Understanding the War on Terror

Terrorism kills innocent people. All of the victims of this war have been civilians who were just going to work, shopping, or having a drink and dancing at a club. Many of the dead have been young students. Understanding the War on Terror examines the war we are living in, addresses the issues, and encourages the reader to draw their own conclusions, and to participate in their own analysis, without the simplistic analysis we see repeated from politicians, the media, and academics. In order to win this war, we must get away from the personal politics and the culture of celebrity that has dominated our discussion since September 11, 2001. We must seek out expertise and think for ourselves. This book is a first step in having a discussion about the most important issue of our day. As the list of locations of attacks keeps getting longer; the repetition of the contradictory message creates an environment of fear, crisis and ironically in the long run, apathy. Understanding the War on Terror helps the reader understand, which can then lead the individual to envision a strategy for victory in this struggle. Understanding the War on Terror helps the reader break the atmosphere of fear, crisis, and apathy. Understanding the War on Terror examines the war using three levels of analysis incorporated into international relations theory. They are: the international environment, sovereign states, and individuals.