From the editor

The tragic terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 had a profound impact on the country's economy and the false sense of security enjoyed by many Americans. There were also dramatic political consequences of the 9/11 attacks on everything from NATO's invocation of Article 5, to the establishment of the new Department of Homeland Security, to President George W. Bush's approval rating.

The story and America's subsequent war on terrorism have dominated the political landscape since that fateful day and the effects of both the terrorism and war against it have been felt worldwide. Yet, we are still struggling to make sense of just how U.S. policymaking, both domestic and foreign, and political relations worldwide have been impacted. How should a war on terrorism be fought? Have international relations and alliances changed? Has President Bush's response to the attacks been effective? What is the role of the new Department of Homeland Security? These and many other questions remain to be answered.

This issue of White House Studies marks the first of three special issues which are devoted to making sense of the post-9/11 world from the perspective of the American presidency. This issue, which is guest edited by John Davis, formerly of the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. and now on the faculty of Howard University, examines current issues pertaining to the war on terrorism. Subsequent issues that will be guest edited by Anthony Eksterowicz and Glenn Hastedt of James Madison Univeristy and Douglas Brattebo of the U.S. Naval Academy will further explore presidential decisions, U.S. foreign policy, and military actions pertaining to the war on terrorism.

The goals of this issue and the forthcoming special issues of WHS are to further our understanding of the war on terrorism and presidential leadership in that effort and assess the impact of the war on homeland security and U.S. foreign policy. Further, these issues will be released in a manner so as to be timely, yet provide some room for analysis. Surely, it will be years before a detailed understanding of these tumultuous events emerges, but I hope this and subsequent special issues contribute to that objective.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
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