The Greek philosopher Plato once said: “Rhetoric is the art of governing the minds of men. » Similarly, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice used her rhetoric during the September 11, 2001 Commission to dispel any rumors about the Bush administration's complacency regarding recent terrorist attacks. Using stylistic choices such as diction, organization, and content, Rice explains the harsh attacks that have been directed against the United States and the efforts to prevent them from happening again.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In her speech, Condoleezza Rice uses strong language not only to emphasize the seriousness of the terrorist attacks, but also to bring hope to the Commission as they move forward. Speaking of the attacks before 9/11, Rice states that "these and other atrocities were part of a sustained and systematic campaign to sow devastation and chaos and to murder innocent Americans." The former secretary of state employs pathos by using harsh terms such as “devastation,” chaos” and “murder of innocent Americans,” showing the violent and treacherous nature of terrorist attacks. She also uses words such as "vicious", "catastrophic", "decapitate", "destroy", and "break the spirit of America" ​​to describe her thoughts and feelings during the bombings. Rice's harsh language sets the tone for how damaging the attacks have been. It also demonstrates to the Commission that the Bush administration understands the seriousness of the terrorist attacks and reassures that there is no sense of complacency in the face of this great American tragedy. Not only does Dr. Rice use harsh language, but she also uses encouraging language in the second half of her speech to show how much more positive the future of the United States will be. Speaking about the future of the United States, Rice explains: “We now have the opportunity and the obligation to move forward together. » Compared to her previous remarks, Condoleezza Rice speaks optimistically about the United States. She wants to shift gears after all the terrible things that have happened and talk about the positivity that can be accomplished through these tragedies. Phrases such as “opportunity,” “obligation,” and “together” provide a sense of unity as Rice convinces the Commission that it is possible for the country to recover from this unspeakable tragedy. She also uses supportive, happy diction when talking about George Bush. She says: “President Bush is leading the country during this time of crisis and change. He has unified and streamlined our efforts to secure the American homeland…he has done so in a way that is consistent with protecting America's cherished civil liberties and preserving our character as a free and open society. Rice praises Bush for showing he was the one who helped the country move forward after the September 11 attacks. She wants the Commission to see that Bush is responding to the situation in a way that benefits the United States, instead of standing by and doing nothing. The former Secretary of State first uses the phrase “crisis and change” to reiterate the Bush administration's awareness of these serious attacks. She also uses favorable terminology such as "unified", "securing the American homeland", "protecting America's cherished civil liberties" and "free and open society" to persuade the George Bush Commission and the great efforts of hisadministration to move forward. the terrorist attacks of September 11 through pathos. Rice's use of pathos throughout her speech using tough and encouraging diction is incredibly compelling as it makes the Commission think positively about the Bush administration and its efforts to properly respond to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Along with the diction, Rice establishes philosophy by referencing notable figures working to prevent future terrorist attacks. Rice first mentions that she and George Bush were briefed by George Tenet, former Director of Central Intelligence and Sandy Berger's NSC [National Security Council] staff, regarding al-Qaeda and the fight against terrorism. In discussing the Bush administration's attitude toward al-Qaeda, Rice states that "President Bush understood the threat and its importance." She also mentions senior national security officials who approved the former president's new plans and strategies. Additionally, former Chief of Staff Andy Card and former National Security Coordinator Dick Clarke ensured that the Bush administration took appropriate action regarding Al-Quida. The people mentioned in Rice's speech are prominent figures well known in government circles. Rice uses them and the work they do to demonstrate to the Commission that the Bush administration is working to resolve the problems of recent terrorist attacks. Finally, Condoleezza Rice organizes her speech with logos to give concise information about recent terrorist attacks. First, it provides context for previous terrorist attacks against the United States. Rice states that "the terrorist threat to our nation did not arise on September 11, 2001." She then goes on to list a number of hijackings and bombings involving the United States and terrorists. She cites them all in order: “The attack on the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983; the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in 1985; the rise of Al-Qaeda and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; attacks on American installations in Saudi Arabia in 1995 and 1996; the embassy bombings in East Africa in 1998; the attack on the USS Cole in 2000…” (1). She also mentions “the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 and the continued German harassment of American ships” (2). Condoleezza Rice begins with the history of these attacks, not only to make her speech logical, but also to show that what happened on September 11, 2001 is not something new for the United States. Mentioning past attacks gives Rice's audience a better understanding of what the United States has already faced, reassuring them that recent attacks will be handled as they have been before. Rice then uses logos to describe the Bush administration's understanding of the seriousness of the attacks. terrorist attacks and measures taken to prevent further tragedies from occurring. Of the briefings held when George Bush was president-elect, Rice says: "Through these briefings and because we watched the rise of al-Qaeda for many years, we understood that the network posed a serious threat to the United States. » The former Secretary of State also mentions that "our goal was to ensure continuity of operations while we developed new policies", indicating that George Bush and his administration were already prepared to respond and prepare for terrorist attacks even before.