Introduction
Terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 marked a watershed moment in American and global history. President George W. Bush responded to the devastating attacks with a series of actions and initiatives aimed at combating terrorism and enhancing national security. Implementing these strategies had far-reaching consequences for the country’s response to terrorism and helped shape the United States national security and counterterrorism policies for many years. This essay looks at President Bush’s strategies following the September 11 terrorist attacks and how they affected the country’s response to terrorism. By examining these strategies, this will help better understand the government’s efforts to protect its citizens and maintain national security in the face of an unprecedented threat.
Assist Rebels in Overthrowing the Al-Asaad Regime in Syria
Since taking office as President of Syria in 2000, Bashar al-Assad has encountered domestic and external opposition and criticism. His administration’s government has been charged with violating human rights, including using chemical weapons on its people and stifling political dissent. The violence in the country has become more complex and continues as a result of the Syrian Civil War, which started in 2011 (Zisser, 2022). The United States government backed the Syrian opposition party in its effort to topple the Al-Assad dictatorship in Syria to defend itself against insurgents and terrorists.
Bashar al-Asaad had to be prevented from attacking Syrian civilians since he backed Russia, which the U.S. had been at war with since the cold war. He also wanted to overthrow the USA as the largest economic powerhouse in the Arab countries. The USA has bolstered the rebel army by providing artillery and military training to the rebel group (Zisser, 2022). The U.S. government also wanted to protect Israel from terrorist attacks.
Indefinite Detention of Suspected Terrorists, Either Abroad or in the United States
Following the September 18, 2001 attacks, the United States detained suspected terrorists indefinitely at home and abroad as part of its broader counterterrorism efforts. Individuals suspected of having ties to terrorist organizations threatened national security. According to the reasoning behind this policy, they needed to be prevented from carrying out future attacks. In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, there was a greater sense of urgency to protect the country from further harm. The United States government believed that indefinite detention was required to gather intelligence and prevent further attacks. The U.S. government also claimed that traditional legal processes, such as criminal trials, were unsuitable for dealing with the terrorism threat and that extraordinary measures were required.
The establishment of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was one example of the U.S. government’s detention policy following 9/11. For several years, suspected terrorists were held at this facility without trial or charge, prompting criticism from human rights groups and others who claimed that the detainees were being held in violation of their due process rights. The U.S. government also developed more extensive surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities targeting suspected terrorists in addition to these specific detention measures, raising additional concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
Destruction of Suspected Terrorists Around the World Using Unmanned Drones
After the September 18, 2001 attacks, the U.S. government started using unmanned drones as part of its larger counterterrorism initiatives to target suspected terrorists worldwide. This approach was justified because it offered a means of removing serious terrorist threats without endangering the lives of American military troops. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as unmanned drones, enable targeted attacks against alleged terrorists in difficult-to-reach places. They can be controlled remotely, allowing the American government to execute targeted killings without endangering American soldiers. This was viewed as an essential response to the threat that terrorism posed, especially in the wake of the September 18, 2001 attacks, when the U.S. government was compelled to take decisive action to prevent future attacks.
Authorization for The Use of Military Forces
The Authorization for the use of Military Force (AUMF), which Congress passed in the aftermath of the September 18, 2001 attacks, has significantly impacted the United States’ efforts to combat terrorism. The AUMF authorized the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those responsible for the September 18, 2001 attacks and associated forces, giving the U.S. military more leeway in combating terrorist groups. The AUMF has served as the legal foundation for several U.S. military operations, including the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the continued detention of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and the use of unmanned drones to target suspected terrorists. The AUMF’s broad language has been interpreted to give the President significant authority to take military action against various terrorist groups other than those responsible for the September 18, 2001 attacks.
While the AUMF has been credited with enabling the United States government to take decisive action against terrorism, it has also been criticized. Some argue that the AUMF has been used to justify a wide range of military actions and that its broad language could be used to justify military action in situations far removed from the 9/11 attacks. There have been calls in recent years to repeal or replace the AUMF, with some claiming that it is outdated and no longer serves its original purpose. Others, however, argue that the AUMF is still necessary to provide the U.S. government with the flexibility and authority it requires to combat terrorism.
The 107th USA Congress
From January 2001 through January 2003, the 107th United States Congress was in session. This was immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Republicans, who held the majority in the House of Representatives and a balanced representation in the Senate during the 107th Congress, were in charge. The 107th Congress passed several significant pieces of legislation to strengthen national security and fight terrorism in response to the 9/11 attacks. The USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act) signed into law by President George W. Bush in October 2001, was one of the most notable pieces of legislation. The Patriot Act has been the focus of debate and legal challenges since it significantly increased the authority of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in hunting suspected terrorists.
The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which established the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and imposed new security measures on the country’s airports and airlines, was another significant piece of legislation passed by the 107th Congress in response to 9/11. A resolution that authorized military force against the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks was also approved by the 107th Congress. As a result, the United States began conducting military operations in Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban and dismantle the al-Qaeda network.
Conclusion
The Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) is a piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The AUMF authorizes the President of the United States to use military force against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks and those who assisted or harbored them. This will help bring the culprits and those who harbored them to justice and avoid such attacks in future.
References
Zisser, E. (2022). Rethinking Syrian nationalism: national identity and state in Syria, from the ‘struggle for Syria’ to the Syrian civil war. Politics & International Relations Journals, 58(3), 421-434.