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TIPPING POINT

If the War on Terror Ends, What Then?

Presidential war powers could fall along with Al Qaeda

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by PolitixMayday

Staff Writer t

Image: AP

What would bring an end to the War on Terror? It would happen if al-Qaeda was so decimated that it no longer qualified as an adversary, according to Wired's Spencer Ackerman.

If and when the War on Terror ends, special military powers given to the president after the September 11th attacks may also come to an end, a high ranking Pentagon lawyer suggested on Friday. The 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF), oft cited by the Obama administration for its military decisions, will expire, and along with it the ability to detain suspects not charged with a crime in Guantanamo Bay.

An expiration of the president's war powers would also raise questions about the administration's use of lethal drone strikes. The CIA drone strikes in particular, Ackerman writes, would come under scrutiny, as the legal rationale for them have never been disclosed.

But what would an end to al-Qaeda look like? Even the US military doesn't know, considering organization's loose structure. The organization hasn't launched a successful strike against the US (its involvement with the Benghazi, Libya attacks are suspect, at best) since Sept 11th, 2001.

Via Wired
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Do you think the War on Terror will end in the next decade?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • DARSB
    !
    The definition of "War on Terror" has never been clear to me, and the end point, so much as I can remember, was never discussed during the Bush administration. Perhaps this would be a great time for the Obama folks to get these details down and have a particular goal to work toward.
  • u
    Jim49418
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    @dances-weebles Ahhhhh ...yes...., blame Bush again!
    What isnt Bush's fault?
    Isn't it about time to stop with the blame Bush for everything theory?
  • PNWest
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    The "war on terror" is just another excuse to keep funding the military industrial complex. Every time we get out of one "war" we start another. The only thing that stays constant is that we are crippling our standard of living by wasting so much on the military.
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  • Post Removed by Moderators
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    woodtick57
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    @dances-weebles

    obviously still having keyboard issues. sometime i forget to correct before posting.

    i never realized how important the letters g and h are in our language...
  • JoeJared
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    I think it will end because the government has become insolvent and because people are getting sick and tired of being lied to. It's not the war on terror, it's the war OF terror.
  • Thegrif
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    I just don't see how it could. What, just because we say it's over, would that mean terrorist would stop? Seems like I remember Obama saying HE defeated terrorism. Guess the waves of terrorist that attacked our embassy in Benghazi didn't get the memo.
    Terror, terrorism, and terrorist will always be, and now they know who we are, we have met, they are not likely to forget. Let your guard down and you will see I am afraid to say.
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    mtkopf
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    I don't remember Obama ever saying that but I DO remember dubya landing on a carrier and giving the mission accomplished speech in 2003. Seems we were in Iraq just a tad bit longer.
  • Thegrif
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    @woodtick57 you are correct, I just checked it out. What happened was this David Gregory of NBC misquoted on live TV what Obama did say, what Obama did say after a year after Osama was killed is, " the goal I set to defeat al Qaida is now in reach".
    So once again the major networks screw me by lying.
    ... And if I find I am wrong, I own it.
  • Thegrif
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    @mtkopf were in Iraq a bit longer? It would be wrong to believe some troops are not still there. That I do know.
  • u
    mtkopf
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    @Thegrif most are home. Don't dodge the issues
    1) when did Obama claim victory in war on terror I want references.
    2) mission accomplished really wasn't especially if we have troops there 9 YEARS later.
    Try focusing...address those two issues only.
  • View all 18 replies >
  • twinertia
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    As long as there's a jughead with a chip on his shoulder, you'll have some form of terrorism. I'd be FAR more worried by our own home-grown regressives than the foreign variety.
  • jessejaymes
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    At the rate the Christian right is regressing I'm more worried about the American Taliban Christian than I am the odd terrorist Islamic group.
  • kirbstomp1
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    @jessejaymes - they are destroying America and turning us into an imperial theocracy. I do not approve whatsoever of these actions.
  • Rocker
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    I'm sure that with little effort we can find another bunch of folks or another country to jack around with.
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    Big-R
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    There never has been, and there never will be peace in the middle east. As long as terrorism is a means for radical muslims to have power in the world, there will be terrorism. The so called war on terror may end someday, but the terrorism will continue.
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    Big-R
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    @woodtick57 Well that is a good point, but the Middle East is by far the worst offender. Maybe not as far as quality, but definitely quantity.
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    Big-R
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    @woodtick57 Who do see as the next? I am leaning on North Korea,but still not convinced they would actually try it. It may be more chest pounding on their part.
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    Buckfan4life2
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    There will never be an end to terroist,are you nuts??????? But I can see Obama and the democrats saying one day that its over. Anything to make this adminastration look great to the foolish American people. These Muslims goal is to exterminate all infidels and thats exactly what they will do their entire life till they take their last breath. Obama had already claimed victory with the killing of Bin Ladin and his Muslim Brotherhood fiasco and look what happened. Then he tries to cover it up that a 10 cent movie caused it. When are you sheep going to open your eyes and see how corrupt this adminastration is. By the way, what happened to closeing Gitmo down within a year back in 08?????????? ITs so funny how everyone seems to forget all of Obamas lies,coverups and failures thats came from this so-called president. I guess the man could actually start killing American citizens on live TV and people will just turn their heads and figure he must have a good reason to be doing it. Its gettig scary folks and its getting worse everyday.
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    woodtick57
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    Where do you people keep getting this idea that Obama said he claimed victory in the war on terrorism? Are you guys taking rips off the same bong?
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    mtkopf
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    I never heard Obama claim that but I DO remember bush giving his mission accomplished speech in 2003. When did our troops leave Iraq? Was it 8 YEARS later? It is so funny how you CHOOSE not to remember all the gaffes the bush administration made and how you seem to rewrite history when it comes to our current President.
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  • FFX_VA
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    The War on Terror is a clash of cultures fueled by religious beliefs and the political motives of power & control. The extremists will not give up and the "West" cannot afford to lose, both sides' way of life depends on winning (however that is defined).

