How can we lose a war that can’t be won?

Question

Monday, August 30, 2004
Matt Lauer on the Today Show: "Do you believe that the war on terror can be won?"
George W Bush: "No, I don't think the war on terror can be won, but what I believe we can get it to a point where it can be controlled."

Bush continues to beat the same war drum, proclaiming that withdrawal from Iraq would represent defeat. However, he has already admitted that the war on terror cannot be won, at least not in the conventional sense, so how does the war in Iraq “control” terrorism? The answer is that it doesn’t. We’re not going to wake up one morning and miraculously declare victory in Iraq, particularly because we haven’t a clue what factors identify true victory. Our troops are caught in the crossfire of a civil war and no insurgency is going to resolve the conflict. Terrorism cannot be defeated with bullets. Only through shared intelligence and strategic police work worldwide can terrorism be controlled.

Does anyone with a grain of reason really believe that global terrorism can be defeated in Iraq? Thus far, over 3,300 American soldiers have been senselessly murdered. Now John Boehner, minority leader wants to wait until September to determine if the insurgency is working! Are you kidding me? What in the name of God is it going to take before Bush and the 28% still supporting him realize that Iraq is a lost cause? It’s time for us to end this insane occupation and focus our efforts and energy on strategies to effectively “control” terrorism worldwide. The war in Iraq ain’t the answer.

Answer 1

The war on terror is like the war on drugs or the war on crime or the war on poverty. These are wars declared on concepts, not nations. They are not intended to be won. Unfortunately, they usually end up just sucking money down the drain and ruining lives. Let's declare them lost and start rethinking.

Answer 2

Stop fighting it, and you lose. Simple, really.

Of course, there are alternatives to fighting on in a no-win situation other than just giving up, like trying to re-frame your aproach to the conflict in a way that can be won. The War on Terror can't be won, but a declared war against selected Arab or Muslem states, for instance, could be.

To given an historical example, when the US suffered terrorist attacks under Clinton, he responded, not be declaring a war on terror, but simply by bombing empty Al Qaeda training camps and calling it a day. By setting the bar for victory at 'destroying' the camps, he was able to win the retalilatory conflict quickly and cleanly. That it did nothing to prevent future attacks couldn't be deamed a failure or 'loss' since that wasn't the objective, destroying the empty camps, was.

Bush, OTOH, went in the extreme opposite direction, responding with a 'War' that required terrorism to end forever before victory could be claimed.

Answer 3

I would agree with you that global terrorism cannot be defeated in Iraq, and that the mass media has propagated factually incorrect information about the motives of the terrorists leaders. However, Bush was speaking in the context of history with respect of many Americans expectations that one day we'll see terrorist leaders on the deck of a battleship signing a formal declaration of surrender.

He argues that by ridding the middle east of circumstances that create terrorism that terrorism will eventually end. He's obviously wrong however.

Answer 4

the war on terrorism is mostly a bunch of bs - it's a method of using fear to control the population (very similar to the red scare)

but I agree that Iraq is a lost cause. Sadly it will be the Iraqi civilians who pay the price for American aggression and pride

Answer 5

Until the jihadists and terrorists see that we mean business and we're not going to allow them to bully any innocent people anymore, we need to be over there.

I'll bet you libs would just stand and watch in fascination while the schoolyard bully would steal money from and beat up other kids.

That's because it's so much easier to do nothing. But doing nothing is NEVER the right thing to do.

Answer 6

If you pull out from Iraq, then you will have to fight terorists here. No doubt about it, cause even now their working to do anything to destroy you and your family and your world.
You've got'e get it, cause if not were in trouble.

Answer 7

We can't.That's why Bush is keeping it going so it's dumped on the Democrats in 2008 then they will ALL SHRILLY BLAME the DEMOCRATS for losing it.
Twisted logic -YES.But that's all this administration runs on........

Answer 8

Go on, Binky, get it off yer chest!