Reconceptualizing the Global War on Terror

Abstract : With the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, America was thrust into a national survival mode not witnessed since December 7, 1941. In the aftermath of these attacks, former President Bush officially launched a war on terrorism. As America enters its eighth year of the war on terror, several questions deserve examination. Is the Global War on Terror really a war? What is the nature and characteristics of the current conflict between Islamic extremists and the West? Finally, how should this conflict be prosecuted to ensure short term security and long term international peace and prosperity? This paper analyzes the Global War on Terror from its inception, provides a definition of war founded in classic warfare theory, provides a discussion of what America is doing wrong in its prosecution of the war, and recommends specific changes to improve international effectiveness and ensure ultimate success. The central thesis is that the current approach to terrorism is flawed. The strategic objectives are too aggressive, too vague, and absolutely unachievable in the current national security environment. The political objectives of the war on terror must be adjusted for the United States and her allies to achieve a successful outcome.