    It may fade out in a few more decades, but it will be a cultural change that does it. Political measures, to include the use of military force, will be part of forcing that change; but deeply instilled attitudes are very difficult to change. Just ask anyone in the Middle East, or a Politix user.
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    mtkopf
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    I normally don't agree with your politics but I do have to say you are right on target with this post, especially the last line.
  • dlw
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    @FFX_VA Pakistan is not our friend. They are using us and stealing from us the same today as they were 10 - 20 years ago. Pakistan is our enemy!
  • FFX_VA
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    @dlw A lot of our friends are also enemies, that's international politics for you. What the story shows is outrage at the extremists/Taliban by average Pakistanis, that is a huge change in culture from 10-15 years ago. It's a positive change and the type we need more of to end the War on Terror.
  • Malitia_Man
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    The DHS is already in the process of indoctrinating the sheeple minded people of Amerika with "domestic terrorism" propaganda. So, I think the war on terrorism will never be over until everyone of our liberties are deceased of existence!!!

    Welcome to Amerika, were patriotism is treason and the violation of the our rights fights "terrorism"!!!
  • PoliticalSpice
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    I think govt under either party will want to retain the power and will continue this illegal war. Illegal because it was never declared by congress, and the very fact that it is so ill defined will allow any pres to argue they were acting on a threat pursuant to the sept 11 resolution. The only way it will end is if congress does it's duty and votes to recind the resolution on the basis of the fact the war is over. Good luck with that...
  • Ashstop
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    Of course Obama thinks its already ended, all we have now is disgruntled "employees" on bases and protesters upset over a video they've never seen, can you imagine if he'd been president during peril harbor?!! Probably blamed all the ships sunk on non-union workmanship or global warming caused the ocean to rise too fast!
  • u
    CommonSense
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    We will never eliminate "terrorism" entirely. We might end the war on terror in the sense that without Al Qaeda it becomes less of an issue, and that "war on terror" rhetoric disappears from politics. Conceptualizing it as a war was a bad idea in the first place. "Terrorism" is a crime. In that sense we will never win the war on terror anymore than we could win a war on rape, unless someone invents some way to alter human nature as such that we all become perfectly peaceful.
  • time_is
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    I don't think you'd like for someone to invent a means of altering Trust and Betrayal. Furthermore, Mutual Respect and Appreciation of Each Individual's Time destroys the reaction ( Islam ) and the aggressor ( Judaism ). It's not a matter of altering human nature, Judaism's development of the "We'll Take You Too" concept to fortify their seniority in the food chain is extremism. Politicized Christianity is it's name. The concept itself is one of betrayal; therefore it breeds betrayal and why it established freedom of speech and the right to bear arms out of paranoia of the unknown.

    I like your name, btw. Anyways, chicken or egg first scenario is irrelevant, when the intent is to eliminate the chicken. The true question is can the chicken be produced by stem cell reproductive means, in order to properly feed the population? You're trusting in what has already been known to fail, Earth, without any rational reason for doing so; having faith. From an Illuminatus' position, I'd say, faith and belief(not knowing truth) of the unseen (mind)(moses) as he seeks to identify trust and betrayal in length as a means of establishing Israelites as First, as they are his people, sort of demands Persians to respond in kind(Islam)(Mind)(Muhammad).
  • time_is
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    The true difficulty in destroying unnatural organisms, such as those, is allowing Trust In Men to reemerge. Whereas, with Trust deeply embedded in Betrayal as a reasonable; many will suffer as it is seen as becoming closer with (mind of moses) or God or (mind of Muhammad) of Allah. The weak survive, the strong exist. The question an unknown or unexposed history leaves us with is which types of people are relevant for reestablishment? Civilizations all created markers as a means of where to reestablish, as well as clues as to which resources were located where.

