Starter 10.23:  How should the United States have responded to the terrorists attacks of 9-11?  Had you been a member of Bush's administration, how would you have advised him?

Rhetorical Analysis of President Bush's Response
President Bush's Speech:  September 20, 2001

Full text of the speech

Rhetorical Analysis Questions:  Please submit through Google classroom!  You may work together with your peers, but each person should do and submit their own assignment.  Due ten minutes before the end of the hour.

"The Bush Doctrine"

In his book "Decision Points" (Crown Publishers, 2010), President Bush articulates his discrete concept of the Bush Doctrine. According to the President, his doctrine consisted of four "prongs," three of them practical, and one idealistic. They are the following: (In his words)

1.    "Make no distinction between terrorists and the nations that harbor them--and hold both to account."

2.    "Take the fight to the enemy overseas before they can attack us again here at home."

3.    "Confront threats before they fully materialize."

4.    "Advance liberty and hope as an alternative to the enemy's ideology of repression and fear."

Key Points:

Unilateralism

With us or with the terrorists

Discuss:

What are the advantages of this viewpoint?  What good points does the Bush doctrine have?
What drawbacks are there to this strategy?

HOMEWORK
1. Who was Osama bin Laden?
2. Read and annotate Osama bin Laden's "Open Letter to America" (November, 2002)
3. Be prepared to analyze his both his rhetoric and his ideology!

4. Optional:  Research background on US foreign policy in the Middle East.