Military force against terrorism: Questions of legitimacy, dilemmas of efficacy

It is true that terrorism goes way back in history, "as far back as does human conflict itself," as Caleb Carr has written.¹ It also is true that much of the world had been suffering from terrorism for a long time before September 11.² Still, the issue did change dramatically after the United States made it its top national security priority and the Bush administration decided on its particular "war on terrorism" approach, with its heavy emphasis on the use of military force. Copyright © 2007 the brookings institution. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Bruce W. Jentleson Sanford School of Public Policy