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To ascertain the nature and scope of this
new war, three factors need to be taken into account: (1) the role of the
United States, (2) the war’s broad objective, and (3) the war’s fluid
nature.
The Role of the United States
While the terrorist bombings have been characterized as an attack on
the “free world,” the reality is that the bombings occurred on
American soil and against primarily American targets. More so than any
other nation, the United States has interpreted these bombings as a direct
attack upon its sovereignty and way of life. U.S. President George W. Bush
has clearly stated that his presidency will be defined by the war on
terrorism, and the American congress has responded with political and
financial support. As such, the United States will be the central force in
defining, developing and implementing any international response. This is
not to say that the international war on terrorism will be an absolute
extension of American foreign policy. Indeed, the United States has
reached out to other countries for support (in particular Britain) and has
backtracked slightly from President Bush’s initial cowboy diplomacy.
However, the fact remains that American interests and policies will
dominate any international response.
The dominance of American interests and
policy was readily visible in the aftermath of the terrorist bombings.
Many nations immediately called for justice and the eradication of global
terrorism. However, it was the United States that initiated the “war”
mentality that we now find ourselves in, and identified “global
terrorism” as the target. Furthermore, in constructing an antiterrorist
coalition around itself instead of international organizations such as the
United Nations, the United States has secured the dominance of its vision
of the war on terrorism. This was explicitly stated with President Bush’s
“friend-or-foe” decree.
The War’s Broad Objectives
While the bombings in New York and Washington were the catalyst for
the war on terrorism, the United States has extended the objective of the
campaign to include the eradication of all global terrorism. This
objective has two main components. The first component involves a campaign
against individual terrorists and terrorist organizations that engage in
global attacks. It will most certainly include Muslim extremist groups
such al-Qaeda and the International Islamic Jihad movement, as well as
Palestine groups such Hamas. The second component focuses upon countries
that provide support to global terrorists and their organizations.
Probable targets would include Sudan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and,
of course, the Taliban in Afghanistan.
An early goal in war on terrorism will be
the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind behind
the bombings on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Furthermore, as
the Taliban in Afghanistan have aided bin Laden and have refused to
extradite him, this goal will inevitably involve military action against
Afghanistan.
The War’s Fluid Nature
Past wars were often explicit in regards to who was the enemy, who
were friends, and what was the task at hand. In the Persian Gulf War, the
United States built a solid alliance for the purposes of liberating Kuwait
and eliminating Iraq as a regional power. However, this war on terrorism
will be very different from traditional wars, as it will have a fluid
nature.
First, the particular enemies of this war
will shift over time. In the immediate future, the focus will be on bin
Laden and the Taliban. However, as the war progresses, the focus will
shift to other individuals, organizations and countries. Second, the
antiterrorist coalition will vary as the targets change. There will be a
core group of nations, however, secondary nations will be brought in at
different times to fulfil specific roles. As U.S. Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld stated, “there will be a number of coalitions that will be
functioning over time. Some [nations] will be able to do some things;
others will be able to do other things.” Third, the strategies of the
war will shift in accordance with the particular targets and coalitions.
In some instances, such as with the Taliban, military action will be
necessary and will have significant international support. In other
situations, military action would be unnecessary or politically risky. In
these instances, other instruments (such as sanctions, the freezing of
assets, or criminal prosecution) will be utilized.
Summary
The nature and scope of the war on terrorism can be characterized in
the following manner:
- Dominated by the United States.
- Other nations will impact the
definition and implementation of the war, however, the
interests and policy of the United States will be primary.
- Broad in regards to its objective.
- The objective includes the
elimination of global terrorists and their organizations, and
an end to state sponsorship of terrorism.
- Fluid in regards to specifics.
- The particular enemies,
coalitions and strategies of the war will constantly be in
flux.
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Canada’s International Obligations
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