Texts about 9/11 and the War on Terror

9/11 Address to the Nation

President George W. Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation explores topics like the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, hope, and the American spirit. These topics are inspired by the circumstances of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which brought sadness and grief to the American people but also the need to defend their country and its core principles.

George W. Bush's War on Terror Speech

It is a political speech delivered shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Consequently, the main topic of the speech is the war against terrorism, which was declared by President George W. Bush in the wake of these events. In connection with this overall topic, the speaker explores themes such as solidarity, violence and terrorism, and freedom and democracy.

President George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address

George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address explores key aspects of the War on Terror, the 9/ 11 terrorist attacks, and state regimes that support terrorists. The speech can help you understand the whole concept of the fight against terrorism and America’s position after the 9/11 attacks. 

Tony Blair's Speech on Terror

Tony Blair’s Speech on Terror following the 2005 London bombings can help you understand the UK government’s position on terrorism. The speech focuses on the way terrorism is based on religious fanaticism and gains adherents by using misleading propaganda. Blair also discusses how terrorism and extremism can be countered through projects within Britain and abroad. 

Barack Obama's 2015 State Of The Union Address

In his 2015 State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama touches upon the situations in Afghanistan and Syria and the way the US deals with them or should deal with them in the future. Obama explores the importance of defending the US against terrorism, of protecting human rights everywhere, of joining forces with other countries to fight climate change or pandemics, as well as to build better economic relations.

Donald Trump's Republican Nomination Acceptance Speech

Trump talks about violence and terrorism and focuses on the failure of American foreign and national policy to deal with this issue. He also focuses on refugees and the problem of illegal immigrants and their negative impact on American society.

Bangana | Analysis

This short story by the American author CJ Hauser is focused on an American woman who works as a drone operator. As she is observing suspected terrorists and contemplating whether to order a strike, her reflections keep skipping between her own family in the US and the family she observes in Afghanistan, leading to an inner conflict.

The Christmas Tin

"The Christmas Tin" by Amanda Craig explores the war in Afghanistan from the perspective of the civilian population in the UK. Despite not agreeing with the war, the main character of the story feels empathy for the soldiers and hopes they will return home safely. Through the main character's son, the story also shows that children might have a distorted view of the realities of war because of the media they consume.

My Son the Fanatic

As the title suggests, this short story by Hanif Kureishi explores the influences that may pull young people in the direction of religious extremism. It also highlights the cultural conflicts that may arise when an immigrant family is trying to navigate vastly different worlds and belief systems, and how these conflicts may end up pulling the family apart.

Redeployment

This short story by Pillip Klay is focused on an American soldier who returns from the war in Iraq. Greatly affected by the horrors he has seen and lived through, he struggles to reintegrate with American society and even finds that his relationship with his wife has become different. The story explores the consequences of war from the returning soldier's perspective, partly inspired by Klay's real-life experiences as a US Marine.

The United States of BOO!

“The United States of BOO!” by Michael Moore is a satirical essay exploring the consequences of 9/11 and the War on Terror for American society. The author argues that the political rhetoric and the extreme actions taken to allegedly protect Americans have created a climate of fear, which is rarely justified by real facts related to terrorism. 

On War and Redemption | Analysis

The article “On War and Redemption” by Timothy Kudo explores issues related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affecting soldiers who were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The article is a personal story of Kudo’s experiences in Afghanistan. The article points to some of the consequences of the War on Terror. 

Why not everyone is a torturer

Using the example of the Abu Ghraib prison tortures, Reicher and Haslam show the influence of society, culture, and leaders on the American military personnel who tortured Iraqi prisoners.

So many ways to die in Syria now

The British author Neil Gaiman wrote this article following a visit to a refugee camp in Jordan, housing refugees from Syria. Gaiman interviews locals and reflects on the difficult political realities of the region, but ultimately concludes that the right side to be on is the side that helps all the children who have been hurt by the war.

1984

The novel 1984 by the British author George Orwell is a classic science-fiction story which depicts a society dominated by government surveillance. In connection with the NSA scandal, 1984 gained renewed popularity, as many felt its dark vision of the future echoed current realities of American society. 

Falling Man | Analysis

In his novel, Don DeLillo explores the events of September 11^th  from the terrorist’s perspective as well. The three chapters, “On Marienstrasse”, “In Nokomis”, and “In the Hudson Corridor”, give an insight into the thoughts of one of the terrorists behind the attacks on the World Trade Center.