What would it take for the United States to enter this WW2-like total war after 9/11? I'll propose a few possibilities:
-- Less disastrous Vietnam, less successful Gulf War. This military history no doubt convinced Bush's defense crew that keeping the public distracted from daily military operations was a recipe for success, and that a quick war was a possibility.
-- No abolition of the draft by Nixon
-- More timely declaration of war, more pointed rhetoric by President Bush
-- More clearly articulated targets from the get-go. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran.
Would this be able to inspire the following domestic effects:
-- Rationing?
-- Directors like Spielberg and Bay create patriotic pro-War films, bordering on propaganda?
-- A boost in productivity by creating demand for manufacturing jobs?
-- Higher personal savings rate?
-- Govt. endorsed Islamophobia?
-- Longer-lasting political unity?
-- Post-war Marshall plan-like effort for the Middle East?
Is this plausible? How long would this war last? Would the middle-east be more stable today? Would the American political parties be unified on matters of post-war domestic governance?