Josef Raab Lecture 10: The War on Terror 9/11 and the War on Terror 1. Introduction 2. Leading up to 9/11 3. The Declaration of a War on Terror 4. The “” 5. Military Operations 6. Criticism of the War on Terror 7. Opinion Polls on the War on Terror 8. Literary Engagements with the War on Terror 9. Conclusion: The War on Terror and National Identity 1. Introduction • Terminology: “War on Terror,” “Global War on Terror,” “War on ” • Definition: military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom since October 2001 against groups/organizations suspected of terrorism against the U.S.A. and regimes supporting those organizations; originally led against al‐Qaeda; term used especially with reference to militant Islamists. • President George W. Bush in a September 16, 2001 interview: “This crusade –this war on terrorism –is going to take a while.” • Bush’s Sept. 20, 2001 Address to the Nation: “Our ‘war on terror’ begins with al‐Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated.” • President Barack Obama in his Jan. 20, 2009 Inaugural Address: “Our nation is at war, against a far‐reaching network of violence and hatred.” • The Obama administration has replaced the term “war on terror” by “Overseas Contingency Operation.” 2. Leading up to 9/11 • 1984: The Reagan administration uses the term “war on terrorism” to pass legislation that allows the freezing of assets held in the U.S. by individuals and groups suspected of terrorism • 1996: The Taliban regime seizes power in Afghanistan; al‐ Qaeda establishes a base of operations in Afghanistan • 1998: Osama bin Laden, as the head of al‐Qaeda, signs a fatwā (juristic ruling) and releases a video, declaring war on the West and Israel • 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania • 2000: attempted bombing of Los Angeles International Airport • Oct. 2000: suicide attack against the United States Navy destroyer USS Cole in Yemen, killing 17 and injuring 39 American soldiers 3. The Declaration of a War on Terror President George W. Bush’s Address to the Nation, September 20, 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CSPbzitPL8 •“enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country” •“night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack” •“a collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as al‐Qaeda,” “murderers” •al‐Qaeda’s “goal is remaking the world” •“Afghanistan, where they are trained in the tactics of terror,” “to plot evil and destruction” •Taliban rule in Afghanistan as the negation of U.S. ideals: no education for women, no free media, no freedom of religion, no freedom of expression/appearance •demand to the Taliban regime: “hand over every terrorist and every person in their support structure to appropriate authorities” 3. The Declaration of a War on Terror President George W. Bush’s Address to the Nation, September 20, 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CSPbzitPL8 •“Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps so we can make sure they are no longer operating” (U.S. as world police) •“These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion.” (U.S. as superpower) •reaching out to Muslims as adherents of a “good and peaceful” Islam •“The terrorists …are trying to hijack Islam itself.” •“Our war on terror begins with al‐Qaeda, but it does not end there.” 4. The “Axis of Evil” President George W. Bush’s State of the Union Address, Jan. 29, 2002: What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that, far from ending there, our war against terror is only beginning. Most of the 19 men who hijacked planes on September the 11th were trained in Afghanistan’s camps. And so were tens of thousands of others. Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in the methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes, are now spread throughout the world like ticking time bombs, set to go off without warning. … First, we will shut down terrorist camps, disrupt terrorist plans and bring terrorists to justice. And second, we must prevent the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world. … Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction. 4. The “Axis of Evil” President George W. Bush’s State of the Union Address, Jan. 29, 2002: Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September 11, but we know their true nature. is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens. aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom. Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax and nerve gas and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens, leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world. 4. The “Axis of Evil” President George W. Bush’s State of the Union Address, Jan. 29, 2002: States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic. We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the materials, technology and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction. … Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only begun. This campaign may not be finished on our watch, yet it must be and it will be waged on our watch. We can’t stop short. If we stopped now, leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked, our sense of security would be false and temporary. History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom’s fight. 4. The “Axis of Evil” • May 6, 2002: Under‐Secretary John R. Bolton adds the the list of “rogue states” the nations of Libya, Syria, and . • January 2005: Secretary of State adds to the “outposts of tyranny” the nations of Belarus, , and . • Parody: Will Ferrell on Saturday Night Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjcbTwUoemE • limited basis for inclusion in the “axis of evil”/ “excess of evil”/“access of evil” • foreign and domestic threats • those critical of the President and his policies are excluded as “evil” (unpatriotic, with the enemy) • appeal to consume and boost the economy • reverse designations of “Washington and its allies” as the “axis of evil,” e.g. by Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, who calls Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador, and Bolivia the “axis of good” 5. Military Operations • Operation Active Endeavour: naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea starting in Oct. 2001 • Operation Enduring Freedom: starts Oct. 7, 2001 with the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan; continues in the Philippines, Somalia, Iraq • Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 2003 to Dec. 2011 • Operation New Dawn: after the official end of U.S. military operation in Iraq on Sept. 1, 2010 • Pakistan: – 2001: Pakistan allows the U.S. use of three air bases in Pakistan for Operation Enduring Freedom – 2002ff: Pakistani authorities kill or arrest prominent al‐Qaeda members – 2004: Pakistani army seizes control of areas where al‐Qaeda training camps and hideouts are suspected – May 2, 2011: U.S. special forces raid the compound of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and kill him 5. Military Operations 5. Military Operations 5. Military Operations

