In the Name of Terrorism

Carol K. Winkler

Description

Winner of the 2008 Outstanding Book Award presented by the Political Communication Division of the National Communication Association

The topic of terrorism has evolved into an ideological marker of American culture, one that has fundamentally altered the relationship between the three branches of government, between the government and the people, and between America and countries abroad. In the Name of Terrorism describes and analyzes the public communication strategies presidents have deployed to discuss terrorism since the end of World War II. Drawing upon internal administration documents, memoirs, and public papers, Carol K. Winkler uncovers how presidents have capitalized on public perceptions of the terrorist threat, misrepresented actual terrorist events, and used the term "terrorism" to influence electoral outcomes both at home and abroad. Perhaps more importantly, she explains their motivations for doing so, and critically discusses the moral and political implications of the present range of narratives used to present terrorism to the public.
Acknowledgments

1. What’s in a Name?

Presidential Discourse and Terrorism
Terrorism and Ideology

2. The Vietnam War and the Communist Terrorists

Labeling the Threat
The Terrorist Narrative in the Vietnam War
Terrorism and Ideology

3. The Iranian Hostage Crisis: An American Tragedy

Labeling the Captors
The Narrative of the Iranian Hostage Crisis
Ideology and the Iranian Hostage Crisis

4. Origins of Terrorism as an American Ideograph: The Reagan Era

Labeling the Threat
The Terrorist Narrative in the Reagan Era
Terrorism and Ideology

5. The Persian Gulf Conflict of 1991: The Cold War Narrative in the Post-Cold War Era

Labeling the Crisis
The Narrative of the 1991 Persian Gulf Crisis
Ideology and Persian Gulf Terrorism

6. Terrorism and the Clinton Era: A Prophetic Moment

Labeling the Threat
Clinton’s Terrorist Narrative
Terrorism and Ideology

7. America under Attack: George W. Bush and Noncitizen Actors

Labeling the Crisis
The Terrorist Narrative
Terrorism and Ideology

8. Terrorism and American Culture

Notes
Works Cited
Index

Sujets

• USA
• United States of America
• Central government
• 20th century
• History of the Americas
• Central
• États-Unis
• National

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 16 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9780791482537
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

IN THE NAME OF TERRORISM Presidents on Political Violence in the PostWorld War II Era CAROL K. WINKLER

In the Name of Terrorism

SUNY series on the Presidency: Contemporary Issues John Kenneth White, editor

SUNY series in the Trajectory of Terror Louise Richardson and Leonard Weinberg, editors

In the Name of Terrorism

Presidents on Political Violence in the Post-World War II Era

Carol K. Winkler

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2006 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

Cover photo: Firefighters raise a U.S. flag at the site of the World Trade Center. Collection: Getty Images. Photographer: Thomas E. Franklin/The Bergen Record.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Susan M. Petrie

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Winkler, Carol. In the name of terrorism : presidents on political violence in the post-World War II era / Carol K. Winkler. p. cm. — (SUNY series on the presidency) (SUNY series in the trajectory of terror) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–7914–6617–5 (hardcover : alk. paper)—ISBN 0–7914–6618–3 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Terrorism—Government policy—United States. 2. Political oratory—United States. 3. Rhetoric—Political aspects—United States. 4. Presidents—United States—Language. 5. Ideology—United States. I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: SUNY series on the Presidency. SUNY series in the trajectory of terror.

HV6432.W56 2005 303.6 250973—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2005000072

To Bill, Cori, and Jordan

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Acknowledgments

Contents

1. What’s in a Name? Presidential Discourse and Terrorism Terrorism and Ideology

2. The Vietnam War and the Communist Terrorists Labeling the Threat The Terrorist Narrative in the Vietnam War Terrorism and Ideology

3. The Iranian Hostage Crisis: An American Tragedy Labeling the Captors The Narrative of the Iranian Hostage Crisis Ideology and the Iranian Hostage Crisis

4. Origins of Terrorism as an American Ideograph: The Reagan Era Labeling the Threat The Terrorist Narrative in the Reagan Era Terrorism and Ideology

5. The Persian Gulf Conflict of 1991: The Cold War Narrative in the Post-Cold War Era Labeling the Crisis The Narrative of the 1991 Persian Gulf Crisis Ideology and Persian Gulf Terrorism

6. Terrorism and the Clinton Era: A Prophetic Moment Labeling the Threat Clinton’s Terrorist Narrative Terrorism and Ideology

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1 4 7

17 17 22 28

37 38 42 55

65 70 78 90

97 98 105 118

127 130 136 151

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Contents

7. America under Attack: George W. Bush and Noncitizen Actors Labeling the Crisis The Terrorist Narrative Terrorism and Ideology

8. Terrorism and American Culture

Notes

Works Cited

Index

155 159 166 182

189

213

217

251

Acknowledgments

o book like this could have been written without the generous assistance N of the staffs of Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and the George Bush Presidential Library. Going far beyond providing normal access to internal documents, the staffs of these libraries helped me puzzle through various issues that crossed the administrations covered in this book. My ability to complete the manuscript was possible due to the professional leave, the travel support to the various libraries, and the graduate research sup- port that I received from Ahmed Abdelal, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University. I am particularly grateful to Mary Ann Romski and Carolyn Codamo, who assumed the Georgia State Department of Communication chair duties in my absence. The patient administrative hand of Dean Lauren Adamson allowed me complete final revisions. Many colleagues have contributed thoughtful comments in an effort to improve this book. My initial interest in terrorism was spawned when I was conducting research for Dr. Chuck Kaufman at the University of Maryland. More recently, Mary Stuckey offered not only expert editorial commentary, but knowledge of resources from allied professional disciplines that spoke to themes of the manuscript. Other important commentaries were provided by Marilyn Young, Celeste Condit, Karlyn Campbell, James Darsey, Thomas Goodnight, David Cheshier, Robert Newman, Cori Dauber, and Gordon Mitchell. I am also grateful for the comments from the anonymous reviewers of SUNY Press who provided detailed commentary throughout the manuscript, the watchful eyes of my copyeditor, Wyatt Benner, production editor Diane Ganeles, pro- duction assistant Ryan Hacker, and the assistance of Michael Rinella, who shepherded me through the first part of the publication process at SUNY Press. Graduate research assistants were invaluable in the collection and cata- loging of source materials as well as in editorial assistance. My special thanks

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