Bush’s first term in office began with al-Qaeda’s deadly attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Shortly thereafter, the United States found itself at war with Afghanistan, which was accused of harboring the 9/11 mastermind, Osama bin Laden, and his followers.

Claiming that Iraq’s president Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction, perhaps with the intent of attacking the United States, the president sent U.S. Thousands were killed, and many of the men captured by the United States were imprisoned and sometimes tortured for information.

al-Qaeda — a militant Islamist group originally founded by Osama bin Laden. charter schools — elementary and secondary schools that, although funded by taxpayer money, are allowed to operate independently from some rules and regulations governing public schools. subprime mortgage — a type of mortgage offered to borrowers with lower credit ratings; subprime loans feature interest rates that are higher (often adjustable) than conventional mortgages to…. Bush Doctrine — the belief that the United States has the right to protect itself from terrorist acts by engaging in pre-emptive wars or ousting hostile governments in favor of friendly….