UNITED STATES' ANTI-AL- QAEDA CAMPAIGN, 1988-2011

ABSTRACT

In fact, this war can be won, not merely contained. But this will require war aims focused on our enemies’ ideology, not their tactics” Like any war, or even any large civil project, the war against al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups bent on mass destruction requires a strategy. Although the United States and its allies may never fully destroy al-Qaeda, or aligned organizations, the anti-terror coalition that the United States has built can aspire to reduce the terrorists to desperate groups of exhausted stragglers, with few resources and little hope of success.1 Recent history reveals that most counter-terrorism strategy is ineffectual -conflicts drag on for years without solutions and countries incur enormous costs in lives and money. Terrorism is not an awesome threat defying comprehension in terms of genesis and response. Despite the characteristics of irrationality, the mind-numbing atrocities and the indiscriminate application of violence, terrorism can be understood and opposed successful. It must be constantly borne in mind that terrorism feeds on fear, weakness, uncertainty and overreaction.2 But through a careful scrutiny of terrorist motivations and goals, more effective counter-terrorism policies may be developed in accordance with the rule of law to provide for effective measures of response. The use of such measures in a calm, determined and persevering manner must eventually lead to the defeat of terrorist aggression.