The War on Terror

The 'War on Terror,' declared by President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, was a global military, intelligence, and law enforcement campaign that reshaped international politics, expanded executive power, and produced consequences that continue to reverberate. Unlike conventional wars against states, this was a war against a tactic — terrorism — and against non-state actors who operated across borders.

The campaign began with the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 to destroy al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban government that harbored it. It expanded dramatically with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, justified by claims about weapons of mass destruction that proved unfounded. The Iraq War destabilized the Middle East, contributed to the rise of ISIS, and eroded American credibility. Meanwhile, drone strikes, special operations, and intelligence programs expanded to dozens of countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

The War on Terror raised fundamental questions about the balance between security and liberty. The Patriot Act expanded surveillance powers. Guantanamo Bay detention camp held prisoners without trial. The CIA's 'enhanced interrogation techniques' were widely condemned as torture. While the campaign succeeded in degrading al-Qaeda and preventing another 9/11-scale attack on American soil, its broader legacy — in lives lost, money spent, liberties curtailed, and instability created — remains deeply debated.