America’s two most recent wars are the Iraq War and the War on Terror. Both of these wars have accomplished their goals, but come at a great cost. There were quite a few factors in both of these wars that affected international security. First, I will analyze both of the wars and then intertwine them together to show the overall effect they have created on America.
Let us look first at the War on Terror. The War on Terror started after the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda attacked America on September 11th 2001. America responded with a military offensive against terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The primary targets in Afghanistan were Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Many scholars agree with what America did in this situation. In Robert J Art’s A Grand Strategy for America, he believed that in the event of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, America must respond forcefully and that is just what America did.
Al-Qaeda’s presence affects the international security of the world. The United States has responded by an effort to “choke off the lifeblood of terrorist groups, their access to territory, funds, equipment, training, technology.” The goal of the United States is to weaken terrorist organizations so their ability to use acts of violence is deterred. With an attempt of deterring the acts of terrorism, it can create a more secure world. “Terrorism raises the risk and cost of doing business, whether that business is diplomacy, manufacturing, or sales.” There is a great implication if the world is to let terrorism roam free. Not only is there a loss of innocent lives, but also many of the underdeveloped countries in the world are affected by abundant amounts of terrorism. Many underdeveloped nations count on advanced nations like the U...
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In the book, “Rereading America” by, Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, it starts off on page 210 describing a well educated Black Man of the times in 1960s. “Born Malcolm Little; Malcolm X was one of the most articulate and powerful leaders of Black America during the 1960s. A street hustler convicted of robbery in 1946, he spent seven years in prison, where he educated himself and became a disciple of Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam” (p.210). Here I want to focus on the strength of a single black man in the 60’s and what it was like to be uneducated as an African American. The many struggles of a black person in general were enough, but a black man had it hard.
Before the events of 9/11 the US had been attacked before and we were aware of possible threats. However, these threats, specifically those of Al-Qaeda were not taken seriously by American foreign policy makers or regular Americans alike, so on September 11, 2001 Americans were truly shocked by the scale of devastation and loss of life that occurred. The effect these attacks had on America was incredible. In the years that followed Americans became fearful and discriminatory of religious groups; the government created the Department of Homeland Security and enacted stricter search and seizure laws, and America’s foreign policy became defined by unilateral decision making and preemptive war.
Between 1895 and 1920, the years in which William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson reigned in the presidents, the United States struggled for not only justice at home but abroad as well. During this period policies such as Roosevelt’s Big Stick diplomacy, William Taft’s Dollar diplomacy, and Woodrow Wilson’s Moral diplomacy were all used in foreign affairs in hopes of benefit for all involved. However, it would be appropriate to say that self-interest was the most important driving factor for American policy and can be exemplified through economic, social, and political relations.
Host: On September the 11th 2001, the notorious terror organisation known as Al-Qaeda struck at the very heart of the United States. The death count was approximately 3,000; a nation was left in panic. To this day, counterterrorism experts and historians alike regard the event surrounding 9/11 as a turning point in US foreign relations. Outraged and fearful of radical terrorism from the middle-east, President Bush declared that in 2001 that it was a matter of freedoms; that “our very freedom has come under attack”. In his eyes, America was simply targeted because of its democratic and western values (CNN News, 2001). In the 14 years following this pivotal declaration, an aggressive, pre-emptive approach to terrorism replaced the traditional
Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing written by; Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, Eighth Edition, published April, 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s, is a textbook about writing and critical thinking. In the first chapter of Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing, “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths”, the Authors begin by setting a relatable scene of what it’s like for a college student. How a new found independence can be overwhelming, especially with regards to critical thinking, showing that what we have learned, needs to be re-evaluated and that an open mind in essential. "What Is Critical Thinking" In this section of the chapter the editors explain what it means to be a critical thinker. They explain that critical thinking is not just studying dates and facts, but rather taking those facts and examining them. The editors then proceed by explaining how having an open mind, and taking others' perspectives into account when formulating our own opinions on what the author is trying to say to us is important. A critical thinker takes all aspects into account and reflects on personal experience as well. The editors also point out that different cultural experiences bring different opinions. They suggest that we need to become active learners, continuously questioning the meaning behind everything, testing not only the theories of others but also our own experiences and analyzing the text rather than going for the obvious. They show that thinking outside the box is the epitome of critical thinking. Basically, we need to step outside our comfort zones and what we have always been taught. The editors also suggest that we need to re-evaluate our per...
