America and Terror

A Presentation by Israel Cazuela-Garcia, Sarah Kermon,

Sumer Batchelor and Amanda McQuade

Compelling Question
Can Americas actions leading up to the War on
Terror also be considered acts of terror?
The Two Sides:
Yes, Americas actions can be considered acts of terror
between the period of the start of the Persian Gulf War and
September 11, 2001.
No, Americas actions can not be considered acts of terror
between the period of the start of the Persian Gulf War and
September 11, 2001.

What is Terrorism?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, Terrorism is the
unlawful use of violence and intimidation especially
against civilians, in the pursuit of political gains.

Introduction
America is not a first time offender where terrorism is
concerned.
Some examples are:
The Domino Theory, when America entered Vietnam and
Korea to push out communist forces during the Cold War,
and used intimidation to get allies.
Killing innocent people to find terrorists in the Middle East
American soldiers have also landed in places such as Saudi
Arabia that are considered sacred soil to Middle Eastern
peoples.

Has America Committed Acts of

Terror?
Incoherent Empire
Discusses the concept of the Domino Theory
During the Cold War, NATO (National Atlantic Treaty Organization )
was teaming up together against the Soviet Union and its allies.
During this time, Both China and Russia were mighty communist
powers, and it worried America, Britain and the rest of NATO that they
were becoming so powerful.
Political unrest in Asia and the Middle East turned into communist
movements.
To gain more allies, America became involved in Korea and Vietnam
This was the same for the Middle Eastern Countries

Has America Committed Acts of

Terror?
Incoherent Empire
More information on the invasion
It explains how President Bush wanted to reform the Eastern region
for the greater good
Includes acts of terror by Americans to make region more friendly,
orderly, and democratic and how they used force to do so.
Not only Middle Easterners were mad, other European and other
Western countries were mad too
France, Germany, Russia and other countries opposed the invasion

9/11 Plane Attacks

How America Committed Acts of

Terror
Article: Terrorism: Why They Want to Kill Us
Describes how in their hunt for terrorist, they killed many
innocent civilians along the way
It explains by using quotes and testimonies from Muslims who
resorted to terror

Until the hour the U.S. pulls its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and stops
the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and Pakistan, and stops the
occupation of Muslim lands, and stops killing the Muslims, and stops
reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking U.S

Article: Democracy Domino Theory Not Credible

Explains how President Bush wanted to install a new regime
in the Middle East in order to spread Democracy

Attempt failed and made more anti-american sentiment in the Middle

East

How America committed acts of Terror?

(Cont.)
Article: Body Count Report Reveals At Least 1.3 Million
Lives Lost to US-Led War on Terror
Describes how many lives were lost following September
11th, 2001 in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
It provides evidence from a PDF copy of a book by Physicians for
Social Responsibility called Body Count.

Other Arguement
When talking about the other argument it is important
to understand the legal side of things.
The Geneva Conference : Started in 1864
It creates the laws that are to be followed during wartime by all
parties participating in the war

Jus in Bello

a party intends to conduct hostilities; or [] when parties are

actually conducting hostilities. (United States Department of
Defense 78)

War has laws, terrorism does not

Other Argument (Cont.)

Following 9/11, President George W. Bush enforced
stricter homeland security.
In an article from KQED News, it is stated that airport
security, and homeland security were improved a lot more.
This was all followed after the 9/11 attacks.

American involvement is also needed to protect the

people in the Middle East
According to Steven Clifford with the Huffington Post, People
who live in poverty-stricken areas do not have the resources
or support to protect themselves against terrorism.

Conclusion
Agree
May lives were lost due to Americas invasion of Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
There are rules to war and breaking this could lead to war
crimes
Incoherent Empire
Domino Theory
Killing innocent civilians
Many Western Nations disagreeing with the invasion

Conclusion
Disagree
Given the logic that war has laws and terrorism does not, it is
impossible for America to have committed any acts of terror
within the period of time investigated (the start of the
Persian War to 9/11)
The Persian Gulf War did not end until 2003

America did not sign Protocol II which would have made their
actions against civilians illegal and a war crime
Still would not have been an act of terror because they were at war
when they destroyed Iraqi infrastructure

Citations
-Muskal, Michael. The Terrorist Attacks Of Sept. 11,
2001. 2001 photograph, New York City, New York
Clifford, Steven. The Good Guys and Bad Guys in Iraq.
Huffington Post, New York, New York, 2014.
-Lederhandler, Marty. 2001, Photograph. New York.
-Trever, John. New Domino Theory. 2004 cartoon
- The Domino Theory .
- Mann Michael. Incoherent Empire. 2003. Photograph,
New York