War on Terror, or Interests and Ideology? Reframing U.S Foreign Policy Before and After 9/11

Since September 11, the U.S. has been involved in aglobal “war on terror” mainly in Arab and Muslim countries.Not much has been altered in U.S. foreign policy despite therhetoric of and hopes put on the new U.S. administration.Both U.S. administrations, the Republican and Democratalike, have been using the carrot and the stick policy (orwhat is called in the academy, soft and hard power) to makesure that everyone falls in line with U.S. foreign policyagenda. These carrots include economic as well as politicaland diplomatic support. They also include propagandapromotion including what is called “winning the hearts andminds.” The sticks on the other hand, are economic, politicaland diplomatic sanctions, declaring open wars, (for instancein Afghanistan and Iraq), supporting wars instigated by“allies” (like Israel) and pressuring other countries to initiatewar on their behalf ( as in Pakistan), along with covertoperations around the globe and additional threats of warand hostilities.