Asap when president bush declared a “war on terror” after 9/11, how did this statement change us foreign policy? for the first time, the united states would strike at terrorist groups, such as al-qaeda. the united states would no longer distinguish between terrorist groups, such as al-qaeda, and the countries that harbored them. the united states reserved the right to act in self-defense against terrorist groups. the united states announced it would invade each member of the “axis of evil,” until they all gave up their wmds.