The New Millennium Irreversibly Changed The Direction Of...

Saskia Binder-Tulenko sb47593 12.5.14 Events of the new millennium irreversibly changed the direction of American foreign policy. During the 1990s, Anti-American sentiments burgeoned in the Middle East within growing radical Islamist groups that perceived America as empirical and expansionist after the prolonged US occupation of Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia after the end of the first gulf war. The September 11th attack on the Twin Towers, once representative of American military and economic hegemony, symbolized to many a political failure that would change the focus of American national interest for years to come. September 11th catalyzed a major revival in the American public’s concern for domestic national security, which had dropped off following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The attacks, which were the first on American soil since Pearl Harbor, prompted American leaders to respond with swift and ambitious military action. At this time, the public perceived security of American territory against †Å"terrorism†Ã¢â‚¬â€œan intentionally broad and emotionally charged term– as its chief national interest. Following the attack, President Bush announced the launch of a â€Å"global war on terror†, an international effort to combat terrorist groups and the nations that harbor them–prompting him to establish the Department of Homeland Security later that year. 9/11 catalyzed the public’s support of military presence in the Middle East, as the immediate threat to