Announcement by Pres. Barack Obama after the death of Osama bin Laden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYmK19‐ d0U&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL67684DB0BF0E4 DCF •“a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children” •emotional appeal: “heroic citizens” on flight 93, loss of ordinary Americans, “leaving a gaping hole in our hearts” •“our love of community and country. …we were united as one American family” •“We went to war against al‐Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.” •“tireless and heroic work our our military and our counter‐ terrorism professionals” •“I directed Leon Panetta …to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al‐Qaeda.” 5. Military Operations Announcement by President Barack Obama after the death of Osama bin Laden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYmK19‐ d0U&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL67684DB0BF0E4DCF •“bring him to justice” •“with extraordinary courage and capability” •“bin Laden was a mass murderer of Muslims. …So his demise should be welcome by all who believe in peace and human dignity.” •“Justice has been done.” •“professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country” •“America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.” (Exceptionalism) •“one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” (Pledge of Allegiance) 6. Criticism of the War on Terror

• U.S. invasion of Iraq as a war of aggression rather than a preventive war • war on terror as a pretext for defending U.S. economic interests (esp. concerning the supply of oil) • reduction of civil liberties in the U.S. (UAS PATRIOT Act of 2001, Protect America Act of 2007) • use of tactics that violate human rights: indefinite detention, targeted killing, surveillance, racial profiling • torture used by U.S. forces (e.g. in Abu Ghraib) • “extraordinary rendition” (capture of an individual who is then removed to another country) • unilateralism: “You're either with us or you are with the terrorists.” (Pres. Bush, Nov. 2001) • perception of the War on Terror as a war on Islam • Misleading the public under the guise of a war on terror 6. Criticism of the War on Terror Martin Amis, “The Wrong War” (March 2003, before the U.S. invasion of Iraq) •designation of an “axis of hatred” was changed to “axis of evil” •President Bush “wants geopolitics to be less about the intellect, and more about gut instincts and beliefs.” •without a war against Iraq Bush would not be reelected •danger of an uncontrollable war: “We contemplate a kaleidoscope of terrible eventualities: a WMD attack on Israel, and a WMD response (conceivably nuclear); civil war in Iraq, and elsewhere, together with all manner of humanitarian disasters; fundamentalist revolutions in Egypt and Jordan; and, ineluctably, an additional generation of terror from militant Islam.” 7. Opinion Polls on the War on Terror CBS Poll in Nov. 2011: “Do you think the policies of the Obama Administration have made the United States safer from terrorism, less safe from terrorism, or have the policies of the Obama Administration not affected the U.S.’ safety from terrorism?” Safer Less Safe Have not affectedUnsure Oct. 2011 36 19 34 11 April 2009 23 19 49 9

