1. I believe the United States is the beacon for freedom in the world. And I believe we have a responsibility to promote freedom that is as solemn as the responsibility is to protecting the American people, because the two go hand-in-hand. Freedom is not America’s gift to the world. Freedom is G-d’s gift to everybody in the world… we have a duty to free people. -- President Bush, Interviewed by Bob Woodward in 2002 States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic. -- President Bush, SOTU January 2002 We have experienced the horror of September 11. We have seen that those who hate America are willing to crash airplanes into buildings full of innocent people. Our enemies would be no less willing -- in fact they would be eager -- to use a biological, or chemical, or a nuclear weapon. Knowing these realities, America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun -- that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud.” -- President Bush, October 2002, on why America might go to war with Iraq

2. 9/11, Neoconservatism and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq Key Questions What is neoconservatism? What is the Bush Doctrine? How did 9/11 influence the neocon worldview? Who were the major players in and around the Bush administration and what were their roles in shaping post 9/11 foreign policy? What were the official reasons for going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq? What was the role of the CIA in shaping the decision for war? What was the role of the “pro-war movement” in the United States? What are the major criticisms of the official reasons for war and of the pro- war movement arguments, especially with regard to the connection between 9/11 and the Iraq War?

3. What is neoconservatism? What is the Bush Doctrine? Military Hegemony Pre-emption Unilateralism America is Ascendant Moral Duty to Promote Democracy Abroad (America as a Force for Good in the World) Democracy is Contagious Reluctance to Enter into International Agreements Privatization and the Free Market also: idealism, „big picture,” and optimism

4. A psychological portrait of President George W. Bush: -- CEO presidency. The president is like a CEO of a major corporation, and tasks are not to be micromanaged. He selects personnel and leaves them to sort out the problems. -- Clear, simple ideas without nuance. -- Best to follow one’s “instinct.” Bush is a “gut player.” -- Once decision is made, decision will be defended as the correct choice and enforced. -- Core values are forever—they do not change, no matter the circumstance. -- Strength projected through certainty and stability. -- Loyalty to subordinates, and demands loyalty from subordinates. -- Personal relationships with subordinates is good for management: it limits conflicts that slow decision making and builds consensus. -- U.S. Presidency is position of morality. The president should be a moral role model. -- World contains good and evil. -- Be big and ambitious.

5. What were the official reasons for going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq? In addition to the neocon worldview… Afghanistan: Taliban accused of harboring UBL and sponsoring terrorism against the U.S. and its allies. Iraq: -- Saddam Hussein non-compliant with UN resolutions. Sanctions considered a failed policy. -- Iraq probably has WMD and is likely to use them against the U.S. -- Hussein is an evil dictator who is hurting his people. The Iraqis need to be liberated. -- Support for Palestinian terrorists in the past.

6. What are the major criticisms of the official reasons for war and of the pro-war movement arguments, especially with regard to the connection between 9/11 and the Iraq War? A.Over-hyping the Iraq threat B.Not enough evidence that Iraq has WMD or poses an imminent threat C.Reasons for war unclear D.No credible evidence that Iraq had anything to do with the planning or execution of 9/11 E.War in Iraq is mainly about exerting American control over Iraq’s oil supply (and other economic incentives)