    The solutions need a recognized problem, no different from those experiencing a problem being in need of a solution. As the possessors of Trust and Betrayal being equally yoked coupled with UNCERTAINTY in regards to making any decision, when to access the solutions is more important than being seen as humane. Especially, when we are capable of recognizing a decline in the Earth's ability to sustain our food needs. Liberalism includes HIGH EMPLOYMENT which supports the welfare system. Eliminate welfare, employment drops and as a sense of betrayal sets in, REVOLT RISES. Another problem is having heavily depended upon construction to contribute to the excessive rise in the GDP; where it depended upon more available buyers.
  • time_is
    !
    Deregulation of Glass-Stegal, separation of the Standards of Living from the GDP, removing women from the home, the need to address hunger and drastically catch minorities up with what Vice P Johnson, after Lincoln's death repealed, led to a false sense of certainty for White Americans; which happened to be unsustainable. Especially, whereas, the destruction of the family unit was a priority to ensure male aggression caused by suppression and oppression wouldn't be instilled in children. A side effect, not considered, a generation with fear of having children as single parents, an ordeal which not too many found favorable. The true cause of abortion and homosexuality increases.

    So, when you say, " Alter Human Nature", you're talking about laws; which congresses implemented out of fear, no different from The Constitution's design. Even, now, uncertainty is proportionate to the demographics; in that, abuse of people, illegal and script drugs and alcohol are appropriately distributed. Gov. just can't address each individual's uncertainty; therefore, the aforementioned are necessary to separate those individuals temporarily from their realities or former realities(PTSD). Anxiety should be more prevalent amongst White males as they believe their preferential treatment is at stake with a colored in the W.H. I doubt rebellion is at hand, due to their being shown, they are no longer the majority and not all White males identify with their fears and angst.
  • time_is
    !
    Man Made problems aren't problems; it's a need to ensure Trust in a system by traitors with Pride in Traitors as the basis of it's citizenry. Taking the P from pride, substituting an r for a p, rearranging atriots. In my view is a lack of critical thinking prowess. You can't disguise cowardice and claim, it was the times, not people in fear of their own actions; even as they sought to hammer their immoral and unjust acts into future descendants, within early childhood education(k-5). You can't teach children that you can accomplish anything by revolting against authority, before they're introduced to critical thinking skills; which doesn't take place, until the sophomore year of college. The educational system is breeding criminal activity and teachers start with their own psychologically damaging crap.

    " If the War on Terror Ends, What then? " Why would a government responsible for the terroristic activity wage a war upon it's self? The Constitution was deemed irrelevant, the moment " God " of Christianity was institutionalized into the pledge, anthem and currency by political Christian extremists. Hear no Truth ( evil ), See no Truth (evil) and pretty quickly no one speaks the Truth. We begin to say, " The forefathers established this country for us, not equally to be shared with 2/5th of a man" " We want our country back!" Stupidity as no limitations; whereas, obviously, intelligence is very much limited and not possessed by the general population as congress also stated " These idiots are incapable of electing the POTUS " and Virginia established the concept of the electoral college. What Now? Turn the lights out and kill all thought of national independence as a reasonable entity; we're a small part of a global economy and being that our importance is based upon someone being less importance, WE, The Unenlightened, Have Failed! The inverted pyramid, spinning like a top, with god as a foundation, instead of mind over matter, is TIHSLLUB. The Illuminatus..baited breath...:)
  • u
    CommonSense
    !
    @time_is
    What do you have against freedom of speech and the right to bare arms? And how is that related to "paranoia of the unknown". Typically laws against free speech not for it happen when people are paranoid of the unknown. I can see your point about right to bare arms, but there's some truth to it. Criminals do exist, they do break into people's houses, and they are sometimes dangerous to the lives of the people residing in those houses. If I lived in a dangerous neighborhood and I knew how to use and properly keep safe a firearm I wouldn't want the government standing in the way of me having the means to defend myself and my family. That's not being paranoid, that's common sense. Maybe someone who lives somewhere where there is never any crime would be being a little paranoid, but it's still their right as long as they know how to handle it.
    And what do you mean by "Illuminatus"?
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    ctc
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    It will never end.
    Right now somewhere we are grooming, training, and stockpiling with weapons a new generation of freedom fighters that will eventually morph into either anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-democracy, anti-Christian, or anti-New World Order terrorists and/or anarchists. It's the nature of the beast.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    Indeed it is the nature of the beast and the beast is known by many names. Throughout history the ultra rich by whatever means have tried to take everything and the rabble have been labeled terrorists, savages, infidels, commies, fascists, and even revolutionary. Is is indeed the nature of the beast.
  • bsking
    !
    Syria , Libya and Egypt... a trifecta for the oBama administration.
    now that warmonger Obama is threatening the Syrian government about crossing a red line that white house has eastablished... I wonder if they want to turn Syria over to the Muslim Brotherhood too.
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