Protecting the American Homeland Post-911

Paper Summary:

On December 19, 2002, Robert S. Mueller, III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, addressed the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City and remarked on the status of the War on Terror, as well as the status of the FBI. Mueller's remarks, carefully crafted to legitimise FBI operations, clearly embody the spirit of what rhetorician Hugh Rank refers to as cause rhetoric. This paper attempts to analyse the basic pattern of persuasion utilised in cause group rhetoric within Rank's predictable, four-part pattern of the "Pep Talk," including (1) the Threat; (2) the Bonding; (3) the Cause; (4) the Response. Each element is analysed both in the context of Muller's remarks and within the current political context.

From the Paper:

"Following the success of the USA PATRIOT ACT, the Bush administration soon announced plans for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and on January 23, 2002, Congress enacted the "Homeland Security Act of 2002." To many it seemed the Bush administration and the 107th Congress had responded swiftly and appropriately to the realities of a post-September 11 America. However, upon closer scrutiny it has become overwhelmingly clear that individual Americans will pay the price for security, not only in higher taxes and reduced social welfare appropriations, but also through the calculated and unquestionable reduction of basic civil liberties."

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