America in the Post 9-11 Era

1. America in the Post 9-11 Era

2. America in the Post 9-11 Era • September 11, 2001 • The War on Terror • Afghanistan • Rights in a Nation during a time of Crisis • Iraq • Recession of 2008 • Looking Forward

3. News Coverage of the Attack • NBC Coverage of the Attack

9. Who’s Responsible • Al-Qaeda • International terrorist organization • Founder - Osama Bin Laden • Using Afghanistan as a base for operations

10. Why? • Ideology of Al-Qaeda • Believe that the U.S. and western nations must leave Islamic regions of the world • Opposed to democracy • Advocate Sharia law – Laws based on the Quaran • Bin Laden once said: "You are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind: You are the nation who, rather than ruling by the Sharia of Allah in its Constitution and Laws, choose to invent your own laws as you will and desire. You separate religion from your policies, contradicting the pure nature which affirms Absolute Authority to the Lord and your Creator."

11. America in the Post 9-11 Era • September 11, 2001 • The War on Terror • Afghanistan • Rights in a Nation during a time of Crisis • Iraq • Recession of 2008 • Looking Forward

12. Afghanistan

13. The War in Afghanistan • The reason we invaded • Islamic government of Afghanistan (the Taliban) was harboring Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. • President Bush made the following demands of the Taliban: • deliver al-Qaeda leaders located in Afghanistan to the United States authorities • close terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and "hand over every terrorist and every person and their support structure to appropriate authorities" • give the United States full access to terrorist training camps to verify their closure

14. The Taliban refused • October of 2001 CIA operatives and U.S. Army Special Forces within Afghanistan helped local militants defeat the Taliban government.

15. Goals of the U.S. • Capture or kill Osama Bin Laden • Destroy Al-Qaeda • Remove the Taliban from power • Set up a democratically elected Government in Afghanistan

16. Mountains of Afghanistan

17. America in the Post 9-11 Era • September 11, 2001 • The War on Terror • Afghanistan • Rights in a Nation during a time of Crisis • Iraq • Recession of 2008 • Looking Forward

18. Rights in a Nation During Times of Crisis

19. Patriot Act • Signed into law on Oct. 26, 2001. • It allows: • The government to wiretap any communication from people suspected of association with terrorist without a warrant. • Access internet communications of any individual that has information relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation • Non-citizens may be held indefinitely by the Attorney General if they are deemed a threat to national security. • Critics argue that the Patriot Act allows the government to illegally spy on its citizens and unconstitutional detain foreign suspects. • Supporters argue that the act provides the government with the tools necessary to fight the war on terror.

20. Air Port Security • There have been five attempts since 9-11 by terrorist to attack airlines. • Reactions – Increased security • X-ray scanners – Take x-ray images of persons selected for screening. Imaging penetrates clothing to reveal possible hidden weapons and devices. • Enhanced pat-down procedures – The new procedures involve using the front of the hand to search for concealed items and more detailed tactile inspection of areas higher on the thigh and in the groin area. The procedures routinely involve touching of buttocks and genitals (source: Congressional Research Services). • Critics argue that this constitutes an invasion of privacy. • Supporters argue that flying is a choice, and that invasive screenings are the only way to guarantee flight safety.

21. Drone Strikes • The U.S. has relied heavily on unmanned aerial drones to detect, track, and kill terrorists. • September 30, 2011 a drone killed U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. • Awlaki was tied to three al-Qaeda terrorist plot. • Critics argue that the drone strike violated Awlaki due process of law. • Supporters argue that Awlaki was beyond apprehension because of his location and the U.S. has an obligation to kill terrorists.

22. Guantanamo Bay • 660 al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects have been sent to Guantanamo Bay Cuba. • Since they are not U.S. citizens nor in U.S. territory they are not guaranteed due process of law. • The U.S. considers them enemy combatants, and can therefore detain them until conflict with al-Qaeda and the Taliban is over. • Critics argue that this detention violates the U.S. constitution and international treaties. • Supports argue that those detained pose a real threat to the U.S.

23. Safety vs. Civil Liberties in the Post 9-11 Era • What is acceptable in the post 9-11 era to keep people safe? • What is going to far?

