In a famous presidential primary debate in 2008, libertarian candidate Ron Paul argued that the United States was attacked on September 11 because of its military meddling in Middle Eastern affairs. Former mayor Rudy Giuliani called that one of the most absurd explanations he had ever heard, and demanded an immediate apology. But the question remains.

Was September 11 an expression of religious fanaticism or blowback to US foreign policy? Is this an either/or question or a both/and proposition? Answers to these critical questions have varied in the scholarly conversation and the public arena.

This discussion was the first in our policy conversations series, “The Twentieth Anniversary of September 11: Changing the Climate of Conflict.” This series is presented by the Keough School of Global Affairs and its Ansari Institute, and co-sponsored by the Keough School’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and Nanovic Institute for European Studies.

Speakers included:

- Andrew Bacevich, President, Quincy Institute; Author, "After the Apocalypse: America’s Role in a World Transformed"

- Jamila Afghani, Founder and President, Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom Afghanistan

- Perin Gürel, Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Notre Dame

- Ebrahim Moosa, Mirza Family Professor of Islamic Thought and Muslim Societies, Keough School of Global Affairs

Scott Appleby, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs, offered introductory remarks. This conversation was moderated by Mahan Mirza, Executive Director of the Keough School’s Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion.

#September11 #Afghanistan #foreignpolicy