Newswise — Journalists: As you complete your stories on the upcoming anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, don't hesitate to consult the experts at the University of Indianapolis. Faculty members such as those below can provide a broad range of perspectives on the world-changing events of the past five years.
Feel free to contact them directly
NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE IRAQ WARMilind Thakar, Ph.D.Assistant professor of International RelationsAssistant director, Institute for the Study of War and DiplomacyThakar says U.S. security policy since 9/11 lacks a long-term vision and consists primarily of reactions to daily events. Rather than improving security measures and human intelligence capabilities " hiring language specialists, for example " the efforts have included color-coded terror alerts that serve little purpose.Thakar also argues that the war in Iraq is draining resources that would be better devoted to coordinated international efforts against terrorism. Unqualified U.S. support for Israel fosters suspicion of American efforts in the Middle East, and America's contradictory path of promoting democracy while maintaining friendships with dictatorial regimes in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan does immense damage to its foreign policy objectives and its image abroad.
TERRORISM AND THE TALIBANDouglas Woodwell, Ph.D.Assistant professor of International RelationsWoodwell is a former lecturer at the Yale Center for International and Area Studies, where he taught a course titled "Terrorism: Past, Present and Future." In 2005, ironically, one of his students at Yale was Rahmatullah Hashemi of Afghanistan, a former Taliban spokesman who infamously berated a female questioner in a video clip featured in Michael Moore's film "Farenheit 9/11." Woodwell's areas of specialty include terrorism and ethnic conflict.
WAR ON TERRORA. James Fuller, Ph.D.Associate professor of History Faculty member, Institute for the Study of War and DiplomacyFuller says the struggle against violent extremism demands an offensive strategy that takes the war to the terrorists, though he is critical of poorly planned military strategies. He sees the current strife as a clash of cultures that must be understood within the context of history. It is rooted in American policy decisions as well as older struggles in the Middle East. He insists that American policy must employ both soft power and hard power to succeed.
POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUESStephen A. Graham, Ph.D.Professor of Political ScienceGraham says the balance of executive-legislative power has shifted toward the president since 9/11, although Congress has tried to re-establish some checks on executive power and the courts have limited the president with cases like Hamdi and Ramdan. This raises obvious and troubling questions about separation of powers among the three branches of government. Also, Republicans have tried to use the war on terrorism as a wedge issue to identify Democrats with a "pre-9/11 mentality." He questions, however, whether this tactic will prove successful in the November congressional elections.
CONSOLING THE WOUNDED, COPING WITH TRAGEDYGregory S. Clapper, Ph.D.Professor of Philosophy & ReligionAn ordained United Methodist minister and chaplain in the Indiana Air National Guard, Clapper has served twice since 9/11 at Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany, where military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan are sent for treatment.Clapper also served as chaplain at the scene of the 1989 United Flight 232 crash in Sioux City, Iowa, an experience that has informed his writings and teaching on how faith is tested by tragedy.
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