Testing the President''s Hypothesis: Are Terrorist Attacks the Result of Freedom in the World?

On the evening of September 11, 2001 President Bush addressed the American people with the following words: "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts... America was targeted for attack because we''re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining." Here we see the President of the United States framing the conflict between al-Qaeda and his country in terms of liberty. No one questions the propositions that America was attacked and America loves liberty. What is debatable, however, is whether a causal connection exists between these statements. This inquiry seeks to determine if being a free society is synonymous with attracting terrorist aggression.