national security & defense
National security policy in the U.S. balances protecting the nation from external and internal threats with civil liberties, evolving from Cold War frameworks to post-9/11 counterterrorism priorities.
general notes
national security includes diplomacy, economic leverage, armed forces, emergency preparedness, and intelligence
civil defense and critical infrastructure resilience are core pillars
post-9/11, concerns grew about the trade-off between security and civil liberties
measures taken to ensure US national security
using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats
using economic power to elicit cooperation
maintaining effective armed forces
implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness policies (e.g. anti-terrorism legislation)
ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure
using intelligence services to detect, defeat, or avoid threats and protect classified info
tasking counterintelligence services or secret police to address internal threats
structure of national security
national security organizations have remained mostly stable since President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 and its 1949 amendment
the act led to:
the creation of the national military establishment, now the Department of Defense
a separate department of the Air Force from the existing Army Air Forces
subordinating all military branches under a new Secretary of Defense
the establishment of the National Security Council to coordinate security policy in the executive branch
the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a civilian agency tasked with advancing U.S. national security through foreign intelligence gathering and undercover missions
post WW2 foundations
Democratic president who served from 1945 to 1953
major acts
National Security Act of 1947: created department of defense, CIA, National Security Council
unified military branches under one structure after WWII
USA PATRIOT Act (2001): passed after 9/11 to expand government surveillance, improve information sharing, fight terrorism
Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF 2001 & 2002)
2001 AUMF: gave president broad powers to use force against terror groups linked to 9/11
2022: used to justify invasion of Iraq
Homeland Security Act (2002): created Department of Homeland Security to coordinate domestic security, including terrorism, disaster response, immigration enforcement
FISA Amendments Act (2008): updated Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allowing broader electronic surveillance of foreign targets with limited court oversight
key Supreme Court cases
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004): US citizens labeled enemy combatants must have due process rights, even in wartime
Boumediene v. Bush (2008): Guantanamo detainees have the right to challenge their detention in US courts even if they’re non-citizens held overseas
fair legal procedure and protection before depriving life, liberty, property
more on the Patriot Act
passed after 9/11 to expand counterterrorism powers
expanded surveillance abilities of law enforcement, including tapping domestic and international phones
allowed easier interagency communication to coordinate federal counterterrorism efforts
increased penalties for terrorism crimes and expanded what qualified as terrorism
highly controversial due to provisions allowing law enforcement to search property and records without the owner’s consent or knowledge
provoked multiple legal challenges due to concerns over individual rights and freedoms
the september 11 attacks
four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks carried out by 19 Al-Qaeda operatives
two planes crashed into the Twin Towers (World Trade Center) in NYC
one crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia
the fourth crashed into a field in Pennsylvania during a passenger revolt
killed 2,977 people, the deadliest terrorist attack in history
led to the war on terror, a global military campaign led by the U.S. that some argue replaced the Cold War
headquarters of the Department of Defense
decades-long political and military rivalry between U.S. and Soviet Union after WWII, nuclear tension but no direct war
response to 9/11: war on terror
counterterrorism center identified the attacks as carried out by Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden
U.S. launched the War on Terror, beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan
goal: depose the taliban, who had refused to expel al-qaeda or extradite its leaders
motives cited for 9/11 attacks included:
U.S. support of Israel
U.S.-led attacks in Somalia and the Moro conflict in the Philippines
sanctions on Iraq
environmental destruction
ongoing insurgency in southern Philippines, Muslim groups' fight for independence from central government since the 1970s
a militant Islamist terrorist group founded by Osama bin Laden in 1988
war in Afghanistan (2001)
started with broad support
shifted from targeting Al-Qaeda to long-term nation building
became the longest war in U.S. history, with limited clear progress
involved use of Guantanamo Bay, a military prison in Cuba to detain terror suspects
CIA operated black sites where torture (e.g. waterboarding) occurred
these actions damaged the U.S.’s global reputation
iraq war (2003)
President George W. Bush labeled Iraq part of the “axis of evil”
claimed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and ties to terrorism
U.S. invaded in march 2003, no WMDs were found
war dragged on for years, costing thousands of U.S. and Iraqi lives
destabilized the region and was later seen as unjustified and based on false intelligence
widely viewed as a mistake in hindsight
Republican president who served from 2001 to 2009, read more HERE
term used to describe governments he accused of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (Iran, Iraq, North Korea)
authoritarian president of Iraq from 1979 to 2003
George W. Bush presidency (2001-2009)
domestic policies
republican president, eldest son of President George H.W. Bush
signed No Child Left Behind Act (education reform)
pushed for Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act nd faith-based initiatives
read more in the education section! CLICK ME
department of homeland security
Republican president who served from 1989 to 1993
created in response to 9/11 to consolidate and streamline national security operations
hurricane katrina
devastated New Orleans, one of the poorest metro areas in 2005
response was slow, disorganized, and ineffective
thousands stranded in flooded areas; people lacked food, water, and medical aid
images of mostly Black residents suffering highlighted systemic inequality
Bush was criticized for delayed action and for praising FEMA director michael brown during the chaos
gave impression that government was unprepared, out of touch, and uncaring
2008 financial crisis
near the end of Bush’s presidency, U.S. economy collapsed due to the housing bubble and Wall Street failures
Bush’s administration approved TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program), a $700 billion bailout package
deeply unpopular with both the left and right
left criticized the bailouts for helping big banks; right criticized expanded government spending
Bush was seen as asleep at the wheel during economic meltdown
read more in the economy section! CLICK ME
2000 election controversy
Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore
won presidency after the supreme court stopped a Florida recount
many americans saw this as undemocratic or unfair
by end of presidency, Bush had one of the lowest modern approval ratings (22–25%)
former U.S. vice president (1993–2001) under Clinton
party views
democrats, in general....
support strong defense but tend to favour diplomacy, targeted military action
more critical of unlimited executive war powers like AUMF and want congressional oversight
often emphasize civil liberties, transparency, ending "forever wars"
tend to be more cautious about surveillance powers and protective of privacy rights
prolonged military conflicts with no clear end, often shifting goals and ongoing U.S. involvement
republicans, in general....
emphasize military strength, robust defense spending, aggressive counterterrorism
support broader presidential authority for military actions and surveillance
favour strong stance against adversaries like China, Russia, Iran
often back border security
more likely to support expanding surveillance tools if framed as necessary for protection