The war on terror primed America for autocracy
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Extraordinary counterterrorism powers eroded rule of law and enabled authoritarian drift in America.
The article argues that the post-9/11 war on terror set the stage for autocracy by normalizing indefinite detention, torture, mass surveillance, and unchecked executive power. These measures were justified as temporary but became permanent fixtures, weakening democratic checks and enabling future autocratic moves. The piece traces how authorities from both parties expanded these powers, eroding norms and trust in institutions.
What commenters are saying
Commenters strongly agree the war on terror caused lasting damage, citing TSA theater, mass surveillance, torture policy, the Iraq War, and Islamophobia as excesses. Several note the outsized response compared to threats, contrasting 3,000 deaths from 9/11 with far deadlier but less costly issues like guns and disease. Some push back against treating all post-9/11 measures as illegitimate, pointing to contextual fear of continued hijackings and past attacks. A camp of dissenters argues torture and authoritarian practices existed earlier in U.S. history, while others highlight geopolitical manipulation by states like Pakistan.