It's theoretically possible but rarely works when you face a substantial terrorist movement. Smashing the bad guys is an emotionally satisfying idea but it didn't work for us or the Soviets in Afghanistan, pro-US forces in El Salvador, the Brits in Northern Ireland, the Israelis in Palestinian areas, the Colombians in their own country, the Ethiopians against the Eritreans, the Russians in Chechnya, the Sandinistas against the contras, the Sudanese against their southern rebels, Uganda against the LRA, Morocco against the Saharan rebels and many more too obscure to dredge up right now.
Most modern insurgencies either endure for decades and/or finally get defused through some nonmilitary move after a military stalemate is reached. Given the asymmetrical nature of small-group terrorism like Al Qaeda, the prospect of "defeating" it militarily is very remote. The IRA proved that it only takes a few hundred active, determined zealots to keep violence alive, even if thousands of their comrades have been captured or killed before them.
Clearly there is a difference of opinion on this issue, and we have beaten it to death. We can revisit it as we see what happens in Iraq - where I would expect some political accommodation with the insurgents within 6-24 months.
We shall see. I expect a lot of chest-thumping between here and there. |
