of course the "war on terror" can't be won......it's such a loose term - a convienient, easy to swallow slogan to sell to people who'd rather not think for themselves. Its no more valid as a concept than the "war on drugs" which in one broad re-branded stroke bundled cannabis into the same category as crack or heroin.

for the US administration, Al quedia are terrorists and Sunni insurgents are terrorists, lone nuts (like the Oklahoma bomber) are terrorists,
the Israelis see the PLA as terrorists
In Britain the IRA are terrorists
The Palestinian see the Israelis as guilty of state sponsored terrorism
The Russians label Cheychen rebels as terrorists
The Spanish label the Basque seperatist groups like ETA terrorists

each definition of terrorism varies - whether it represents a group fighting for nationalistic reasons specific to their own geographical circumstance, for ideological reasons which extend national borders, or for no discernable reason at all other than a grudge against society in general.

with regard to the US and al qaeda (which seemed to be the main thrust of the war on terror until bush got sidetracked....) the US is "at war" with an ideology....but you can't beat an ideology with bombs - for every person you kill, you create a martyr to the cause, a greater sense of injustice and a hardened will for revenge.

the "war" with al qaeda will be won in decades not years - and only through undercutting the appeal of such a radical anti-western creed to young adherents....The first step would be to sort out the isreali-palestinian issue.......don't hold your breath folks....so far all the "war on terror" has only acheived a greater radicalisation of an already troubled middle east, hardened anti-American and anti-western sentiment and created a new front on which terrorist groups like al queda can fight. Well done George - $400 billion well spent....



























Quote Originally Posted by Shelbay
Money is at the root of all evil.
those who say the money is root of all that kills have never been poor,
they have never known the joys of a welfare christmas.
(prize for anyone who knows who said that....)
andyandy Reviewed by andyandy on . us v them .... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4943842.stm Al-Qaeda jihad vs US 'long war' Analysis By Paul Reynolds World Affairs Correspondent, BBC News website Osama Bin Laden Osama Bin Laden. The tactics of jihad... Rating: 5