War on Terror Begins

Definitions:

Affiliated: officially attached or connected to an organization

Fringe: the border or outer edges of an area or group

Clerics: a priest or religious leader, especially a Christian or Muslim one

Regime: a goverment, especially an authoritarian one

Dictate: lay down authoritatively; prescribe.

Background Information

• George Bush was the 43rd U.S President who initiated "The War on Terror"
• Al Qaida was a terrorist organization who led the attacks on The World Trade Center, The Pentagon and the United Flight 93, killing thousands of people.
• 44 people killed in flight 93
• 2,763 people killed at the World Trade Center
• 189 people killed at the Pentagon
• Osama bin Laden was the leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization

Analysis #1

"On September 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country. Americans have many questions tonight. Americans are asking, who attacked our country? The evidence we have gathered all points to a collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as Al Qaida. The terrorist practice a fringe form of Islamic extremism that has been rejected by muslim scholars and the vast majority of Muslim clerics a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teachings of Islam..."

A terrorist organization know as Al Qaida attacked The United States monuments including the World Trade Center Twin Towers, The Pentagon in Washington and Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. Many citizens lost their lives due to this act of war. The reasoning behind this act was due to Al Qaida retaliating for America for supporting Israel, being involved with the Persian Gulf war and for the military presence in the Middle East. Despite the situation there was no reason to invlove innocent people.

Analysis #2

"The leadership of Al Qaida has great influence in Afghanistan and supports the Taliban regime in controlling most of that country. In Afghanistan, we see Al Qaidas vision for the world. Afghanistans people have been brutalized. Many are starving, and many have fled. Women are not allowed to attend school. You can be jailed for owning a television. Religion can be practiced only as their leaders dictate. A man can be jailed in Afghanistan if his beard is not long enough..."

The world that the Al Qaida envisions is being forced to be the dream of other counrties. They are using force and fear to control other countries. One of the many countries they have taken control of is Afghanistan. They are constantly living in fear and are restricted from having a normal life. They are in a place where freedom is a dream rather than a right.

Analysis #3

"Our war of terror begins with Al Qaida, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated."

Even after defeating Al Qaida the US wishes to eliminate any group of terrorist that are out there. Its indicating that the US wants to use Al Qaida as an example of what will happen to those groups who wish to do harm to them and others. To bring the attention of the US such acts should not be the way to approach that.

Analysis #4

"Americans are asking, how will we fight and win this war? We will direct every resource at our command, every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war, to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network."

Since the attacks in the United States, it only leads for people to worry and questions if they will be next. The only thing they could do is fight back and stop the attacks before they get out of hand even more. To ensure Americans that they will not be faced with another attack the goverment is issuing protection all around the country. They are sending every service out there to stop Al Qaida.

Analysis #5

"Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and convert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them on against another, rive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us or you are with the terrorist. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."

The US is ensuring other nations who are being attacked or targeted by Al Qaida. Everyone must choose if they wish to stand with the US or against them and their rules. This terrorist attacked has caused much damage and the US does not plan on waiting and sitting out. They are making it known loud and clear of what they will do and are capable of to fight back against terrorist groups.

Under what circumstances should the U.S goverment intervene in domestic/ foreign events?

Though the War on Terror began inside the United States, the United States will show retaliation not with war but rather silently taking action. When it affects neighboring countries, our economy and goverment the U.S must take action. As said in the document, "The War on Terror, George W. Bush, 2001" written by Cable News Network, "Americans should not expect one battle but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen."