Who started the war on terror?

Question

We have been consistently attacked by Al Qeda prior to September 11. In 1998 Bin Laden declared war on the U.S. How does it make any sense that the United States declared war on Al Qeda after the attacks on Spetember 11 and is this helping anybody?

I think it wouldn't make sense to declare war because it had already been declared and was already being waged. Bush could have said that Bin Laden declared war on us a few years ago and it would have given Bush a grand oportunity to make us fear not only terrorists but Democrats.

Al Qeda had carried out attacks against the United States pretty much all throughout the 90's. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be actively pursuing them but I think we might want to do so in a manner that strengthen Al Qeda's ability to convince Muslim's to conform and act on their ideals. Maybe Bin Laden wanted this kind of response. Al Qeda perverts Islamic ideology to justify the atrocities it carries out. We need to take away its credability. As long as the right people have reason to beleive Bin Laden's message Al Qeda will continue continue to exist.

Answer 1

terror is an abstract concept. Terror not a physical country that one can actually be at war with.

I think the war on terror was a name the Bush Administration came up with so that they could invade Iraq and make it seem like it had something to do with 9-11.

I don't know if you young ones remember back when Clinton tried to bomb Afghanistan back in 1998 everyone said it was subterfuge to distract people from the Monica Lewinsky scandal. What's funny is now moron republicans blame Clinton for not getting him back then, but back then they said it was a hoax and that Afghanistan is an "obscure" country.
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/08/21/wag.the.dog/

and an added note ----------------

Before you all get your underwear in a wad about how I should support the troops (like the girl underneath me) I'm already a war vet.

Supporting the TROOPS is not the same as supporting a WAR especially one based on lies (like weapons of mass destruction)
Furthermore, I never once felt that Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein or anyone else was going to take over America and make us all slaves. Killing a few thousand of our citizens is a terrible thing, but it never threatened the infrastructure of our government. The unfortunate troops in Iraq aren't fighting for American freedom, they're fighting for Iraqi freedom.

Answer 2

Terrorism as always been "under attack" and attacking, Bush and his administration decided to call the War Amerias Middle and Lower Class is dieing the "War On Terror". Although, if you go back in time a a decade or so, when the USSR occupied Afghanistan, which is where the "War On Terror" started, America supplied Afganie (not sure how its spelt) Guerrillas weapons. The Al Qaeda organization was formed in camps founded by Abu Ebeida El-Banashiri, the camps were meant to fight against USSR forces. They called themselves Mujahideen (meaning strgglers). Those Mujahideen fighters eventually called themselves Al Qaeda (meaning The Base or The Foundation). Al Qaeda, originially, was a group formed for the betterment of Afghanistan, but once the USSR left (the only government Afghanistan had) chaos broke out. Since that was really the only organized, full-country government Afghanistan had, there were fights for who was to be the leader. Since Al Qaeda was the biggest group with the most influence (since non-Afghanistan citizens had supported them with money and weapons) they ended up taking over.

-everything after this is from rough memory-

Now, the leader of Al Qaeda, Abu Ebeida El-Banashiri (I think), wanted a democratic, more western government. Because of that, he was assassinated and Bin Laden took over. Then Al Qaeda became an "anti-Muslim" group. (All that is from rough memory, may be true or not)

Yes, that is all on Al Qaeda, because thats who this "war" was originially against (now I don't know who the 'enemy' is suppose to be).

And Barbie girl, no, you're a hatriotist. You hate whoever the government tells you too. U.S. citizens would NOT be dead or slaves because of a group on the other side of the globe doesn't like us. U.S. soldiers are suppose to be over there to fight for the freedom of Iraq Citizens and Afghanistan Citizens; if you've heard half the stories of U.S. soldiers and seen half the trophy movies that others have, you'd rethink your view on the "war" faster then a bullet to the head can kill. Don't believe the TV.

Answer 3

The United States was the first to DECLARE war on TERROR--not just Al Qaeda, although Al Qaeda is the current and most visible "face" of terrorism. Their attack on the WTT was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back and prompted Bush to launch a full-scale war against terror.

If you're asking who started terrorism, you can trace it all the way back to the first century when Zealots waged a terror war against the Roman Empire.

If you're asking who started the most recent wave of terror attacks, well that's a long list.

And is the war on terror helping anyone? I don't think so. I believe it's merely a way of satisfying people's desire to retaliate and feel like they're doing SOMETHING about these random attacks.(This war is probably also a way for the U.S. to get a stronger toe-hold in the Middle East.)

Answer 4

The war started for America on September 11, 2001, as a result of the Al Queda terrorist attacks.

Osama is the one who started the war since he declared war and attacked first.

Why wouldn't it make sense that the US declared war on Al Queda? They attacked them, and that is the US's retaliation. If the US was to do nothing, that probably would have inspired even more attacks from not only Al Queda, but other terrorist groups.

So I would say that yes, it is helping.

Answer 5

Sept 11th, brought about the war on terrorism, Mr. Bush assumed that it was Bin Laden who orchestrated the attack, from the very beginning the day of the bombing they were reporting it was Bin Laden at the helm of the attack, yet I clearly remember one tv interview with Bin Laden saying he didn't do it. Yet every media report pounced on the fact that they had someone to lay the blame on. Shortly afterwards Mr. Bush declared war on terror and started with Afghanistan where he went to find Bin Laden as of yet has not found but managed to disrupt this countries government. Then he was so inflamed by war that he then declared war on Iraq because he himself stated that they had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) which was an outright lie and also sighting many atrocities committed by Saddam.

Answer 6

After 911 President Bush said...We would not tolerate anyone that supports terrorism in any way shape or form. Whether it's financially or physically. Because Al Qeda supports terrorism and how do you know the Al Qeda doesn't support Osama Bin Laden and helps financially aid and physically work with Bin Ladin against the US and our allies?

TO ALL YOU PEOPLE AGAINST THE WAR AND WHAT IT
MEANS TO YOU. IF OUR TROOPS WOULDN'T BE OUT
THERE FIGHTING YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SIT ON YOUR BUTTS IN FRONT OF THE TV OR AS WE ARE DOING NOW SITTING IN FRONT OF OUR COMPUTERS PLAYING AROUND. YOU MIGHT BE A SLAVE OR EVEN DEAD.

Answer 7

the answer lies in your question. after 9/11, the us started war on terror, means war to annihilate AL qeda.

Answer 8

It would seem that Al Queda was originally considered a nuisance until they pulled off their big job on 9/11. After that, the US Federal Government decided it was time to open up a can of whoopass on them.

Answer 9

ON 9-11, IF YOU WERE LISTENING, PRESIDENT BUSH SAID OUT COUNTRY IS UNDER ATTACK.....WE ARE NOW IN A STATE OF WAR..............THAT TELLS ME THAT THE TERRORISTS DECLARED WAR BY ATTACKING US.

Answer 10

Terrorists

No terror=no war on terror