"It is changing the face of terrorism. It is basically bringing it to the United States, to our great citizens. We know the terrorists are barbaric and murderers that attack innocent civilians, as they did in this case"
About this Quote
The subtext is about proximity and permission. By invoking “our great citizens,” Shelton signals who the state exists to protect, and he quietly reassigns the military’s traditional outward gaze toward internal vulnerability. That rhetorical pivot matters: once terrorism is narrated as domestic encroachment, extraordinary measures start to sound like normal prudence. His moral language - “barbaric,” “murderers,” “innocent civilians” - draws a hard ethical line that discourages nuance. It’s not analysis of causes or networks; it’s a values-based categorization that makes decisive response feel not only necessary but righteous.
Contextually, this kind of statement lives in the post-Cold War, pre-9/11 continuum when U.S. officials were grappling with asymmetric threats and the public was still adjusting to the idea that American geography wasn’t a moat. Shelton’s intent is clear: reshape threat perception so the country will accept a new security era before it fully arrives.
Quote Details
| Topic | War |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Shelton, Hugh. (2026, January 17). It is changing the face of terrorism. It is basically bringing it to the United States, to our great citizens. We know the terrorists are barbaric and murderers that attack innocent civilians, as they did in this case. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-changing-the-face-of-terrorism-it-is-50758/
Chicago Style
Shelton, Hugh. "It is changing the face of terrorism. It is basically bringing it to the United States, to our great citizens. We know the terrorists are barbaric and murderers that attack innocent civilians, as they did in this case." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-changing-the-face-of-terrorism-it-is-50758/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"It is changing the face of terrorism. It is basically bringing it to the United States, to our great citizens. We know the terrorists are barbaric and murderers that attack innocent civilians, as they did in this case." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/it-is-changing-the-face-of-terrorism-it-is-50758/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.


