Government Policies and Procedures Reguarding 9/11 - Coursework Example

Table of Content: ……………………………………………………………………………… Key words: ……………………………………………………………………………… President George W. Bush’s stance on the entire event: ……………………………………………………………………………… The other side of story: ……………………………………………………………………………… The lack of diplomatic insight: ……………………………………………………………………………… Failure to dismantle Al Qaeda: ……………………………………………………………………………… Government’s stance on the preventive measures: ……………………………………………………………………………… Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for the hard liners: ……………………………………………………………………………… Not a Surprise: ……………………………………………………………………………… Individual evidences: ……………………………………………………………………………… The failure of C.I.A: ……………………………………………………………………………… The case of Immigrants: ……………………………………………………………………………… The verdict……………………………………………………………………………… References: Abstract: The September 9-11 changed the overall dynamics of American politics as well as the global political scenario. It was an event that marked an epoch forward and was a significant event after the end of Cold War, the aftermath of these attacks saw a multi faceted and multi angled backlash. Apart from the political actions taken, the tables were turned with regard to the questions as to why did these events take place. In the wake of such criticism and anger from the masses, the American foreign policy, the role of the defense agencies, absence of the preventive measures and many other similarly haunting questions were put forth. This paper looks into the possible political loopholes, the military weaknesses and the intelligence agencies failed to predict the occurrence of such a catastrophic event and incident which changed the overall social structure of United States of America. The establishment of Taliban Government in Afghanistan between 1996 to 2001 was another possible failure of the American government and think tanks who could not prevent the rise of such a force to power that later on proved destructive towards the American interests and American peace altogether. The possible failure of American influence establishment in the fragile parts of the world which had a major role towards these attacks is another aspect often debated about. Keywords: Foreign policy, negligence, security agencies, Taliban Two broad set of schools of thoughts and mindsets prevail in this context. One contest that the government and the intelligence agencies had already taken sufficient measures and little could be done to prevent such unprecedented events, the other school of thought in reaction term it negligence with regard to the lack of duty fulfillment and lack of awareness. Each of these mindsets and set of individuals defend their claims based on their own propositions and statements. This paper will look into the both sides of the story and in the end provide a bottom line evaluation and assessment based idea about the original state of affairs. President George W. Bush’s stance on the entire event: President George W. Bush who was the president at that time, had to face severe criticism with regard to the possible inefficiency to counter act these attacks. He and his government was blamed not just on single front, rather he was blamed for on multiple fronts in terms of diplomacy, military actions in preemptive measure, political steps and other domestic affairs which led to the occurrence of such events. President George W. Bush however, discarded these assumptions and defended his policies when he was faced with hearing and inquiry with regard to the overall events that took place. President George W. Bush was of the believe that the government was intact and had taken sufficient measures with regard to the protection of the citizens, however he did not deny the slight negligence that resulted in the occurrence of such an event. The negligence however was blamed upon the intelligence agencies and that took in terms of the lack of coordination and information sharing between the two top intelligence agencies of United States of America. The other side of the story: While President Bush defended his stance and government’s actions, there is a group of members from Congress and other representative entities who believe that the lack of awareness and preparedness from the government’s side resulted in the occurrence of these events (Khan, 2009, 2). One prime and vocal speaker in this regard is the Chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Patrick J. Leahy. According to the senator, these attacks could have been prevented provided the government was a little more active and responsive to the overall events that were unfolding in the global scenario. The lack of work on the secret information provided to the American government prior to the occurrence of events is termed as the factor which was ignored by the American government. The lack of coordination within between the state entities such as the government itself, the secret agencies and other organizations and entities resulted in the occurrence of these events. President George W. Bush’s stance and acknowledging of the fact that the information was not shared properly between the representative and responsible entities, makes the claim of the incumbent Senator more effective and a stronger in his stance that the blame can be put on the then government of President George W. Bush. The lack of diplomatic insight: While there were many options that were available to United States of America prior to the occurrence of these events, and not all were based around the military actions, the option of political engagement of the parties which they feared were against the American objectives, and foreign policy could have been engaged in dialogue. For example in the ten years leading to the September 2001 events, there were a limited number of states that were negatively vocal about the foreign policy of Untied States of America. United States of America could have highlighted and circled these states and possibly undermined any negative aspersion, objectives and ill will arising from that end. This was not done so, and in turn led to the outbreak of these events. The affair of Afghanistan since the end of the Cold War has been a tale of utter turbulence. The Pro West government was toppled by the Taliban very soon. This led to the rise of Taliban government in 1996. Since the Americans knew that they are utterly rivals and against the American policies, they should have taken measures to neutralize their stance and make sure that they do not take any action which could prove as fatal as the September 2001 events turned out. They could have been engaged through direct and indirect manner. For example using the force of United Nations and also using the influence of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan such as Pakistan to make sure that they do not directly pose a threat to America and its land, this could have been done and this was not done, hence a failure on behalf of the governments in that era. The failure to dismantle Al Qaeda: Al Qaeda, a leading world insurgent group that had been developing for quite a few years since the end of the Cold war, the United States of America could have possibly taken measures and actions to eliminate it or reduce its influence. Since the Al Qaeda was not limited to a single state or single region, it therefore could have been handled through a broader specifically targeted military action or through negotiation and other intelligence based actions. Since this was not done so, the Americans had to pay a price by becoming the direct and first enemy of Al-Qaeda who in turn orchestrated