New Era

The term was initially used as a tag line in news announcements covering the post–September 11 reaction. As its use became ubiquitous, it was adopted by academia, journalists, and the US Government when discussing the implications of the War on Terror. President Bush himself used the term during his November 2002 speech:

: "This is a different war from any our nation has ever faced, a war on many fronts, against terrorists who operate in more than 60 different countries. And this is a war that must be fought not only overseas, but also here at home. I recently spoke to high school students in Maryland, and realized that for the first time ever, these seniors will graduate in the midst of a war in our own country. We've added a new era, and this new era requires new responsibilities, both for the government and for our people." (emphasis added)

On the one-year anniversary of the attacks, Charles A. Kupchan (professor at Georgetown University), writing in The National Interest, stated the following:
: The events of September 11 produced evident changes in U.S. foreign policy, immediately elevating to a top priority efforts to enhance the security of the homeland and to combat foreign terrorist groups. The Bush Administration has pursued these new missions with admirable determination and speed, declaring a new era in which the fight against terror has redefined the international landscape and the primary objectives of America's global engagement. To be sure, the attacks on New York and Washington warranted a shift in U.S. priorities, but it is nevertheless premature to announce the opening of a new era and the consequent emergence of new geopolitical fault lines. (emphasis added)

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