24. For More Information • Link

25. America in the Post 9-11 Era • September 11, 2001 • The War on Terror • Afghanistan • Rights in a Nation during a time of Crisis • Iraq • Recession of 2008 • Looking Forward

26. Iraq

27. The War in Iraq • In early 2003 tensions began to build between the United States and Iraq. • Intelligence indicated that the Iraqi government was constructing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) • Nuclear Bombs • Chemical/Biological Weapons • The UN sent weapons inspectors into the Iraq and found no evidence of WMDs. • The U.S., still feeling that a threat was imminent to itself and its allies issued an ultimatum to the leader of the Iraqi government that they must surrender and face possible prosecution for war crimes.

28. Goals of the U.S. • Remove Saddam Hussein from power • Capture all WMDs and end WMD programs • Set up a democratically elected government in Iraq

29. The leader of Iraq, President Saddam Hussein, refused to give in to U.S. demands. • On March 20, 2003 the U.S. led a coalition in the invasion of Iraq. • The initial invasion went well with limited casualties and Saddam Hussein’s government was removed from power.

30. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured and executed by the Iraqi people. • The U.S. began an effort to set up a democratically elected government in Iraq. • Soon religious tensions between the Sunni and Shia populations of Iraq boiled over into a civil war.

31. As a civil war began between the Iraqi people over who would control the new government members of Al-Qaeda also entered Iraq. • The U.S. found itself in a position of peace keeper while each side attempted to undermine their opponents position. • The enemy often fought using the methods of Guerrilla Warfare, including snipers and bombings.

32. Road side bombs have been a major cause of U.S. fatalities in Iraq

34. The red section indicates the ‘Surge.’ President Bush sent thousands of additional troops into Iraq to help stabilize the country and provide the Iraqi government with the opportunity to fix problems politically. • The ‘Surge’ is believed to have worked. Violence in Iraq is at an all time low since the invasion. • U.S. troops are planned to be completely withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011.

35. America in the Post 9-11 Era • September 11, 2001 • The War on Terror • Afghanistan • Rights in a Nation during a time of Crisis • Iraq • Recession of 2008 • Looking Forward

36. The Housing Bubble • During the mid-2000s there was a housing boom in the country. • Home prices rose rapidly and many Americans bought homes as investments. • Normal rise in home value 3% annually • In some areas home prices rose over 15% annually

37. Sub-Prime Lending • Banks began to loan people money to purchase a home even if they did not meet loan qualifications. • Worst Case Scenario at this time • Owners foreclose and bank repossess a home worth more than the original loan.

38. Collapse • People began to foreclose on their homes in record numbers. • Home prices began to plummet. • Worst Case Scenario at this time • Bank repossesses home that is worth less than the loan

39. The Great Recession • The collapse of house had a ripple effect through the entire economy. • Banks began to collapse • Loans became difficult to acquire • Businesses closed • GDP Plummeted • Stock Market fell over 50% • Unemployment rose to 10% • International Trade Fell (Recession became global) • More people foreclosed on their homes

40. International trade, 2000-2010

41. DJIA Great Recession vs Great Depression

42. Keynesian Response • Keynesian Economics • Governments can ease recessionary periods by pumping money into the economy • Ways to do this: • Fiscal Policy • Monetary Policy

43. Fiscal Policy • Banking – Government loaned banks billions to keep them from collapsing • Industrial Stimulus – Loaned money to auto and energy industry • Economic Stimulus – Provided over $800 billion in tax breaks, incentives, and grants.

44. Government Stimulus Started Under Bush’s Presidency

45. But Proved to have little effect

46. Dramatic increase in government stimulus under Obama’s administration

47. Monetary Policy • Lowered interest rates to record lows • Current rate is 3.8% • Decrease the reserve ration: The amount of money that a bank has to keep and can not loan out.

48. Why it Works • Fiscal Policy • Pumps money into the economy • Monetary Policy • Allows money to be loaned at a reasonable rate and increases the money supply • Multiplier Effect takes over

49. Why it Works • Multiplier Effect is based on the reserve ration. • Formula: D = A*(1/r) • D Money added to the economy • A Original amount deposited • R Reserve Ratio

50. Problems with Keynesian Economics? • The Government spends more to stimulate the economy • Revenue from taxes drops because decreased wages for citizens • This leads too…