Homegrown terrorism panic let Obama continue Bush-era war policies

Evidence

In 2009, several US citizens or legal residents were arrested for alleged connections to “terrorist” activity. In the latter part of the year these became high-profile cases that drew sustained media attention. Following hard upon this media frenzy, in December 2009 the Obama administration announced plans to escalate the war in Afghanistan by sending in more troops and by stepping up drone attacks on Pakistan, in what came to be known as the “Af-Pak strategy.” Almost a full year into his presidency, the “peace president” had failed to fulfill his campaign promises to shut down Guantanamo Bay and undo the violations of civil liberties unleashed by Bush. The “homegrown terrorist” threat being whipped up by the media served well to continue the status quo. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 499

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Kumar’s broader thesis on imperial continuity across party lines — echoes Grosfoguel on coloniality surviving regime change. — connects to: Islamophobia persisted equally under Obama and Bush administrations. — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 311; Obama’s presidency mutated and advanced rather than ended the war on terror — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 329; Both Bush and Obama demanded Muslims police their own communities — Khaled A. Beydoun, American Islamophobia_ Understanding…, 339 (+16 more)

Broader Connections

• The Cordoba House opposition was enabled by prior Obama-era homegrown terrorism hysteria. #exemplifies (0.70) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 521
• Obama’s defense guidance continued the War on Terror via drones and special forces #expands (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 433
• Obama continued and expanded Bush’s imperial wars despite softer rhetoric #expands (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 579
• Obama extended and codified Bush’s counterterrorism powers over US citizens #expands (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 581
• Liberal Islamophobia under Obama worsened conditions for Muslims at home and abroad #expands (0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 436
• Obama revived the al-Qaeda threat despite its near-extinction to salvage failing counterinsurgency #complicates (0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 584
• Failed counterinsurgency forced Obama back to counterterrorism and drone warfare #complicates (0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 432
• The War on Terror legitimizes expanded police repression at home #expands (0.50)
• Obama’s counter-radicalization strategy turned Muslim communities into informants #expands (0.50) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 582