The transformation of America is often discussed in both popular media and academic dialogue. Each generation has a name, new technologies define new eras, and events seem only notable when they are “historic”. While major events catch the interest of a broad spectrum of the public consciousness, subtle interactions between actors and slight shifts in beliefs are constantly changing the realities of the world. When the twin towers fell in 2001, the United States seemed to be thrust into a new world of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Jihadists, and a global fight against terrorism; bombs were dropped, ground forces were deployed in foreign states, and anyone who publicly questioned the urgency of war was at risk to be labeled a traitor. This one event was indelibly branded on the consciousness of the world and if often seen as a moment of sudden transformation. Most Americans believe that the troop presence in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to the terrorist attacks on the United States and while it is hard to deny that the 9-11 attacks was the impetus for putting boots on the ground, it is imperative that the chain of events following the horror of September 11 are seen to reflect the willingness and wants of actors in control before the towers fell.
Jackson, Richard. "War on Terrorism (United States History)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
along with its allies declared war on terror which included many operations against terrorists and terrorist supporters. In the course of the war on Terror, The allied force launched a war against two predominant Muslim countries: Afghanistan- due to Taliban sheltering Osama Bin Laden and Iraq- Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of the weapon of mass destruction. Through the course of War the death tolls has crossed millions, trillions of dollars have been spent and the war is far from being over. The war which was an act of Justice had long become a war of vengeance and 15 years later the terrorism has evolved, changed its form and is showing signs of rapid increase. Did something go wrong or was it all planned to lead today’s
Before 2001 and under the Clinton Administration the United States viewed terrorism as a crime (Dudley 46). However after the attacks and under the Bush Administration, terrorism is now considered an act of war (47). Following September 2001, the government also passed the Patriot Act in October (Inside 9/11: War on America). Also in October, the United States Army invaded Afghanistan in search of Al Qaeda members and their leader, Osama Bin Laden. Two years later, we invade and spread the fight to include Iraq. The invasion was do to a belief that Saddam Hussein was producing weapons of mass destruction and due to our newly launched War on Terror, we acted to remove him (Green). Our fight would continue for several years after the initial invasions following September 11, 2001. After ten years, the U.S. Special Forces finally locate Osama Bin Laden and kill him (Inside 9/11: War on
Today America is one of the wealthiest, strongest, and hardworking countries in the world. It has a population of over three hundred million and growth rate of 0.97% annually. America has made many great contributions to the world politically and scientifically by inventing the telephone, discovering electricity, inventing planes, putting a man on the moon, and much more. America has grown and multiplied over time and it is still increasing. Even though today America stands apart from other countries, it was built from nothing but scrap.
The article explains how terrorism effects the United States and the rise of terrorism in the last forty years. This article includes the data behind the death of the people from terrorist attacks that happened in the United States and people who were affected by terrorism internationally. It gives information on how Osama Bin Laden told the United States that he was going to attack through the Al-Qaeda terror network. The first attack that Osama Bin Laden made a big impact on the USA was 9/11; after 9/11 the government created new laws that help prevent terrorist attacks on USA soil. The amount of terrorist attacks has risen and fallen over the years. For example, “The number of attacks decreased until reaching the lowest point in 40 years
United States starts fighting terrorism in Afghanistan by overthrowing Taliban (Terrorist Organization). Tried to support Pakistan and Afghanistan people by bringing their Force into their countries to end war. When Osama Bin Laden was killed, it was a big victory for the US to change everything and not weaken Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda has a mission to overthrow all American troops from the land of Muslim countries. Here I recommend the United States to leave Muslim countries in their own way and do not intervene in their foreign policies and other internal decisions, if they really want to end up in a war on terror.
The threat of global terrorism continues to rise with the total number of deaths reaching 32,685 in 2015, which is an 80 percent increase from 2014 (Global Index). With this said, terrorism remains a growing, and violent phenomenon that has dominated global debates. However, ‘terrorism’ remains a highly contested term; there is no global agreement on exactly what constitutes a terror act. An even more contested concept is whether to broaden the scope of terrorism to include non-state and state actors.
Progressive era foreign policy was motivated by a variety of factors including racial and national superiority, business and economic interests, strategic concerns, and idealism. Excerpts from For the Record provide various examples supporting the concerns that led to America’s foreign policy.
government. An example of these interests is gaining territory which is under the control of