"The other" trying to take away your way of life is a mechanism that government use to control its population. Rome used Hannibal, The US used the Cold war and USSR.
Once the cold war was over, the US needed a new group of villains, enter "The Terrorist". Using 9/11 as the spark to set the fire.
Tell us how you beat an enemy that has no leader, no country and can self radicalize??
"The Terrorist, who could be your neighbor is the perfect control system!"