The following is a discussion as to whether the September 11th attacks and the resultant War on Terror altered the international system, as well as reflecting the various concepts found within it. There are arguments both for and against that assertion that can be fitted into concepts relating to present day International Relation theory. In some respects the September 11th attacks and the War on Terror could be viewed as representing a continuation of ongoing trends within the international system or conversely argue using different theories or concepts the attacks / War on Terror did indeed alter the international system. The United States government, as indeed its people were stunned by the Al-Qaeda attacks as well as the death and destruction that they actually caused.