Authors Allege US Used 9/11 to Launch Global War

Authors Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies argue that the United States government utilized the September 11, 2001, attacks as a pretext to launch a global campaign of military violence and war crimes. They claim that within hours of the attacks, then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld began planning a massive military response that targeted individuals and nations unrelated to the massacre.

According to the authors, this global war on terror resulted in over $21 trillion in military spending over 25 years, which they say contributed to domestic inequality and the erosion of social services. They further allege that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suppressed a 2004 report that indicated global terrorism had increased following the invasion of Iraq.

Benjamin and Davies advocate for a shift toward domestic investment in healthcare, education, and housing. They cite the current policy priorities of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a viable alternative to militarism.