September 11th, 2001 was a historical day in history. This one day had the entire world shaken, and civilians were quivering in fear for themselves, their families, their children. 9/11 was so dreadful that they teach about it in schools. Approximately 3,000 people lost their lives on that fateful day. The President, George W. Bush, sent troops into Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the “War on Terror.”
President George W. Bush felt that it was his job and his priority to protect the country, so in defense he sent thousands of troops to defend our country. He used his executive power and declared war without congress’s approval for 90 days. When President Bush 9/11 speech addressed the US on October 7, 2001, he said, “We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it”. Many people opposed his decision, but some agreed. One government official who decided that President Bush made the right decision is Vice President Dick Cheney. He argued in favor of President Bush’s decision for using an invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan as a means for the U.S. to play a more permanent role in the Gulf regional security.
Numerous people disagreed with the military intervention. Rationales for opposition include the belief that the war was illegal according to the United Nations Charter or would contribute to instability both within Iraq and the wider Middle East. Critics of the invasion claimed that it would lead to the death of thousands of civilians and soldiers. One government official who disagreed with President Bush is Senator Bernie Sanders. The Senator said in a speech in 2002, “I do not know why the President feels, despite what our intelligence agencies are saying, that it is so important to pass a resolution of this magnitude this week and why it is necessary to go forward without the support of the United Nations and our major allies including those who are fighting side by side with us in the war on terrorism”.
Another Senator that disagreed with President Bush was Senator Ron Wyden. Him and over 20 other government officials opposed the President’s rash decision. He recalled the facts about the Gulf War conflict and how countries had once stood with America no longer do. Rebuilding confidence of the people of Iraq requires in depth plans to keep the country stabilized after a massive invasion. Wyden was not convinced that Saddam Hussein actually posed a clear and present threat against the security of the United States. He worked in the Senate Intelligence Committee and saw no evidence that proved an attack on America was being organized and devised.
October 7th, 2001 President Bush declared war on Iraq and Afghanistan without congress approval, which means troops can go to war for 90 days until congress can intervene and vote whether they want to continue in this war or back out. A year after the September 11, 2001 attacks on Washington and New York, President Bush’s national security approach was clear: US would not hinder military actions believed necessary. Therefore, when contemplating interventions, the United States had to weigh the cost of going to war.
One of the biggest questions that get asked today is, “did the American public support intervention”?
