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"An impressive combination of diligence and verve, deploying Ackerman’s deep stores of knowledge as a national security journalist to full effect. The result is a narrative of the last 20 years that is upsetting, discerning and brilliantly argued." —The New York Times "One of the most illuminating books to come out of the Trump era." —New York MagazineAn examination of the profound impact that the War on Terror had in pushing American politics and society in an authoritarian directionFor an entire generation, at home and abroad, the United States has waged an endless conflict known as the War on Terror. In addition to multiple ground wars, it has pioneered drone strikes and industrial-scale digital surveillance, as well as detaining people indefinitely and torturing them. These conflicts have yielded neither peace nor victory, but they have transformed America. What began as the persecution of Muslims and immigrants has become a normalized, paranoid feature of American politics and security, expanding the possibilities for applying similar or worse measures against other targets at home. A politically divided country turned the War on Terror into a cultural and then tribal struggle, first on the ideological fringes and ultimately expanding to conquer the Republican Party, often with the timid acquiescence of the Democratic Party. Today's nativist resurgence walked through a door opened by the 9/11 era.Reign of Terror will show how these policies created a foundation for American authoritarianism and, though it is not a book about Donald Trump, it will provide a critical explanation of his rise to power and the sources of his political strength. It will show that Barack Obama squandered an opportunity to dismantle the War on Terror after killing Osama bin Laden. That mistake turns out to have been portentous. By the end of his tenure, the war metastasized into a broader and bitter culture struggle in search of a demagogue like Trump to lead it.A union of journalism and intellectual history, Reign of Terror will be a pathbreaking and definitive book with the power to transform how America understands its national security policies and their catastrophic impact on its civic life.

In his compelling book, "Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump," Spencer Ackerman delves into the profound and far-reaching consequences of the post-9/11 era on American society and politics. Ackerman argues that the fear and insecurity that gripped the nation in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks led to a series of misguided policies and actions that ultimately destabilized the country and paved the way for the rise of Donald Trump.

Ackerman meticulously documents how the Bush administration's response to 9/11, including the invasion of Iraq and the implementation of the PATRIOT Act, created a climate of fear and mistrust that eroded civil liberties and polarized the country. He also explores the role of the media in amplifying fear and stoking Islamophobia, further dividing Americans along cultural and religious lines.

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of the intricate interplay between the government, media, and public opinion in shaping the post-9/11 landscape. Ackerman argues that the rush to judgment and the desire for quick solutions led to a series of policy missteps that had unintended and disastrous consequences. The invasion of Iraq, based on faulty intelligence, not only destabilized the region but also diverted attention and resources from the real threat posed by al-Qaeda.

Ackerman also examines the rise of the surveillance state in the post-9/11 era, highlighting the erosion of privacy rights and the potential for abuse of power. He argues that the PATRIOT Act, initially sold as a necessary tool to prevent future terrorist attacks, has been used to target political dissidents and erode civil liberties.

The book culminates with a thought-provoking exploration of the rise of Donald Trump and the alt-right movement, arguing that these phenomena are direct consequences of the fear and insecurity sown in the post-9/11 era. Ackerman traces the connections between Trump's xenophobic rhetoric and the Islamophobia that was prevalent in the wake of 9/11, demonstrating how the seeds of division were planted long before Trump took office.

"Reign of Terror" is a meticulously researched and powerfully argued book that offers a深刻な洞察力post-9/11 era and its lasting impact on American society and politics. Ackerman's analysis is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of the current political climate and the challenges facing American democracy today.