Bush Administration, Weak on Terror1

• Published in: Middle East policy 2006-12, Vol.13 (4), p.28-38
• Main Author: Van Evera, Stephen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological & chemical weapons; Chemical plants; Cooperation; Counterterrorism; Food supply; Government agencies; Iraq War-2003; Law enforcement; Meetings; Military policy; Muslims; National security; Nuclear reactors; Nuclear weapons; Propaganda; Security personnel; Security programs; Terrorism
• ISSN: 1061-1924; 1475-4967
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4967.2006.00268.x

Specifically, the administration focuses on an offensive military and intelligence campaign abroad while neglecting live other critical fronts: bolstering homeland security, securing weapons and materials of mass destruction from possible theft or purchase by terrorists, winning the war of ideas across the world, ending conflicts that fuel support for al-Qaeda, and saving the failed states where al-Qaeda and like groups can find haven. The Bush team bungled the battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan in December 2001, allowing Osama bin Laden and other top al-Qaeda leaders to escape.6 Then it bungled Operation Anaconda in March 2002, again allowing important al-Qaeda elements to escape.7 Then it offered tar too little economic and security assistance to the new Afghan government of Hamid Karzai. Bin Laden," and offering the grossly incorrect assertion that Iraq was at least as active in terrorism as the al-Queda mastermind.35 President Bush himself dismissed a CIA briefer who warned in August 2001 of an impending alQaeda attack, telling him, "You've covered your ass, now.