Issues
WINNING THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM:
We are clearly losing ground in the fight against terrorists worldwide. We have created more terrorists than we have killed. We are more isolated internationally. We are more divided domestically. And more than at any time in modern history, our forces are stretched to the breaking point.
I have called for replacing today�s mismanaged �war on terror� with a �global counterinsurgency� effort that places kinetic military action in its proper context alongside our moral authority, diplomatic persuasion, and development assistance. Regrettably, this remains an elusive goal.
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Today we risk repeating a mistake that dooms many, perhaps most, counterinsurgencies: a failure to appreciate the difference between tactical success and a winning strategy. The fatal consequence, all too familiar to those of us who lived through Vietnam, is that you win every battle, but fail to win the war. And despite the evidence of thoughtful observers, we are witnessing an alarming lack of urgency from the Administration and some of our allies.
Most importantly, we need to implement a comprehensive strategy that focuses as much on good governance and reconstruction as it does on kinetic military operations. Security is an essential precondition�but ultimately our success depends on bolstering embattled governments to provide basic services to its people and enforce the rule of law. Victory in a counterinsurgency is measured not just in enemies killed but also in kilowatt hours of electricity delivered, in citizens� ability to get justice without paying bribes, in allies won and enemies not made. We must begin winning these battles in a way that also helps us win the war.
We must be prepared to respond to each situation differently, to adapt as our opponent adapts, and to tailor our response to the local conditions that give rise to terrorism. In some places, that means local development projects and television broadcasts. In others, it means visits to sheikhs in their tents and�when necessary�it means firing cruise missiles at high value targets.
What this moment requires of us is a vision, understanding toward those who hold honest disagreements, clear and critical thinking, and above all, honesty with the American people. Only then will we be able to make America safer.
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