War Against International Islamic Terrorism

Since September 11, 2001, the United States government has concentrated many of its resources on combating international terrorism. Military operations have taken place in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Iraq in an effort to destroy terrorist networks, eliminate weapons, or discourage states from supporting terror organizations and their goals. Despite the successes of the GWOT, some critics have questioned the direction of the current strategy. The operations have required and will continue to require significant resources from participating nations - especially the United States. Given these demands, it is imperative that the United States pursue the appropriate national strategy so that resources are not wasted and the enemy is effectively targeted. In order to evaluate the GWOT, this monograph examines several questions about the terrorist threat. First, what is the nature of the enemy? Should the terror groups be defined as "criminal "" or as representative of a larger disenfranchised population? Second, what is the enemy 's desired endstate and how does it impact western interests? Finally, how should the elements of national power be applied against the threat? This paper will address four important areas. First, it will analyze the enemy, his situation, and his vision. Second, it will reveal enemy and friendly endstates and centers of gravity that support those endstates. Third, it will outline critical vulnerabilities based on those centers of gravity. Finally, it will offer implications and recommendations for the national strategy. Considered in the context of a mass movement, the international Islamic terror phenomenon poses a threat unique from those of other terrorist groups and, in turn, it should be analyzed and attacked based on those unique characteristics. Furthermore, a comprehensive national strategy must be designed to counter the pervasive menace.