Why the West Lost Its so-called War on Terror

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam

26 March 2022

At a crucial juncture when American unipolarism has failed miserably in its war or terror and is gradually receding from the Middle East to European and Chinese theatres, the book ‘Why We Are Losing “The War On Terror” by Paul Rogers is essential reading to understand new metamorphosis in the American polity and the Middle East. The sullen withdrawal of American boots from Afghanistan in 2021 with its goals of invasion far from realization, coupled with the earlier disgraced departure from Iraq, raises ugly questions about the neo-conservative interests of the American War on Terror. The book offers vital insights into the failure of American civilizational missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, while critically dissecting American foreign policy and security understandings.

Post-cold war political and security apparatus foisted by America is on moribund state with global order turning multi-polar where American hegemony is increasingly becoming a toothless lion. The war on terror inaugurated after the September 11 attacks on the imperial hubris of America occupies a salient milestone in American foreign policy. Postulated on the elimination of Al-Qaida and affiliated terror groups, the war on terror later was expanded to Iraq on the flimsy pretext of Saddam Husain amassing Weapons of Mass Destruction. On a very limited level, it was again invoked in the Levant region against looming threats of ISIS. With more than thirty years of experience in peace and conflict studies, the author unravels the tangles of failed American missions with sustainable solutions which still hold weight.

The first chapter gives a detailed analysis of changes in American foreign policy from the time of the Regan government which finally culminated in the War on Terror in 2001. He argues with conviction that American War on Terror was ideologically motivated by Neo-conservatism and oil demands of energy-deficient countries. Along with these, Christian Zionism had been instrumental in determining American interests in the Persian Gulf. The chapter tracks the ideological underpinnings of the unipolar world order dominated by American ideals. The chapter busts the myth of the War on Terror being a spontaneous response to Islamic fundamentalism and instead situates it within the imperial hubris of a unipolar world dominated by American ideals.

The second chapter is dedicated to changes in military postures that led to War on Terror. The chapter attributes the invasion of Afghan and Iraq to American military interests in the Persian Gulf to protect oil supply, soviet threats in the Middle East, and guarantee protection to Zionist State. Iran Revolution of 1979 terminally shifted the balance of the region America losing buffer state against the Russian Bears and to create American friendly governments turned pragmatic for the interests of American government. Implications of the Gulf War and the Scud Missile crisis also weighed high on American military experts on sending the US military to Afghan and Iraq.

The next chapters deal with the drifting of the War on Terror from Afghan to Iraq and the ‘failure’ of America to achieve their goals. Expanding the dimensions of the war from the war against Islamic Fanaticism to prevalent political structures had, according to the author, guaranteed doom to the American mission. Faltering intelligence missions and lack of public support made military overture in the region more disastrous and futile. The book argues that the shifting of attention from Al-Qaida to the autocracy of Saddam Husain, America, and allies deflated the attention. The rise of ISIS from 2014 could be added here as they found fodder for growth from anarchic soil left behind by the US invasion. The book was prophetic when it foresaw the chances of Islamic extremism encouraging more militancy in the region.

It ended American isolationism and dragged its feet into the murky marshlands of the Middle East. The inability of American leadership to ensure a smooth transition into liberal democracy littered Iraq and Afghan with destruction and more public resentment against the American invasion. He argues that the actions against Al-Qaida failed miserably in eliminating the target but instead, American misguided policies exacerbated the sectarian tensions of the region. The role of oil in American actions in Iraq is met with scorn by the author arguing it as an attempt to conceal the imperial designs behind the military moves. To conclude, the Iraq war could not be explained in terms of oil demands.

While Rogers has successfully brought out political and security challenges America faced behind Iraq invasion, he fails to understand the threat that Islamic extremism posed. He glosses over the existential threat Islamic terrorism posed to American interests in the region. While putting American Neo-conservatism behind the dock, the author has conveniently ignored the threats that non-state actors posed to the world order. Again in understanding Al-Qaida, he has erred as he demands compromises with radical Islam than outright military postures. Misreading of political and religious developments in the region might have motivated the author to reach such a conclusion.

The final chapter sheds light on the path ahead. Instead of jingoistic military actions, he demands ideological battles to win over ‘fringe’ elements. Arguing that the costs of war are too disastrous, he demands sudden withdrawal of military forces and to engage with people. He sees no success for the superior American military in defeating Islamic extremist ideologies. He is a strong advocate of sot power to settle unsettling changes in the region. He sees incredulity in the civilizational missions of the West and to impose the western model on others would assure only loathing and alienation. The book argues for long-term political and social changes with the support of target people to ensure durable peace and security in the region.

Although America and its allies have backed off from the region, the book still has relevance as it will help immensely the new changes in the Middle East and the realization of American security policies.

References

Anthony, Andrew (2007) The Fall Out: How A Guilty Liberal Lost His Innocence, Random House.

Bloom, Allan (1987) The Closing of the American Mind, Simon & Schuster.

Murray, Douglas (2005) Neo-conservatism: Why We Need It (The Social Affairs Unit).

Platts, Sarah (2008) ‘Progress and Promise: Sustaining the Effort in Iraq,’ The Henry Jackson Society, 30 January, at: http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org/stories.asp?pageid=49&id=506

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Grace Mubashir is a student of Journalism at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, JNU, Delhi

URL:    https://www.newageislam.com/books-documents/west-war-terror-america-middle-east/d/126652

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