The causes of these two problems are very similar and are well correlated. If the government can influence the need to send the military to combat terrorism, then it can also implement new security policies and regulations and claim it is because of the terrorist threat. This also works if there is an attack on American soil, like 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing, that the United States can tolerate stricter security measures, and the public practically demands that we use our army to avenge those killed in the attack.