THE FOREVER WAR: The fight against terrorism could go on indefinitely unless the U.S. adopts imaginative new strategies

Abstract

Will the war on terror last forever, or can the terrorists be beaten decisively, and beaten sooner rather than later? During the last half century, the conflicts that continued for decades have outnumbered those that lasted just months or a few years. Colombia and Sudan feature civil wars that have dragged on since the 1950s. The "troubles" in Northern Ireland and the Palestinian uprising have been under way since the late 1960s. Afghanistan has seen constant warfare since 1979, with no end in sight. There are many more, including Sri Lanka and Kashmir.