Post by hadobos38 on Nov 16, 2011 22:13:19 GMT -5
On September 11, 2001 the United States was targeted and attacked by an Islamic terrorist organization know as Al-Qaeda. There were over two thousand Americans killed in total from the collapse of the World Trade Center, the crash in Pennsylvania and the attack on the Pentagon. Due to the fear of further terrorist assaults and to preserve the United States’ security, a new consensus was formed. The national crisis of 9/11 was manipulated by the new consensus, socially and economically, however ten years later the aftermath of the attacks have yet to subside and continue to affect the United States.
The terrorist attacks on the United States brought together Americans to strengthen their national security, especially against those who look of Muslim heritage, based on Al-Qaeda appearances. Former New Jersey governor Tom Kean says in an article dated to September 7th, 2011, “[Al-Qaeda] have recognized the fact that we profile, whether we say we do or not, and so they’re trying to recruit people from different backgrounds,” (NJ.com). This profiling of Islamics or Muslims is manipulated by those in the consensus who are loathsome of the Al-Qaeda terrorists, including some government members. The stereotype on Middle Eastern people remains common amongst all Americans still today. A way to deal with this was to improve the level of security against terrorists. Although the security measures do restrict few rights of privacy it is no longer an issue in our society’s consensus, because the safety of the nation is a first priority since the crisis.
Former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney decided to go full speed ahead into Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks to preserve our national security, and the War on Terror followed suit. Although it was in the best interest of the consensus to face the crisis by going to war, Bush and Cheney manipulated this fear of continued terrorism to invade Afghanistan and Iraq for revenge against Al-Qaeda; similar to Abigail’s intentions in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible when she lies to get rid of Goody Proctor. Although the war was necessary to defend our country, the weapons of mass destruction were not found and U.S. troops continued to die; 6,131 fatalities between October 2011 and July 2011. Ten years later, President Obama has promised the return of all troops-to end the war-yet, money continues to be funded as they come home. As a result, the war has cost the United States to lose up to $60 billion. Although the war is not the only reason for the economic recession America faces today, it was a contributing factor to the lasting effects on our economy.
After the 9/11 attacks American citizens manipulated the fear of the crisis, and of terrorism to get revenge on Al-Qaeda members and other terrorists. The prejudice against Muslims is a justification to use the top level security against terrorists, and it also shuns them from society-out of the consensus. The attacks on 9/11 were taken advantage of by the government to go to war to find weapons of mass destruction and defeat terrorism, meanwhile the economy fell partially due to lost spending for the war. The economic and social consequences of 9/11 are a result of the consensus’ manipulation to save the United States from terrorism.
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www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/911_security_and_safety_concer.html
www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/30/military-spending-waste_n_942723.html