A plane just crashed into one of the World Trade Centers; a few minutes later a second plane hits the other tower. What happened to all of the other planned attacks on that very day and the days that followed? A special sect of law enforcement called the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prides itself with quickly tracking down some of the terrorists that were involved in the attacks and effectively questioning them using various interrogation tactics, one of which is torture. The CIA’s approach to torture after 9/11 using techniques such as water boarding has proven to save lives and prevent future tragedies in spite of common controversy. In times of crisis, water boarding acquires the essential lifesaving information in time sensitive situations. The CIA, commonly thought of as the United States international secret police, has many notorious people in doubt of whether they are doing good or simply abusing their power by violating basic human rights. After the horrific events of 9/11 America stepped up to the plate to do whatever was necessary to ensure the safety of this country and the citizens that preside within it.
Many things changed after one of the most remembered days in America’s history, 9/11. Airports came through with incredible advances in their security. Many schools and malls installed metal detectors. The overall security in the US went up exponentially in the months and years that followed. Local police were being trained differently to prepare for the worst of situations. The CIA too, changed their approach to how they dealt with terrorists; mainly, how they interrogated them once they were apprehended. “The fact that the United States has not suffered a large-scale attack since 9/11 speaks to the country’...
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...nt agencies wrong and do not believe they should be awarded the authority to violate people’s rights.
America and her people are unfortunately found at times to be at war. During these dark times we as a nation rely on the protection and security of the CIA. They themselves, rely on the use of waterboarding to secure information from known terrorists in order to prevent further anguish. However, with every pro there is a con. And amongst us are those that do not wish to rely on such brutal forms of protection. Whatever the case may be, after 9/11 the CIA stepped up, used what was available such as waterboarding and protected the people of the United States without stopping to hear the criticism of the few that disagreed with their methods. More than ten years have passed since the planes crashed and there have been no more attacks; so it seems like its working.
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.
Villemez, Jason. “9/11 to Now: Ways We Have Changed.” PBS. PBS 14 Sept. 2011. Web. 21 May 2014.
On September 11, 2001, Osama Bin Ladin executed the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. The attack killed over 2,900 people, and since then America has changed in many ways. One example is the phobia people now have against people of Middle-Eastern decent or people that practice the Islamic religion. Since people think differently of these groups, they do not treat them with the respect they give to other people. They can be denied jobs, education, housing because of their religion and/or their Middle Eastern background. Another example on how America has changed since 9/11, is the airport security has grown largely. The new change can impact many travelers, as well it spends a lot of the American government’s money.
The US military base in Guantanamo Bay, which was used as detention facility and interrogation activities of suspected terrorists apprehended by US sequel to 9/11 attack in 2001, during the period, terrorist suspects witnessed a wide range of coercive interrogations and inhuman acts ratified by US government and termed “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques”. The joint armed forces and both intelligence agencies of US (CIA ad FBI) where deployed to Guanatanmo with the mandate of coercive interrogation techniques in other to ensure captured terrorists reveal actionable intelligence to unmask the 9/11 perpetrators and Al Qaeda gang, and also to prevent future attacks. During this period which was Bush administration, US became listed among countries that legalized torture and assumed the lead position among those using coercive interrogation techniques in combating terrorism and had bad popularity to the point Canadian government (US crony) stated that its has included US in list of nations that use torture against the international convention.
Ex-president George W. Bush asserts, “Abu Zubaydah also provided information that helped stop a terrorist attack being planned for inside the United States -- an attack about which we had no previous information.” Abu Zubaydah was a high-ranking Al Qaeda official who was water boarded (Luban, 1). Water boarding is a form torture that simulates drowning. Through this form of torture, the US was able to receive vital information that led to the prevention of a bomber decimating a bridge. Moreover, the CIA was able to extract this information and incarcerate the criminal. Though many lives were potentially saved, Bush was criticized for allowing the action of torture. He se...
September 11, 2001 marked the most horrific day in history for United States of America. The events of this day changed the lives of those residing in America forever. United States was considered somewhat safe, in regards to terrorists’ attacks. However, this all came to a screeching halt when 19 militants known to be a part of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group hijacked four planes for the purpose of destroying targeted areas in the United States. As a result of the deadly attack on the United States, security measures drastically changed. Although, security measures throughout the United States have been in place, extreme caution came into effect. All departments looked at different measures to improve preventing terrorists’ attacks. Department of Homeland Security, Aviation and US Customs and Immigration were some of the main areas that changed their security measures.
