The transformation of America is often discussed in both popular media and academic dialogue. Every generation has a name, new technologies define new eras, and events only seem noteworthy when they are “historic.” While major events capture the interest of a broad spectrum of public consciousness, subtle interactions between actors and subtle changes in beliefs constantly change the reality of the world. When the Twin Towers collapsed in 2001, the United States seemed to be catapulted into a new world of weapons of mass destruction, jihadists and the global fight against terrorism; bombs were dropped, ground forces were deployed in foreign states, and anyone who publicly questioned the urgency of the war ran the risk of being labeled a traitor. This event was indelibly imprinted on the world's consciousness and was often seen as a moment of sudden transformation. Most Americans believe that the presence of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan was due to terrorist attacks on the United States, and while it is difficult to deny that the September 11 attacks were the impetus for the intervention on the ground, It is imperative that the chain of events following the horror of 9/11 reflect the will and desires of the actors in power before the towers fell. In no field other than politics does justification for action often derive from a newsworthy event and the real cause remains hidden behind 9/11. titles. The transformation of the United States from a new state to a global superpower has been a methodical journey shaped by international conditions (the global terrain for statecraft), the role of institutions and their planned actions, and, ultimately, interests of the actors (the protection of citizens). participants in the formulation of political issues and I... halfway through the document... first through a war on drugs, then a tacit protection of oil interests during the First Gulf War and a veiled protection of US oil interests in Gulf War 2 Implicit in public support for both of these wars was the desire to secure continued economic power to protect American interests in an inexpensive (at least monetarily) and high-quality standard of living through control of oil reserves and recognition that the fate of multinational corporations is directly tied to American capitalist hegemony. Enduring global free trade and America's protection of global market security enforcement are the result of multinational corporations' efforts to meet Americans' demands for low-cost products and the industry's needs for low-cost supplies. These efforts have led to free trade terms that maximize outcomes for industry leaders while satiating the American public.