Abandoning the Phrase or the War?

In a Newsweek article the other day, Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball, describe the Obama Administration's efforts to find an alternative to the phrase “War on Terror.” When asked about this phrase, President Obama stated, “Well you know, I think it is very important for us to recognize that we have a battle or a war against some terrorist organizations....” Only some, Mr. President? You mean, the are some other terrorist organizations which we have no issue with? Who would that be? Hamas, maybe? But, I digress.

Critics have long argued that “terror” is a tactic, not an identifiable enemy. We fight wars against our enemies, not their tactics. While that may be grammatically true, the American people have no problem understanding what the phrase “War on Terror” means. We all remember September 11, 2001 very clearly, how we felt fear, sadness, anger and a desire for justice. Referring to a tactic does not change the fact that America is fighting Islamic extremists, an enemy who wishes each and every one of us dead.

I believe the abandonment of this phrase is one of many steps the Obama Administration has taken and will take in ending the War on Terror itself. Let's look at what has already taken place:

• Gitmo has been ordered closed (with no other alternative location proposed)
• All terror trials have been halted (with no alternative proceedings decided on)
• No aggressive interrogation techniques can be used against suspected terrorists (given their penchant for martyrdom, less actionable intelligence will be forthcoming)
• No secret locations can be used to interrogate suspected terrorists captured abroad (potentially jeopardizing undercover operations to stop future attacks)

And this is just the beginning. Future decisions may include moving detainees to U.S. prisons, granting detainees (i.e., non-U.S. Citizens) full constitutional rights, requiring Miranda rights to be read to suspected terrorists prior to questioning, and the list goes on.

To me, it is clear that the current administration is undoing everything America has done to fight this war, not in an effort to fight it more efficiently or successfully, but to stop fighting it altogether. Concerned about what Europe, the Middle East and others think about us, President Obama is turning the clock back to September 10, 2001 and requiring our country to treat terrorism as a law enforcement matter. If that happens, we will never win this war.

As I stated in an earlier post, the War on Terror is over. Not the use of the phrase but the war itself. Perhaps another devastating attack on America's homeland will swing the pendulum back to a more aggressive stance; and if that does occur, it's a shame that more Americans have to die for us to maintain the resolve necessary to successfully fight what is literally a struggle of life and death.