attacks in the form of September attacks on twin towers. Government’s stance on the preventive measures: United States of America had launched controlled attacks on Afghanistan towards 1998 when it launched an attack in bid to target few of the world’s most wanted individuals. This according to American’s stance was aimed at thwarting any attempt by the Al Qaeda against United States of America. This was done so in response to the attacks launched by AL Qaeda in number of cities and countries in Africa where American embassies were directly attacked by these insurgent groups. According to a confidentially released report, which was published and released to the civilians in 1999, the attacks were undertaken after it was revealed that AL Qaeda aimed at targeting Washington D.C which was next in line of their attacks after they had attacked American embassies in different parts of Africa. While the direct target of the attacks, Osama Bin Laden avoided being hit by the missiles, the other aspect of the attacks was that the Al Qaeda and Taliban were being conveyed a message that they could not dare attack or plan something against American soil directly. Government’s preventive measures: To the support of the American government, it is being advocated that the American government had launched preventive and precautionary measures in 1998 when the undertook the limited and controlled strikes in Afghanistan as well as Sudan where they believed the insurgents has had safe hideouts (Clifford & Wilson, 2007, 234). Hence this is a response to those who blame the then governments of not taking any concrete actions in that time frame. Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for the hard liners: The fact that Afghanistan had become a safe haven for the world’s outlaws in terms of the international politics and international affairs, the failure of American government to dismantle the Afghan Taliban led government and failure to engage the neighboring countries into asking the Taliban government to give up their offensive intentions against the West, this goes as a failure of the United States of America as a whole. Afghanistan became a hub for the radical Islamists in the post Cold war scenario. Not a surprise: Out of the many reports and findings committees that were established to assess the overall performance and possible lack of awareness of American government, one of the finding and committee established in the name of “9-11 Commission Report”( Kean & Hamilton, 2004) which was prepared through the combined sitting of number of Democrats and Republic Senators and other experts. According to their findings, the Islamists had given United States of America number of warnings and hints prior to the occurrence of the original events in 2001. The inability to protect such events is termed as the overall failure of the American government at that time as well as the previous governments that were functional previously. Peter Bergen a reporter of CNN has shared files and reports which were related to the pre 2001 September events show record of findings and where the intelligence agencies had already warned the government regarding the possible attacks and actions of Taliban and Al Qaeda led insurgents. These reports and information was shared with the government agencies as early as April 20th and June 23rd 2001 (Bergen, 2013). Individual evidences: There are number of individual encounters that have come forth ever since the occurrence of these events. Some of them are in the form of the public confessions of the military and intelligence individuals who were part of the decision making, information sharing at that time. Lt. Col Anthony Shaffer (Stich, 2012 ) is one instance of account who has come forth and claims that there was sufficient intelligence report and information that would have forced the then government to take actions towards the prevention of such catastrophic attacks on United States of America. The failure of action and the subsequent inactivity is blamed upon the government of that time and the top heads of the intelligence agencies who did not make use of the already provided information. The failure of C.I.A: C.I.A who had created the Taliban against the Russians in the Cold War, by the end of the Cold war, the Taliban were left to themselves who in turn got reactionary and went on to the lines of reactionary and hardliners Islamists views. C.I.A’s possible failure of not able to foresee this factor and also In the post Cold war scenario, the Al Qaeda emerged as a result of the Taliban who were created and supported by C.I.A. The lack of post Cold war handling and look after of Taliban was a failure on behalf of United States of America collectively and the intelligence agencies individually. The three regimes and presidents who ruled between 1990 and 2001 bear the responsibility in this regard since they could not administer and discuss with the C.I.A about the possible backlash of Taliban and Al Qaeda getting merged. The merger of the two and collaborating towards their objectives against West was a failure. The C.I.A and United States government should have taken measures to ensure that the two are kept away from one another and that they remain aloft and do not pose any threat to the West or United States of America in particular. The case of immigrants: The immigration department bears the responsibility to a greater extent. Since it is solely responsible for the permission and grant of individuals from different parts of the world, mostly the Middle East and the Asian part of the world, it is therefore the immigrant department’s responsibility to ensure that the individuals who are given permission to land into the American land are safe with regard to the American security. Ensuring that the people with a clear record are allowed into the American land was the sole responsibility of American immigrant department. The verdict: While President Bush and his administration has time and again defended their policies and actions, yet the fact that the event took place hawk nakedly and directly into their eyes as the failure of the government of that time. This along with the governments of the past who could not prevent the rise of such a militant oriented government and the possible threats that were visible in the form of threats and minor attacks conducted and launched against United States of America, its embassies and its other sensitive installations. The overall affair left United States of America with a learning lesson towards future. While a lot of damage has been done, yet the future needs to be protected. This can be done so by learning a lesson from the 9-11 events. Government, intelligence agencies and the diplomatic corridors have got their work cut out and they must keep themselves coordinated with one another. Sharing of the information is the core function of each of the entity towards ensuring that the future of the American state is well protected. References: Bergen, P. (2013, Dec 31). Would NSA surveillance have stopped 9/11 plot? Retrieved from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/30/opinion/bergen-nsa-surveillance-september-11/ Clifford, J. G., & Wilson, T. A. (2007). Presidents, Diplomats, and Other Mortals: Essays Honoring Robert H. Ferrell. University of Missouri Press Kean, T. H., & Hamilton, L. H. (2004). National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. National Commission Khan, S. A. (2009). U. S. -China Counterterrorism Cooperation: Issues for U. S. Policy. DIANE Publishing Stich, R. (2012). How Doj Cover-Up of FBI Murders Enabled 9/11 Attacks. Silverpeak Enterprises Read More