Here's another good one, from the London Times, written by General Michael Rose, who I think was the Nato commander in Bosnia:
The statement by President Bush that "now war has been declared on us, we will lead America to victory", signifies that if America is not actually at war today, then as a nation, it is at least on a war footing. So too, through our association with Nato, is the United Kingdom.
The war will not be a war in any classic sense. A war against terrorism is not a war against a clearly identifiable enemy on whom it is hoped to impose one's own political will. Nor will it have clear geographic boundaries. Furthermore, the terrorist ideology being confronted is likely to be ill-defined and confused.
If he is to lead his nation to victory, Bush will first have to identify the enemy before launching his forces into battle. He will then have to find them. Most importantly he will have to determine the objectives of the terrorists and attempt to understand their motivation. Winning a war against terrorists is as much about understanding their psychology and the political, economic and social environment that spawned them, as it is about destroying them.
Military force by itself seldom produces enduring solutions. The eradication of international terrorism will not be brought about by cruise missiles being fired into Afghanistan and Sudan or through the prolonged deployment of large, well-equipped armies on the territory of states suspected of harbouring terrorists. Such actions can only be counterproductive in a terrorist war - although weapon systems may of course be required when destroying any physical infrastructure associated with the terrorists.
In the longer term, a war against terrorism can be won only if it is treated as a people's war in which the continuing support of the people, in this case most probably the Arabs, is regarded as being of critical importance. Without popular support, no armies have ever won a revolutionary war. A terrorist war is no different. Victory can be declared only when the mass of the people cease to support the terrorists.
The secretary of state, Colin Powell, has said that the US is now embarked upon a long-term conflict fought on many fronts - involving military intelligence, the law and diplomacy. It will have to be fought on even more fronts if the terrorists are to be separated from the people they claim to represent.
All instruments of government, including economic and social, will have to be committed to winning the conflict. The use of force will be limited, specific and designed to disrupt and destroy the terrorist leadership and infrastructure. It will be executed in a way that does not alienate the mass of the people or allow the terrorists to mobilise further support for their cause. It is simply no use cutting off one head if another 10 grow in its place.
The campaign will be long and drawn out, as there are no quick, short-term fixes, for - as we have so clearly seen in the Balkans - complex human problems that have been in gestation for generations cannot be rapidly resolved.
General Sir Michael Rose is former commander of the SAS |
