Security 9/11 and Iraq Rhetoric

Devin Savaskan

In an entry in the journal Security Studies, Ronald R Krebs, and Jennifer K Lobaz argue that it was the rhetoric of the Bush administration that led to the Iraq War. However, it is critical to point out the true factor that allowed the campaign to thrive. 9/11 forced Americans to question their traditional, human, and ontological securities. The effects of the attacks on the American public allowed the Bush administration to lead a nation into a pointless war.

            The attacks on September 11^th were most clearly a strike on the traditional security of the United States. Intelligence agencies and the military did little to prevent the atrocities, and would in time completely deplete defense resources. A new adversary was exactly what Americans feared.  As news spread of the possibility that Saddam Hussein had nuclear weaponry, Americans began to question the allegiances of its former foe. The Bush administration quickly jumped to portray Saddam as an al-Qaeda ally. The idea a strong Middle Eastern government backing the infamous terrorist group was enough to make civilians quiver. The aid of a large government would undermine the U.S. military in the region and thus furthering the decimation of United States traditional security. The military ramifications were not the only thing that tugged at American hearts.

            While 9/11 was a clear representation of military and intelligence compromise, it also lead Americans to question their human security. Over the next couple of years, leading news networks emphasized the many ways terrorists could strike. Not only could they use bombs, but they could also contaminate the water supply, and even use chemical weapons. This could provoke anyone to live in constant fear. Iraq meanwhile, had a history with chemical weapons.  A decade earlier, Saddam gassed his own people in a complete defiance of international law. How could American’s breathe easy with the thought of a man like Saddam connected to al-Qaeda? The Bush administration focused in on “weapons of mass destruction” to tug at the human securities of the American people.

            One of the primary goals of al-Qaeda was to destroy the American identity. They intended the attacks to bring question to the American lifestyle and ideologue. The American identity of course is what really brought people together during this time of crisis. However, it also naturally made them easily, and understandably, defensive and combative. George W. Bush had already called the War on Terror “a crusade”. A battle between good and evil. The introduction of Saddam as a possible supporter of al-Qaeda was met with defiance. The American people loved their way of life and saw Iraq as a new threat to it. The desire of United States civilians to protect their identity made it easy for the Bush administration to fix Iraq as the enemy.

            By the time the vote hit congress there was no question of its outcome. Democrats could not oppose war in fear of losing favor politically. President Bush, through a strong campaign had won the support of the people. However, it was America’s security crises following 9/11 that allowed the administration to fix the Iraq war as they saw fit.