9/11 和反恐戰爭：法律和道德問題的討論和辯論

This class aims to engage learners in critical thinking and analysis on issues of civics and history, focusing on the war on terror, the events of 9/11 and the aftermath, international law and the U.S. Constitution.  

The class is organized around the Netflix Documentary entitled Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror.  This 5 part documentary that traces the geopolitical origins of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, and chronicles the events that transpired on that fateful day as well as the aftermath including the military strategies designed to fight the war on terror, the attempts at information gathering and the conflict in Afghanistan.  These issues will be the focus on our class time as well, digging deeper into the facts, as well as the laws surrounding these issues.  Learners will critically engage in these issues, discussing and debating the complex moral and legal issues involved in this important part of U.S. modern history.  The Netflix documentary will be leaned on in this course, supported by newspaper articles and legal commentary.  Learners will engage in focused debates as well as group projects and options writing projects (writing projects will be required if learner would like a grade for the course).  

Week 1:  This week will focus on the first episode of the documentary specifically looking at the historical roots of terrorism and the contributing factors of Cold War politics.  

Week 2: This week focuses on the events of 9/11 and the direct aftermath.  The discussion will narrow in on the definition of terrorism and the effects of terrorism on a society.  Special attention will be paid to the media coverage of the 9/11 events and the decision to go to war in Iraq.

Week 3: In episode three the documentary turns to the U.S. war on terror, focusing on the Patriot Act and the Guantanamo Bay prison.  This week will hone in on specific issues of international law dealing with war crimes and the Geneva Conventions as well as the Constitutional questions raised by the Patriot Act.  Specific case law will be studied to help learners understand the complex legal issues in this arena.  

Week 4: This week will be dedicated to formal debates on the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay prison.  

Week 5: The fourth episode of the documentary series will be the focus of this week's class.  The primary discussion this week will focus on the war in Afghanistan, both the gains and the challenges which the region and the coalition forces faced there.  The legal challenges brought by the International Criminal Court against the coalition forces for alleged war crimes will be covered in depth. 

Week 6: This week will be dedicated to formal debates on the war in Afghanistan.

Week 7:  The final episode of the documentary will be covered this week, moving into very recent history and the end of the war in Afghanistan, the withdrawal strategy and the legal and ethical issues that arose from the withdrawal strategy.  

Week 8:  This final week will be dedicated to formal debates on the U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and the War on Terror.  As well, final optional projects will be due. 

Throughout the course learners will be assigned readings in addition to the documentary episodes to watch prior to class.  There will be occasional homework assignments to prepare debates, consider discussion questions ahead of class and a few optional writing projects.  The writing projects will be mandatory if the learner would like to receive a grade in the course.  

By the end of this course learners will have a greater understanding of the modern history of the American war on terror from it's early threads to present day problems.  Learners will understand the complex issues that surround decision making during periods of war as well as the complex challenges of national security versus civil liberties that the government must balance.  Further, learners will work to critically analyze these complexities along with the complex issues surrounding U.S. foreign policy and national security.