When the news of torture at Abu Ghraib prison broke in early 2004 during the “global war on terror,” much of the public was outraged and did not know how to react. Heavy debate began over the issue and media reporters on the issues took sides. Many books were written about the subject. The conservatives attempted to downsize the issues and take the side that it was simply ‘bored’ and ‘tense’ soldiers trying to blow off a little steam with horseplay. However, the photographs that surface said quite differently. Naked photographs of prisoners engaged in simulated sexual acts, deceased prisoners in sexual poses and prisoners tied up and left for dead tell the chilling story of the terror and torture behind the prison walls. Did the US do anything to stop or lessen such torture committed by American soldiers? Most will say that they did not. To some this may considered a crime and to others it is simply “common military practice”.
After the September the 11th attacks on the world trade center, countries around the globe thought it was necessary to take extra precautions when dealing with terrorists. The United States hence forth brought terrorist that were being help to Guantanamo bay. Guantanamo bay hold terrorist that are responsible for the September 11th attacks. These terrorist are kept at Guantanamo in order to prevent any further attacks from happening with in the United States. The prisoners that are help there are subdued to a form of interrogation known as water boarding. The process consists of a cloth being placed over the detainees face and the interrogator proceeds to pour water over the detainees face. This gives the feeling that you are drowning, but really you re panicking because you think you are drowning. Many people
On September 11, 2001 terrorists apprehended 4 airplanes and committed the most heinous act in American history. They flew two planes into the world trade center, one into the Pentagon, and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania crash killing more than three thousand American citizens. Since 9 /11many things have changed in America in relation to our national security.
“Torture is what Al Qaeda terrorists did to 2,977 Americans on 9/11” said Cheney (“Is Torture Ever Justified”). The torture that happened could have been prevented if the building construction would of had been completed, a lot better communication, start fighting off the terrorist when they were giving us hints, and higher security. The terrorist attacks on September Eleventh could have been prevented.
The issue of torture is nothing new. It was done in the past and it’s done now in the 21st century. Without saying one side is right and the other side is wrong, let us discuss the part that we agree on and find common ground. We as Americans want to protect Americans from harms. So how do we prevent that from happening without torturing? It is impossible to get answer without some sort of questioning and intimidation techniques, since we know captured prisoners during war are not easily going to give up information. We know the enemy we face doesn’t follow the Geneva Convention or any law that pertains to war, so does that mean we shouldn’t also follow the Geneva Convention also, which prohibits torture? Of course not, because we want to be example for the world. Republicans argue that we have to do whatever is necessary to keep Americans safe, and Democrats argue it goes against our values and makes us look bad. We as Americans, as leader of the free world we
Guantanamo Bay, a US naval base on the southern point of Cuba, has long been a source of controversy for it’s alleged interrogation tactics and torture. The sitting President, Trump, has made it clear he wants to revive the use of waterboarding, and other extreme practices. On the other hand, General Mattis, White House Chief of Staff, commented, “Give me a pack of cigarettes and a couple of beers and I can do better with that than I do with torture” (Cooper). With terrorist attacks becoming more common events in American life, many have called to continue the questioning of the top jihadists at Guantanamo. The US should continue using Guantanamo Bay as a detention center that is necessary to national security.
As always, I’m your host Damien Carrick and welcome to yet another instalment of ABC’s The War on Terror: Behind the Battlelines. Tonight the ABC welcomes 2 very distinguished guests to explore this looming issue. We will be discussing the truth behind the lines: the grey-areas surrounding American foreign policy, the scepticism over extraordinary renditions and covert operations, and the role of hidden agencies such as the CIA. Has the United States government been fighting terrorism effectively and justifiably? To discuss all this I welcome Mr Jeremy Scahill, accredited author and journalist made famous for the Oscar nominated documentary Dirty Wars, based off the novel, and Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Powerful Mercenary Army. Joining Mr Scahill, I am pleased to welcome Mrs Lisa Monaco from Harvard University, former assistant Attorney General for National Security and current Homeland Security Advisor to President Obama
In the article, “The Torture Myth,” Anne Applebaum explores the controversial topic of torture practices, focused primarily in The United States. The article was published on January 12, 2005, inspired by the dramatic increase of tensions between terrorist organizations and The United States. Applebaum explores three equality titillating concepts within the article. Applebaum's questions the actual effectiveness of using torture as a means of obtaining valuable information in urgent times. Applebaum explores the ways in which she feels that the United States’ torture policy ultimately produces negative effects upon the country. Applebaum's final question is if torture is not optimally successful, why so much of society believes it works efficiently.
The 9/11 attack changed America in ways that made limits on our freedom and privacy seem better than the alternative. On September 11, 2001, “...our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist attacks,” President George W. Bush stated in a public address shortly after the attacks. He also stated, “Today, our nation saw evil – the very worst of human nature – and we responded with the very best of America,” to calm fears ...