previous year1999
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
2010next year

Major Events of September 2002: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 2002 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of September 2002: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 2002 Conflict between Israelis and Palestinians: The Arab League has disowned the Zayed Center for Coordination and Follow-up's final statement. They claim that they support Israel's right of existence within pre-1967 borders and that the conflict in Middle East is not between all Jews but only Palestinians and Israelis.
  • 02 Sep 2002 UN World Summit on Sustainable Development Opens in Johannesburg: The United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development officially opened in Johannesburg, South Africa. This landmark conference was a critical successor to previous environmental conferences, including the 1972 Conference on the Human Environment, the 1983 World Commission on Environment and Development, and the 1992 Conference on Environment and Development. The summit aimed to address global environmental challenges, sustainable development strategies, and collaborative approaches to protecting the planet's ecosystems and resources.
  • 03 Sep 2002 Kelly Clarkson Wins First American Idol: Kelly Clarkson made history by becoming the first winner of the groundbreaking reality television series American Idol, launching her successful music career.
  • 04 Sep 2002 Bush Seeks Congressional Approval for Potential Iraq Action: President George W. Bush announced his intention to seek Congressional approval for potential military action against Iraq, emphasizing diplomatic consultation with international allies amid growing tensions about a potential 'regime change'.
  • 05 Sep 2002 Failed Assassination Attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai: On September 5, 2002, an assassination attempt targeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai was thwarted in Kandahar. The incident highlighted the volatile security situation in Afghanistan during the early post-Taliban period, with insurgent groups attempting to destabilize the new government.
  • 06 Sep 2002 US Congress Memorial Session for 9/11 Victims: A joint session of the US Congress was held in Federal Hall, New York City, commemorating the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This historic location, the original capital of the United States, served as a poignant backdrop for the memorial service, symbolizing national unity and resilience in the face of tragedy.
  • 07 Sep 2002 Serena Williams Defeats Venus Williams in US Open Final: In a historic sibling showdown, Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus Williams in the 2002 US Open Women's Singles Final, winning with a decisive score of 6-4, 6-3. This victory marked Serena's second US Open title and further solidified the Williams sisters' dominance in professional tennis.
  • 08 Sep 2002 Pete Sampras Wins Final Grand Slam Title at US Open: Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in a memorable four-set match at the 2002 US Open, securing his 14th and final Grand Slam title. The match was a historic moment in tennis, marking the end of Sampras's remarkable career and setting a record for Grand Slam victories at the time.
  • 09 Sep 2002 Judit Polgar Defeats Garry Kasparov in Speed Chess: Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgar achieved a remarkable victory by defeating world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a speed chess match, highlighting her exceptional skill and challenging the male-dominated chess landscape of the time.
  • 10 Sep 2002 U.S. Homeland Security Advisory System Raised to High Alert: On September 10, 2002, the United States Department of Homeland Security raised its national threat level to Orange (High Condition), signaling an elevated risk of terrorist activities. This was a significant moment in the post-9/11 era, reflecting ongoing national security concerns.
  • 11 Sep 2002 First Anniversary of 9/11 Memorial Services: Numerous memorial services and commemorative events were held across the United States to mark the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, honoring the victims and remembering the national tragedy.
  • 12 Sep 2002 Bush Challenges UN on Iraq Threat: U.S. President George W. Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly, challenging member states to confront the 'grave and growing danger' posed by Iraq. He urged the international community to take decisive action against potential threats, suggesting that if the UN did not act, the United States and its allies would be prepared to intervene.
  • 13 Sep 2002 Al-Qaeda Operative Captured in Pakistan: U.S. intelligence and Pakistani security forces successfully capture Ramzi bin al-Shibh, a key Al-Qaeda operative and suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, during a raid in Karachi, Pakistan. This arrest was a significant breakthrough in the post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts.
  • 14 Sep 2002 Anti-War Protests in California: Significant anti-war demonstrations took place in San Francisco and Los Angeles, with hundreds of protesters publicly expressing their opposition to the potential U.S. invasion plan. These protests reflected growing public dissent and concern about potential military intervention.
  • 15 Sep 2002 US Presidential Leadership in 2002: George W. Bush was serving as the President of the United States on September 15, 2002, during a critical period in post-9/11 American foreign policy.
