By Leo Wallach
Daily Bruin Contributor
The world views of many Americans were altered by
Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in much the same way two hijacked
airplanes altered ““ violently and permanently ““ the New
York City skyline.
Just how the political climate will be affected by
Tuesday’s jarring blow remains to be seen, but the loss of
thousands of lives ““ presumably at the hands of foreign
terrorists ““ will have lasting consequences on a nation
unaccustomed to attacks on its home soil.
For UCLA students, as for many young Americans, the attack may
prove to be a formative experience and may influence the next
generation of American leaders, said political science professor
Michael Intriligator.
Political science professor Matthew Baum said Tuesday’s
tragedy “wipes away” some of the bad blood between the
United States and foreign nations generated by the U.S. missile
defense program.
“We’re getting all the sympathy right now,” he
said.
Sen. John McCain called the attacks an “act of war”
and others, including Bush, have followed suit.
Baum said national leaders are laying the groundwork for
potential retaliations on foreign governments.
“They’re talking about bombing cities. I doubt that
a lot of nations would support us under those circumstances,”
he said.
Baum speculates that Democrats in Congress will try to divert
funds away from missile defense and toward actions against
terrorism.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the missile defense shield
wouldn’t have stopped the terrorist attacks and that funds
should be used in intelligence and counter-terrorism.
Former Sen. Warren Rudman recently told PBS’s Jim Lehrer
that the attacks were the beginning of “a new era in American
security.”
Some say the present could be history repeated.
In an interview with Lehrer, former Secretary of State Warren
Christopher highlighted the Alien and Sedition Acts ““ which
raised the number of years required for naturalization from five to
14 ““ and the internment of Japanese Americans during World
War II as examples of the U.S. reacting to the threat of foreign
aggression by violating civil rights.
He said any such response to Tuesday’s attack would allow
the terrorists to “rob us of democracy.”
Political science professor Steven Spiegel agreed.
“The greatest way to defeat terrorism is to practice the
kind of tolerance the United States stands for,” he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union has responded to the attack
in a statement by its president, Anthony Romero.
“We will urge our leaders to continue to uphold the
principles of liberty the nation holds dear as they pursue those
responsible for this devastating attack on American soil,” he
stated.