On 16 September 2001, US President George W Bush declared that America was engaged in a fight against "a new kind of evil" and that he would pursue a "crusade" and "a war on terrorism." The so-called War on Terror would see the US empire and its allies around the world unleash massive levels of violence against the peoples of the Middle East, particularly during the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time, there was a significant assault upon democratic rights within Western countries and a wave of racist campaigns against Muslims and others from the Middle East, all justified as necessary to defeat this "new kind of evil." And while George Bush might have started the war on terror, it was continued by Obama and supported by many liberal politicians and spokespeople, even those who baulked at backing the invasion of Iraq. Understanding this period is essential for grasping the current chaos in the Middle East and the nature of Western imperialism today.