Bounding The Global War On Terrorism

The author examines three features of the war on terrorism as currently defined and conducted: (1) the administration's postulation of the terrorist threat, (2) the scope and feasibility of U.S. war aims, and (3) the war's political, fiscal, and military sustainability. He believes that the war on terrorism--as opposed to the campaign against al-Qaeda-- lacks strategic clarity, embraces unrealistic objectives, and may not be sustainable over the long haul. He calls for downsizing the scope of the war on terrorism to reflect concrete U.S. security interests and the limits of American military power.

The author examines three features of the war on terrorism as currently defined and conducted: (1) the administration's postulation of the terrorist threat, (2) the scope and feasibility of U.S. war aims, and (3) the war's political, fiscal, and military sustainability. He believes that the war on terrorism--as opposed to the campaign against al-Qaeda-- lacks strategic clarity, embraces unrealistic objectives, and may not be sustainable over the long haul. He calls for downsizing the scope of the war on terrorism to reflect concrete U.S. security interests and the limits of American military power.

The signal events opening the global war on terrorism were the attacks of September 11. The world media began to focus on one of the terrorist groups, al-Qaeda, a well-funded terrorist organisation headquartered in Afghanistan or Pakistan with offshoots in many countries. America has turned out to be the primary target of Al-Qaeda. America's first response was the attack on Afghanistan and the establishing of a puppet government. Next America attacked Iraq under the guise of a response to terrorism although no connection has been proven or even alleged except by hardcore neocons aligned with certain elements in the Washington power establishment. This new book pierces the veil of disinformation with frank assessments of the progress or lack thereof of the war on terrorism.

Presenting the reader with provocative articles that critically examine the morality of the war on terrorism as it has evolved over the past eight years, this book consists of articles that effectively address specific aspects of the war on terrorism that are missing or underrepresented in ethical discourse since 9/11

Combating a Modern Hydra: Al Qaeda and the Global War on Terrorism is number eight in the Combat Studies Institute s Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Occasional Paper series. This work resulted from discussions at Fort Leavenworth about the nature of the enemy facing the United States and its allies since 11 September 2001. Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network had been present at some level in the national and international consciousness since the late 1990s. The events of 11 September 2001 and subsequent global operations taken against Al Qaeda have brought this group to the forefront of the GWOT. While successes have been achieved in the GWOT, the enemy has proven to be resilient and adaptive. This study by Mr. Sean Kalic, of the Department of Military History, US Army Command and General Staff College, examines modern transnational terrorism from the 1960s to the present day, with special emphasis on the adaptation Al Qaeda and other nonstate actors have taken in response to the actions of the United States and its allies. This work provides a cautionary warning about the likelihood Al Qaeda will continue to survive and execute missions in the current operating environment. Mr. Kalic synthesizes much of the pertinent literature and offers insights into the actions taken to ght terrorists. Most importantly, he advises a continual reevaluation of the threat, based on Al Qaeda's exibility, resiliency, and adaptability. Of cers and soldiers who have recently served in operations against the terrorist worldwide will certainly see utility here. As the US Army continues its efforts in combating terrorists, the thoughts found in this narrative are well worth considering.

The cataclysmic events of September 11, 2001 destroyed the World Trade Center in New York, and later the Pentagon, was attacked by al Qaeda terrorists. The US government responded by invading Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, and the global war on terror had begun. The US and the UK would then invade Iraq on March 20th, 2003, supposedly to stop Saddam Husseins WMD and the Iraqi regimes alleged ties to al Qaeda. The Global War On Terror provides a thorough analysis of 9/11, the Iraq War, the occupation of Iraq, the British role in Iraq, the expansion of the al Qaeda network, and the breakdown of Iraq into sectarian war. The Global War on Terror exposes the underlying political substructure to reveal: o How both the FBI and CIA failed to understand the al Qaeda terrorist plot on 9/11 and failed to stop al Qaeda. o How the Bush administration actually planned the invasion of Iraq before 9/11. o How the Pentagons Office of Special Plans exaggerated both Iraqs WMD threat and the alleged connection between al Qaeda and the Hussein regime. o How American and British casualty levels greatly increased during the occupation of Iraq after combat operations ended with regard to the regime change in Iraq. o How Iraq became a breeding ground for terrorism, and how the Taliban would regroup in Afghanistan. o How the Blair government would attempt to sanitize the David Kelly scandal and how intelligence operations were manipulated concerning the British invasion of Iraq. o How the Plame-gate affair would expose the Bush administrations intricate web of deceit in regard to the alleged Niger uranium and the role Vice President Dick Cheneys office played in the scandal. o How the global war on terror would begin to unravel in Iraq amid the breakdown of Iraq into civil war and chaos.