“Do you approve or disapprove of the United States taking military action in countries where it believes terrorists are hiding?” Approve Disapprove Approve of some Unsure 65 22 7 6 7. Opinion Polls on the War on Terror CBS Poll in Nov. 2011: “Who do you think is currently winning the war against terrorism: the U.S. and its allies, neither side, or the terrorists?” U.S. and its allies Neither side Terrorists Unsure 42 42 9 7

“Do you think it is sometimes justified to use waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation tactics to get information from a suspected terrorist, or are these tactics never justified?” Sometimes justified Never justified Depends Unsure 45 40 6 9 7. Opinion Polls on the War on Terror CNN Poll in Aug. 2011: “Thinking back to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, generally speaking, do you think things in the country are completely back to normal, somewhat back to normal but not completely, or not yet back to normal?” Completely back to normal Somewhat back to normal Not yet back to normal Aug. 2011 5 47 48 Aug. 2006 2 29 70

NBC Poll in May 2011: “Do you think the death of Osama bin Laden will make it easier, make it harder, or not affect the United States' ability to win the global war on terror?” Make it easier Make it harder Not affect U.S.’ ability Depends/Unsure 39 15 38 8 8. Literary Engagements with the War on Terror Soldiers’ Memoirs •Anthony Swofford, Jarhead: A Marine’s Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles (2003). •General Tommy Franks, American Soldier (2004). •Andrew Exum, This Man’s Army: A Soldier’s Story from the Front Lines of the War on Terrorism (2005). •Colby Buzzell, My War: Killing Time in Iraq (2005). •Joshua Key (as told to Lawrence Hill), Deserter’s Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq (2007). •David Bellavia (with John Bruning), House to House: A Soldier’s Memoir (2008). •Clint Van Winkle, Soft Spots: A Marine's Memoir of Combat and Post‐ Traumatic Stress Disorder (2010). 8. Literary Engagements with the War on Terror Martin Amis, “The Last Days of Muhammad Atta” (2006) •cyclical: first and last sentence are identical. What has changed in our understanding of the protagonist by the last sentence? •95‐96: disguise vs. genuine feelings •repetition of “Muhammad Atta wasn’t like the others.” •99: the appeal of jihad •loathing for Western lifestyles and ideas (“pallor and decay” vs. his own “martyred” self, p. 101); 106: breastfeeding in public •117: resentment of the power a voluptuous Spanish stewardess has over praying Arab men •rivalry and hatred among the hijackers •a falsifying Western portrayal? (fasting, bickering, ...) •plea for the joy of life at the end of the story 8. Literary Engagements with the War on Terror John Updike, Terrorist (2006) •Updike’s 22nd novel; seeks to explore religious funda‐mentalism through the figure of the American‐born Muslim teenager named Ahmad Ashmawy Mulloy (aged 18) in New Jersey; Ahmad idealizes his absent Egyptian father; disrespects his Irish‐American mother. The Jewish guidance counselor Jack Levy reveals to Ahmad that Ahmad has fallen for a counter‐terrorism government sting operation. Ahmad does not follow his imam’s demand to blow up Lincoln Tunnel. •167: Ahmad’s disregard for his mother •critique of Western media, consumerism, and sexual mores •ultimate confirmation of Western approach; clichéd depiction of the non‐Western 9. Conclusion: The War on Terror and National Identity • few significant differences between the approaches of the Bush and of the Obama administration • continuing fear of terrorist threats (Aug. 2011 CNN poll: 36% find “good reason” to be personally “afraid of terrorist threats”) • growing skepticism between U.S. and Europe (after Germany and France refuse support for the invasion of Iraq in 2003); international isolation (against UN) • restriction of civil liberties inside the U.S. • war crimes, Guantanamo, and disregard for human rights damage international reputation of U.S. • Pres. Bush’s approval ratings: late Aug. 2001: 50 %, early Oct. 2001: 90 % • Pres. Obama’s approval ratings: late April 2011: 47 %, early May 2011: 56 % • May 2, 2011 Pew Poll: “72% say they feel ‘relieved’ by Osama bin Laden’s death, while 60 % feel ‘proud’ and 58 % say they are ‘happy’.”