Rhetoric and/as Terrorism: Before and After September 11

Abstract

This article analyzes the rhetorical dimensions of terrorism before and after September 11, drawing on a panel discussion held at the Poetry and Linguistics Association (PALA) Conference in Istanbul. The author examines how the term 'September 11' has evolved as a neologism and trope in various linguistic contexts, including Arabic. The paper explores President Bush's initial public statements following the attacks, noting the shift from law-enforcement language to the metaphor of 'war on terrorism.' The article argues that this metaphor is keenly rhetorical, comparing it to historical metaphors such as the 'war on slavery' and the 'war on piracy.' The author contends that the 'war on terrorism' remains a metaphorical construct, similar to the Cold War before it became a historical designator. This study examines the rhetoric of government officials and suggests the need for further exploration of terrorists' own rhetorical strategies.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)