides important context for understanding the themes and conflicts explored in Saturday, including the ethics of war and violence, the impact of political decisions on individuals and communities, and the pervasiveness of Islamophobic rhetoric during that time.