The "War on Terror" refers to an ongoing international military campaign by the United States and allied countries against terrorist organizations. The campaign is set upon the premise of a terror attack by Al-Qaida, a terrorist organization, on the World Trade Centre towers on the 11th of September 2001. There is no single definition of terror. However, it can be defined as extreme fear or intimidation that is caused by one person to another. The attack on the world trade center was considered an act of terrorism. It left American citizens in fear. The Nation mourned the death of over 3,000 people, and thousands of others were scathed (Paul and Alan 102).
In the next few days, the American intelligence identified Osama Bin Laden as the terrorist responsible for masterminding the attack. War was waged by the United States of America against Al-Qaida, other terror groups, Saddam Hussein and Iraq. The invasion of Afghanistan Taliban strongholds in Kabul, Jalalabad and Kandahar was launched in less than a month. The elements of terrorism have since evolved significantly. Their tactics have also changed and so have the precautions and measures taken against them. The United States and other countries fighting terrorism are adopting new ways to combating new insurgents. The aim is to protect the citizens and rid the world of terrorism.
Several terrorist attacks have taken place since the 1980s. Some of the significant ones before 9/11 are; the 1983 Embassy bombing in Beirut, 1992 Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires, the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, 1996 Jaffa Road bus bombing and 1998 bombing of American Embassy building in Kenya and Tanzania (Ian 84). However, it the 9/11 attack that led Americans to notice their safety had been compromised and to understand the terrible effects of terror. The American intelligence had failed to identify and foil an attack of a massive nature. Terrorism is defined as deliberate use of violence to cause fear intended to intimidate governments and enforce personal political, religious or ideological goals.
