September 5, 2004 8:15 AM

So what exactly constitutes victory?

Defining victory over terror difficult: Benchmarks of success will vary and violence won't cease, experts say

It would be easy to skewer George W. Bush for his flip-flop on the winnability of the war against terrorism. This, after all, who has twisted reality on several occasions so that he might accusing John Kerry of "flip-flopping" on issues. Speaking only for myself, I'm willing to cut Bush a bit of slack on this one, if for no other reason than both answers may be correct. Of course, both answers may also be dead wrong.

If we are looking at "victory" in the conventional sense, as in defeating the enemy on the field of battle, then no, the war against terrorism very likely isn't winnable. It's difficult to defeat an enemy you often cannot see. If victory can be defined as an overall decline in the frequency and lethality of terrorist attacks, then this war may well be winnable.

Too often, pundits and political commentators get caught up in wins and losses, things that can easily be quantified and readily understood. In this war, if indeed "war" is even the proper term for it, victories and setbacks are colored in shades of grey. You fight a shadowy foe without having the certainty of enemy lines, recognizable uniforms and tactics, or any of the other methods used to identify "conventional" warfare.

Conventional warfare recognizes and respects the differences between combatants and non-combatant. There are recognized international laws governing the conduct of war. In this war, there are no "rules". Terrorism thrives on the knowledge that an attack could happen anywhere at anytime. There are no civilians- indeed we are all combatants. If 9.11 didn't drive that point home, nothing will.

In a world where armed combat is conducted in shades of grey, without the certainty that soldiers know and train for, defining victory and defeat is a subjective and highly uncertain prospect. So no, I don't blame George W. Bush for sounding as if he is "flip-flopping", because this war may not in fact be winnable. At least not in the conventional sense. Perhaps if those on both sides of the political fence could calm down long enough to catch their breath, they might recognize that reality.

If a war has no beginning and no end, how do you know if you're won or lost? The best you can hope for is to survive- and that certainly beats the alternative.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on September 5, 2004 8:15 AM.

A trip down the Rabbit Hole was the previous entry in this blog.

Something about missing the forest for the trees.... is the next entry in this blog.

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