9/11 and the Successful War.

• Author: Holliday, Sam

In 9/11 and the Successful War, George Friedman asks two critical questions that Americans -- no, all thinking people -- need to answer: What is success in the type of conflict we have faced since 9/11? What is legal in this from of conflict? Though he knew what to ask, no one -- including Friedman -- has offered satisfactory answers, especially to the latter.

After outlining the conflict that began on 9/11 and soon swept into Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries, Friedman describes America's successes and failures. He also recognizes that some believe the conflict is with al Queda but that others think it is a conflict with a worldwide Islamic challenge to Western culture. Another difference is between those who see al Qaeda's conduct as criminal behavior to be handled in domestic civil courts and those who see it as a war crime deserving attention at the court in The Hague--though sending it the full number of insurgent "criminals" would surely overwhelm that body.

To demonstrate that both approaches fall short, this reviewer wishes to clarify some key points: Criminal law uses precepts designed to restore domestic peace following a violation of a state's domestic law, and International law operates between states and their legitimate agents and aims to punish any legitimate combatants whose behavior represents a war crime. Insurgents, not being controlled by states party to international law, are illegal combatants and do not fit well within either category. They do not therefore merit trial in either a civil court or being packed off to The Hague. They have not acted on behalf of a state, and they utterly reject adherence to Geneva Convention...