Terror threat

The Reasons Behind America’s Interest In Only Specific Global Terror Attacks

Once again, US audiences were rattled by the news on March 22, 2016 that ISIS had attacked another European capital—this time Brussels, killing 31 people and wounding at least 316. This attack came on the heels of another ISIS-led murder spree in Paris on November 13, 2015 that claimed the lives of 130 people and injured another 368. Just as with the Paris attacks, Americans and other global citizens showed solidarity with Brussels through social media and lighting up national monuments with Belgian colors.

However, it wasn’t long before many started asking why there was such a quick rush to show solidarity with Paris and Brussels when innocent people were dying at the hands of terrorists in places like Turkey, Nigeria, and Syria. In light of the Twitter hashtags #JeSuisParis and #JeSuisBruxelles, London’s The Guardian asked in March after 31 were killed at the hands of terrorists in Turkey, “Where is Ankara’s ‘Je Suis’ Moment?”

The truth is that Americans, in general, don’t tune in to international incidents of violence or loss of life unless they meet one of three categories:

• The consequences could have an impact on their lives or communities;

• There has been a staggering loss of life or amount of destruction; or

• They can personally connect or relate in some way to the victims.