What followed was a decade of US focus on terrorism and the large-scale commitment of American military forces to Iraq and Afghanistan. The two conflicts have claimed more than 6,000 American lives, cost more than $1 trillion, and consumed countless hours for two presidents and their senior staff.
后冷战时代的第二阶段始于9·11恐怖袭击。在此后的十年中，美国的焦点是恐怖主义以及驻伊拉克和阿富汗美军的大规模伤亡。这两场冲突导致6 000多名美国人丧生，经济损失超过了1万亿美元，两人总统及其高级官员为之殚精竭虑。