100-word-discussion-reply-post-6

According to the Global Policy Forum (2005), “After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Bush administration declared a worldwide “war on terror,” involving open and covert military operations, new security legislation, efforts to block the financing of terrorism, and more. Washington called on other states to join in the fight against terrorism asserting that “either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Many governments joined this campaign, often adopting harsh new laws, lifting long-standing legal protections and stepping up domestic policing and intelligence work.Critics charge that the “war on terrorism” is an ideology of fear and repression that creates enemies and promotes violence rather than mitigating acts of terror and strengthening security. The worldwide campaign has too often become an excuse for governments to repress opposition groups and disregard international law and civil liberties. Governments should address terrorism through international cooperation, using international law and respecting civil liberties and human rights. Governments should also address the root causes of terrorism, notably political alienation due to prejudice, state-sponsored violence and poverty (p.1).” I personally do not ever see the “war on terrorism” ending anytime soon. I feel like they will always find a reason to as why we should still be at war. I do wish we could just end the war on terrorism and bring our troops back home. I think we are wasting valuable US dollars on a war we could resolve and save money.

I think the current war on terrorism related to WWII. According to Keene (2013), “In early December 1941, a Japanese fleet secretly steamed toward Hawaii, stopping within 250 miles of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. At 6:00 a.m. on December 7, Admiral Chuichi Nagumo launched two consecutive waves of bombers, torpedo planes, and dive-bombers. As Japanese pilots approached Pearl Harbor, a naval station on Oahu, they saw American warships parked in a neat row. Moments later those battleships, cruisers, and destroyers were engulfed in flames. It took the government nearly a year to release photos, like the one here, of American ships under attack (p.684).” I find the attack on Pearl Harbor a terrorist attack just as September 11th, 2001.

Reference:

Administrator. (2005). ‘War on Terrorism’. Retrieved from https://www.globalpolicy.org/war-on-terrorism.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Keene, J., Cornell, S. & O’Donnell, E. (2013). Visions of America: A History of the United

States (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.