ABSTRACT
Introduction Since September 11, 2001 the United States has undertaken a variety of military actions, notably in Afghanistan and Iraq, with the stated goal of anticipating and preventing future terrorist threats against Americans. Although the rationale offered for these military actions is largely new, in other respects, these wars and interventions represent familiar territory for Americans. The tradition of using the military abroad to protect U.S. security is, after all, what the armed forces have been trained and equipped for. Historically, the military has been a tool to protect Americans from threats emanating from outside their borders.
