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Differences And Similarities Between Pearl Harbor And 9/11

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Pearl Harbor: Compare and Contrast “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” This quote by Mark Twain is clearly exemplified by the comparisons between the events that occurred on September 9th, 2011 and at Pearl Harbor in 1941. To begin, both 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were defining moments for two separate generations. They were also both appalling surprise attacks that killed thousands on American soil. Additionally, these attacks brought the realization that the U.S. was not immune from worldwide threat and eventually lead the States into two different wars. Then while both of the attacks may have terrified the country, they were also soon followed by surges in patriotism and national unity (Collins, Michaels). The wars that resulted …show more content…

On the other hand, many of the men in George W. Bush’s administration, such as Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and Vice President Dick Cheney were members of the “Project for the New American Century,” or PNAC. The members of PNAC called for a new aggressive military foreign policy for the U.S. However, the members of this organization knew that Congress or the American people “absent a catastrophic and catalyzing event like a new Pearl Harbor” would not accept this idea As a result the “New Pearl Harbor” and the original ended up being a blessing in disguise for FDR and PNAC. Despite the fact that Pearl Harbor and 9/11 have many similarities, they are still drastically different. For example, the Japanese attack was well thought out, clearly tactical, and its success depended on the predictability of the United States, which had been observed for months. In contrast, the assault on 9/11 was irrational would have failed if not for the acquiescence of airline passengers and crew, the incompetence of amateur pilots, and the unprecedented ineptness of North American Air Defense Command. Additionally, the United States knew after Pearl Harbor that they were facing a formidable enemy with an obvious, however ever the intention behind the attack on the Twin

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