Washington [US], September 10 (ANI): The September 11, 2001, attacks changed US foreign policy, intelligence, and counterterrorism forever. One of the key shifts was the prioritization of counterterrorism, which led to the launch of the Global War on Terrorism and military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Three days after the attacks, President George W. Bush visited the World Trade Center site to speak to rescue workers. Later, at the Washington National Cathedral, he promised to “answer these attacks, and rid the world of evil.” He declared a national state of emergency, granting expanded powers to use the military. A week later, a second declaration allowed the government to target terrorist financing worldwide. These emergency powers, renewed annually, remain in effect today and formed the basis for wide-ranging domestic and international counterterrorism measures.
On September 17, 2001, Bush authorized the CIA to detain anyone considered a “continuing, serious threat” to the United States. This expanded detention authority led to the creation of secret global “black sites.” Abu Zubaidah, captured in Pakistan in March 2002, became the first detainee.
The next day, anthrax-laced letters were sent to newsrooms and congressional offices, killing five people. Initially, Iraq was suspected, but the FBI later traced the case to American scientist Bruce Ivins, who died by suicide in 2008. These events heightened public fear and accelerated domestic and international security actions.
Congress quickly passed the Authorisation for Use of Military Force (AUMF), empowering the president to use “all necessary and appropriate force” against those responsible for 9/11 or anyone aiding them. Initially aimed at al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, the AUMF expanded worldwide and became the legal basis for U.S. military actions in at least fourteen countries, including drone strikes under President Obama.
On September 20, Bush declared a global “War on Terror” in a speech to Congress. He announced the creation of the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate domestic security efforts and demanded that the Taliban hand over all al-Qaeda members, including Osama bin Laden, warning, “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
The Bush Doctrine also emphasized preemptive strikes against perceived threats, reshaping traditional ideas of sovereignty and international relations. At the same time, the US built global alliances for intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity-building.
Less than a month later, US and UK forces, supported by 27 coalition countries, launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. By December, the Taliban had fallen, though bin Laden remained at large. NATO assumed command of security operations in 2003, while US-led counterinsurgency continued for nearly two decades.
At home, sweeping domestic reforms followed. The Patriot Act, passed on October 26, 2001, expanded coordination between intelligence and law enforcement, increased surveillance powers, and tightened rules on terrorist financing. Critics warned it was rushed and overly broad, and later reports revealed that the NSA collected millions of Americans’ phone records.
In November 2001, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created, standardizing airport security with passenger screenings, full-body scanners, and restrictions on liquids and electronics—measures still in effect today. By 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established, consolidating more than 20 federal agencies to prevent future intelligence failures.
The 9/11 attacks also reshaped US foreign policy in broader ways. They triggered prolonged conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, with significant humanitarian and geopolitical consequences. Relations with countries such as Iran saw missed diplomatic opportunities.
In February 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell presented claims at the UN that Iraq possessed WMDs and had terrorist links. Subsequent investigations found no active programs or al-Qaeda ties. Nevertheless, on March 20, 2003, US and UK forces launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, toppling Saddam Hussein. The war, occupation, and insurgency lasted nearly a decade. US troop levels peaked at more than 160,000 in 2008. The conflict killed about 5,000 US soldiers and 500,000 Iraqis, costing an estimated $2 trillion. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan later declared the invasion a violation of international law.
The 9/11 Commission released its final report on July 22, 2004. It cited intelligence failures, poor communication between agencies, and gaps in aviation and immigration security. The report prompted the creation of the National Counterterrorism Center to coordinate CIA, NSA, and other intelligence operations. It also confirmed no Iraqi involvement in 9/11 and ruled out Saudi government complicity—findings that remain debated.
In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush called Iran, North Korea, and Iraq an “axis of evil,” framing the long-term trajectory of US foreign policy. He later accused Saddam Hussein of harboring terrorists and developing WMDs, claims that led Congress to approve a second AUMF in October 2002. UN inspectors returned in November but found only outdated chemical weapons and no active WMD program.
Counterterrorism strategies evolved with the rise of drone warfare, enabling targeted strikes on high-value targets but raising ethical and efficacy concerns. Intelligence reforms also aimed to improve interagency coordination, including the establishment of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Financial regulations targeted terrorist funding networks.
Meanwhile, the US confronted rising domestic extremism, including white supremacist threats, and new challenges posed by terrorists leveraging technology. Counterterrorism efforts increasingly incorporated cybersecurity and advanced analytics.
Yet questions persist over the human and financial costs of these strategies, as well as concerns about surveillance and security measures limiting individual rights. Guantanamo Bay remains a stark example. Opened on January 11, 2002, the detention facility at the US naval base in Cuba has held nearly 800 Muslim men and boys, most without charge or trial. At half a billion dollars annually, it is the most expensive detention camp in the world and a symbol of post-9/11 legal and moral controversies.
The September 11 attacks themselves killed 2,977 people after nineteen al-Qaeda members hijacked four planes. Two struck New York’s World Trade Center towers, one hit the Pentagon near Washington, DC, and the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. Planned for nearly a decade by Osama bin Laden and fueled by radical Islamist ideology, the attacks reshaped global security and permanently altered US foreign policy. (ANI)
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