William Jefferson Clinton also took on the role of international policeman, employing military force on his own in Somalia, Iraq, and the disintegrating state of Yugoslavia. He even threatened to use it to oust a dictatorship in Haiti and claimed imperial prerogatives because he headed what he called "the indispensable nation." In the air war against the Serb remnant of Yugoslavia, American bombing killed numerous civilians, justified by the administration as unavoidable "collateral damage." As had predecessors, Clinton counted on the rally-round-the-flag attitude to sustain him. As aides pointed out, his muscle flexing also had a political dimension. It increased his stature as a vigorous leader and paid off at election time.
9-11 AND GEORGE W. BUSH
Although George W. Bush assumed office characterized by media analysts and others as a limited thinker with little knowledge of foreign affairs, he, too, soon learned the public responded well to macho behavior. On September 11, 2001, when Islamic terrorists hijacked commercial airliners, that smashed into skyscrapers in New York City and into the Pentagon, killing some three thousand people, the atrocity galvanized the nation. Again the citizenry rallied round the flag and behind the president who proclaimed a war on terrorism.
9-11 AND GEORGE W. BUSH
Although George W. Bush assumed office characterized by media analysts and others as a limited thinker with little knowledge of foreign affairs, he, too, soon learned the public responded well to macho behavior. On September 11, 2001, when Islamic terrorists hijacked commercial airliners, that smashed into skyscrapers in New York City and into the Pentagon, killing some three thousand people, the atrocity galvanized the nation. Again the citizenry rallied round the flag and behind the president who proclaimed a war on terrorism.