Overview for war-on-terror

Why Obama is Quiet About Al-Awlaki

Michael Tomasky asks , "Why doesn't President Obama take more credit for killing the al-Qaeda leadership?" Tomasky is normally a tough-minded observer of all points of the political compass, but on this occasion he has sunk much too deep into liberal self-regard. Imagine if the Bush …

Written by David Frum on Friday September 30, 2011

No Gratitude for Disasters Prevented

In my column for CNN, I discuss heroes who have prevented disasters yet go unremembered: Imagine that some member of Congress back in the 1990s had devoted himself or herself to toughening America against terrorism. He or she had introduced legislation to require airlines to harden their …

Written by David Frum on Monday September 12, 2011

Can Conservatives Accept Success in Fighting Terror?

America is winning the War on Terror, but some conservatives seem reluctant to accept the gains they fought so hard to achieve. America is winning the War on Terror. At least by the most visible metrics, that is. As David Frum wrote for FrumForum, the death of Osama bin Laden was the …

Written by Fred Messner on Wednesday June 29, 2011

Bin Laden's Kid Lashes Out

When I first heard that Osama Bin Laden's son Omar was calling his father's death a violation of international law, I had to assume it was a joke. One’s first reaction is that it’s a joke – a parody to attract attention. But no. It’s apparently for real. If so, it shows how hopeless it is to …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday May 12, 2011

Pakistan's Markets Not Worried About Rift With U.S.

Pakistani investors seem strangely unworried about possible consequences to their country from being caught harboring bin Laden. Pakistani investors seem strangely unworried about possible consequences to their country from being caught harboring bin Laden. Or by their government's decision to …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 10, 2011

Five Questions About Bin Laden's Killing

One week after the death of Osama Bin Laden, there are growing questions about the raid and Pakistan's role. 1) Was there an informant inside the Osama Bin Laden compound? Might that explain why there's so much confusion in the White House account of the action - there is a fact they are anxious …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 9, 2011

America's Afghan Mission: The Wrong Front Line?

The world's most important terrorist safe haven is visibly not Afghanistan, but instead next-door Pakistan. After the death of Osama bin Laden, the U.S. is now faced with a difficult question. My latest column for CNN.com asks: Is the commitment of 100,000 troops in Afghanistan hurting our ability …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 9, 2011

Cross-Border Manhunts Put the Heat on Al Qaeda

As any student of history knows: countries have regularly ignored international borders when in hot pursuit of their enemies. Many pundits are pointing the finger at America for breaking international law with its unilateral incursion into Pakistan to eliminate Osama Bin Laden. But as any student …

Written by Peter Beeching on Sunday May 8, 2011

Don't Censor Bin Laden's Photo

There’ve been so many versions of what went on when the SEALS invaded Osama bin Laden’s compound, that it’s important to settle the matter of his death. The question of the moment is whether photos of a dead Osama bin Laden should be released to the public? And the next question is, if they …

Written by Peter Worthington on Friday May 6, 2011

Bin Laden Raid Is Obama's Victory

If bin Laden's assassination had gone badly, President Obama would have been blamed. That's why he gets the credit. The story goes that after the Bay of Pigs disaster, President Kennedy placed a call to CIA director Allen Dulles. Kennedy supposedly said: "If we lived in a parliamentary system, and …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Targeting Terrorists: OK for U.S. But Not Israel?

As world leaders applaud the U.S. for killing Bin Laden, it's easy to forget that these leaders also condemned Israel for doing the same to Hamas mastermind Sheikh Yassin. As world leaders rightly applaud and congratulate the United States on the death of Osama Bin-Laden and the evil he represente…

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Wednesday May 4, 2011

Bin Laden's Death Brings Justice For 9/11 Families

Bin Laden's death brought out a wide range of emotions in families affected on 9/11. While they felt justice had been done, they were also again reminded of their loss. On Thursday, President Obama will visit ground zero in New York City to mark Osama Bin Laden’s death and to meet with families of …

Written by Elise Cooper on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Have We Won the War on Terror?

In 2001, we feared that radical Islam might gain money and nukes. Since then, radical Islam has been contained, marginalized, bypassed - and then shot above the eye by an American special forces team. Has the war on terror already been won? Or to put it another way: Is the killing of bin Laden …

Written by David Frum on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Anti-War GOP Silent About Bin Laden Death

There's still been no comment yet from Rep. Ron Paul on the killing of Osama bin Laden, and many other anti-war Republicans have chosen to stay silent as well. No comment yet from Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian Republican and likely 2012 presidential contender, on the killing of Osama bin Laden. But …

Written by Tim Mak on Monday May 2, 2011

Pakistan Has Some Explaining to Do

If Pakistan wants to convince the world that they aren't a safe harbor for terrorists, they better get to work. From a column in Pakistan's Dawn : We have to prove to the world that Pakistan is not a country that accommodates and hides mass murderers. Yep. Tweet

Written by David Frum on Monday May 2, 2011

The Post-Bin Laden World

Bin Laden's death will have serious strategic implications in the years to come, most clearly in the U.S. relationship with Pakistan. Here are five strategic implications of the bin Laden killing: 1) The US begins to recognize Pakistan less as a strategic partner, more as a strategic problem if …

Written by David Frum on Monday May 2, 2011

White House Crowd Cheers Bin Laden's Death

Shortly after reports that Osama bin Laden had been killed in an American raid, a crowd gathered by the White House to celebrate the news. The crowds in front of the White House kept growing as more and more people came down from Lafayette Square. At 11:30pm the crowd was maybe 300 people large, …

Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Monday May 2, 2011

Obama's KSM Flip-Flop: A Win for Bush

After reversing course and embracing the very policies he criticized as a candidate and tried to undo as president, Obama may owe George W. Bush an apology. When George W. Bush was president, then candidate Barack Hussein Obama railed against indefinite detention and military tribunals. After …

Written by John Vecchione on Tuesday April 5, 2011

Is Al Qaeda Gaining the Upper Hand in Libya?

With news reports that al Qaeda fighters have joined Libya's rebels, is the West about to watch the Qaddafi regime replaced with a jihadist-friendly government? A Libyan rebel commander who recruited his countrymen to serve as jihadists in the Iraqi insurgency has said radical Islamists "today …

Written by Tim Hodgson on Wednesday March 30, 2011

Libya & Yemen: The Next Al Qaeda Strongholds?

By concentrating so much American force in a remote place like Afghanistan, are we missing larger and nearer dangers in places like Libya and Yemen? Question: Why are we in Afghanistan? Answer: To prevent al Qaeda from reestablishing its safe havens in that country. Q: Why did …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday March 23, 2011