President Bush’s Enthymeme of Evil: The Amalgamation of 9/11, Iraq, and Moral Values.
Smith, C. A. (2005).
American Behavioral Scientist; 49, 32.

Discussion Questions:

1. The author of this article uses polling reports of public perceptions to distinguish what came to be understood as facts from what the public generally understood to be true.
2. Ted Windt’s model of presidential speeches of international crisis suggests that there is a conventional way of declaring war, and an expected way that a U. S. President should behave in a time of crisis. How does Smith argue that President Bush re-aligned those conventions?
3. In order to declare war, we must have enemies. How are enemies created and maintained?
4. Using this article as a guide, search for copies of the speeches and interviews the author cites and draw some of your own conclusions. Can you see dynamics he missed? Can you draw different interpretations of public perceptions or of the President’s behavior?
   (see: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/rhetoricofterrorism.htm 9/11/01-10/07/02)