Obama Administration Needs New Approach to Battling al Qaeda
- International Conference: This is a global conflict, and as such, we need to have consensus from our global partners as to how best to proceed. Questions remain as to what framework best categorizes this war. The United States should lead the call for an international conference of high-level delegates to review the Geneva Conventions and determine if a new protocol might be necessary to properly identify and handle the al Qaeda international terrorists.
Since they are different from both traditional warriors and terrorists seeking national revolution or other domestic political changes, there is an identifiable gap in our treaties and international instruments (as well as the de jure belli itself) al Qaeda is slipping in between. We need the international community to remain with us in this international war, and the United States needs to be at the forefront of a revived diplomatic effort. Currently, it appears we are trying, on both sides of the issue, to jam a square peg into a round hole.
- Surge in Afghanistan: The Obama administration needs to take the "lessons learned" from the battles in Baghdad and apply them to our fight in Afghanistan. The success has largely been attributed to creating a strategy developed by a true mix of interests—academia, the military, and human-rights groups. The fourth-generation warfare we are fighting requires such interest groups to continue to work together, rather than against one another, to achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives.
These four cornerstones of a new strategy are critical to moving the public debate forward and to fighting the war in which we are currently engaged. Instead of fighting over what has occurred, we need to be debating over what to do in the future as the al Qaeda threat continues to attack U.S. interests and to plan its next major attack upon the U.S. homeland.
Glenn Sulmasy is a professor of law and is a commentator on national security matters.
Reader Comments
Well, he's taken some of your advice
As lampooned by the Daily Show this past week, the 'War on Terror’ has indeed been renamed ‘Overseas Contingency Operation’ in line with your suggestion, Glenn. Is it time for us to turn in our GWOT (Global War on Terrorism) medals for an OCO version?
Alas, I disagree with your Hybrid Court concept. Just as my hybrid car requires extra weight and manufacturing costs for limited lifespan batteries, a Hybrid Court for non-traditional combatants will likely result in lots of extra baggage and less than spectacular acceleration. I foresee an unending number of requests by the defense for the best options currently available under either the UCMJ or civilian criminal procedure. These motions will make the GTMO system look like a rocket docket. Terror occurring in Afghanistan should preferably be tried in Afghanistan. Our efforts should emphasize building world class justice systems in the lands where the crimes currently florish. Meanwhile, crimes against Americans anywhere, uniformed or not, should be in U.S. federal courts whenever possible. Statutes should be passed to give fed courts all Constitutionally permissible powers, jurisdiction and options.
Stay the course
We must stay the course and defeat Al Qaieda. We have the best trained and motivated armed forces in the world and we must wipe out Al Qaieda. Americans; never forget 9-11.
What a mess!!!
When this war started - I said here we go with another Vietnam. I was right. Is there anyone who can say I was wrong - truthfully. Of course everybody wants to kill Americans. Everybody is always jealous of number 1. But now we are in it up to our necks. Afghanistan is a different war than Iraq. Therefore it has to be fought differently. I believe most of Al Qaieda is hiding in Pakistan anyway and I believe that is where Bin Laden has been the whole time. We need to do something about that situation. That is why Pakistan gets mad everytime our troops cross their border. I guess they are afraid we will find him - then what would that say about Pakistan? Harboring World terrorists and nuclear capable. A scary thought. Also, has anybody thought of this besides me. On the day of 911 - most of the terrorists were Saudi's, why then did we invade Iraq? Seems to me like we should have called the Saltan on the carpet to find out what was going on. I still believe they are funding Al Qaieda. Just a thought.
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