WAR ON TERROR AND POSTMODERNISM

War on Terror and Postmodernism

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Postmodernism4

Critical Analysis of War on Terror and postmodernism5

War in Afghanistan, 20015

Iraq War and role of postmodernism7

Definition of Post-modern Terrorism8

How new is the "New Terrorism?9

War on Terrorism10

Conclusion12

References14

War on Terror and Postmodernism

Introduction

The War on Terrorism is a campaign of United States supported by several members of NATO and other allies, with the stated purpose of ending terrorism Post modernly, systematically eliminating the so-called terrorist groups, so considered by the Organization United Nations (UN). In addition to, all those suspect of belonging to these groups, based on the universal declaration of human rights, and put an end to the alleged sponsorship of terrorism by states. This Postmodern offensive launched by the Bush administration after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in New York and Washington, DC, by al-Qaeda. It became a central part of the foreign and domestic policy of former U.S. President, George W. Bush, supported by other States. The report of the Long Commission in the United States into the suicide attacks on the American marine barracks in Beirut in 1985, advocated a military response to terrorism in the future. There was already a strong body of opinion within the American government that terrorism had to be viewed as war. Could the military respond? Defining terrorism as 'war' placed undue pressure on the military against an ever changing protagonist - Shi'ite terrorists in Lebanon, leftist groups in Europe, revolutionary organisations in Latin America or transnational suicide bombers. Even the US military cannot be everywhere at once (Bloom, 2005, 150).

The Commission went on to say that fighting terrorism was not the same as planning for warfare against an invader. Terrorists did not pay much attention to military doctrines and force structure (Simon, 1994). At least the Commission made people think about how to plan, organise, educate, train and defend against terrorism and counterterrorism. Terrorism is certainly an alternative to impractical, ruinous and expensive conventional war. Unlike a war situation, governments can cease to sponsor terrorism when it no longer serves their purpose. Extradition from a terrorist situation can be easier than from a war.

Immediately after September 11 President Bush predicted a long war on terrorism around the world. The resulting war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan brought a clash between the post-modern forces of the USA and its allies with the postmodern units in Afghanistan. In the time, since the autumn of 2001 it is seen has been seen as a clash between Islamic radicals and Arab governments which the USA is trying to influence. It is clear that America needs the police and intelligence capabilities of other states to track and apprehend terrorists (Pape, 2005, 230).

The war on terrorism will have to be broadened in some observers' views to cover a larger group of Islamic radicals and Muslims for whom religious identity overrides political values. In 1991 George Bush, senior, said that the then military action against Iraq would make possible a 'New World Order, a world where ...