  • 16 Sep 2002 Iraq's Diplomatic Reversal and UN Weapons Inspection Offer: In a surprising diplomatic development, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met with the United Nations Security Council to discuss potential actions against Iraq. Simultaneously, Iraq unexpectedly announced its willingness to allow weapons inspectors to conduct immediate and unconditional inspections of its territory, potentially defusing rising international tensions.
  • 17 Sep 2002 Grozny Bus Stop Bombing: Chechen authorities detained three suspects following a devastating terrorist bombing at a crowded bus stop in central Grozny. The attack resulted in six fatalities and 20 injuries, underscoring the ongoing instability and violence in the Chechen region during the early 2000s.
  • 18 Sep 2002 Tamil Tigers Negotiate Autonomy in Sri Lanka: After three days of intense negotiations in Sattahip, Thailand, the Tamil Tigers reached a significant political agreement. They accepted a compromise that granted them limited autonomy in the north-west and north-east regions of Sri Lanka, potentially marking a turning point in the long-standing ethnic conflict.
  • 19 Sep 2002 U.S. Plans for Iraq Invasion: The Bush administration pressed the U.S. Congress to adopt a resolution granting presidential authority to use any means deemed appropriate to remove Saddam Hussein from power and disarm Iraq, signaling the potential for a future military intervention.
  • 20 Sep 2002 U.S. Iraq War Planning Revealed: White House and Pentagon officials disclosed that General Tommy Franks had presented comprehensive war plans to President Bush, signaling imminent military preparations for the Iraq invasion.
  • 21 Sep 2002 Farm Aid 15 Concert: Farm Aid 15 was held in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, featuring a star-studded lineup of musicians supporting American farmers. Performers included Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, Kid Rock, Gillian Welch, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and The Drive-By Truckers.
  • 22 Sep 2002 German Federal Election: In the German federal elections, the coalition led by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, consisting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party, secured a narrow victory with a combined 47.1 percent of the vote.
  • 23 Sep 2002 Global Stock Market Downturn: Significant global stock market slump occurs, with Nasdaq dropping 3% to a 6-year low at 1,184.94. U.S. Treasury bond yields hit historic lows, and oil prices rise to $30 per barrel amid growing concerns about potential U.S. military intervention in Iraq.
  • 24 Sep 2002 Motorola Advances Satellite Navigation Technology: Motorola announced a groundbreaking single-chip satellite navigation receiver, enabling location-specific functions in low-cost computing devices. The innovative chip integrates RF processing, analog and digital signal processing, and a CPU, marking a significant advancement in ubiquitous computing technology.
  • 25 Sep 2002 Hindu Temple Attack and Communal Tensions in Gujarat, India: On September 25, 2002, a violent attack on a Hindu temple in Gujarat, India resulted in 32 fatalities. In response to the escalating communal tensions, the Indian federal government deployed thousands of troops to the region to prevent further violence and restore peace. This incident highlighted the ongoing religious and ethnic conflicts in the state of Gujarat.
  • 26 Sep 2002 US Congress Authorizes Military Action Against Iraq: The United States Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq as he deemed appropriate and necessary, a significant step towards the eventual 2003 Iraq War.
  • 27 Sep 2002 G7 Meeting and IMF/World Bank Conferences: The annual G7 meeting begins alongside the IMF and World Bank annual conferences in Washington, D.C., with 649 protesters from the alternative globalization movement being arrested during demonstrations.
  • 28 Sep 2002 Global Protests Against Potential Iraq War: Massive anti-war demonstrations erupted in major European cities, with hundreds of thousands of protesters in London and approximately 100,000 in Rome expressing opposition to the potential U.S. military intervention in Iraq. These protests highlighted growing international skepticism about the proposed military action.
  • 29 Sep 2002 Israeli Troops Withdraw from Arafat's Ramallah Compound: Israeli military forces concluded a 10-day siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah, during which they systematically destroyed most of the facility and confined Arafat inside. This operation was part of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and tensions during the Second Intifada.
  • 30 Sep 2002 Major Corporate Accounting Fraud Lawsuits: New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed comprehensive civil fraud lawsuits against several high-profile corporate executives, including Bernie Ebbers of WorldCom, Philip Anschutz and Joseph Nacchio of Qwest Communications, and other senior corporate leaders, highlighting widespread financial misconduct.