The solution to these seemingly

intractable problems is really quite simple and far more economical than

our failed strategy. We need to not just call terrorism an act of war,

but to treat it that way.

What we need is a winning strategy

that emphasizes our strengths. Elements of a winning strategy:

1. Within 48 hours of anyone

anywhere in the world making a credible terrorist threat against America

or Americans, those people or their infrastructure will receive a devastating

military strike.

2. Within 24 hours of any terrorist

attack on America or Americans anywhere in the world, military strikes

will begin and continue until least 10 times as many terrorists as Americans

have been killed.

3. Any strike against America

or Americans that is or can be characterized as a counter-strike against

our first or second strategy will be met within 24 hours with military

strikes and continue until at least 100 times as many terrorists as Americans

are killed.

4. Any strike against America

or Americans that is or can be characterized as a counter-strike against

our third strategy will be met within 24 hours with military strikes intended

to exterminate those terrorists, their relatives, and their supporters.

This strategy seems harsh only

to those who do not understand effective military strategy. For most of

the second half of the last century we had a nuclear war strategy of mutually

assured destruction. That strategy made the cost of nuclear war so great

that it was never used.

Our new Terror War strategy

will make the cost of terrorism so great that after terrorists learn of

our sincerity, it will be pointless for them to continue the war. The

key to this strategy is to have the courage to follow it every time we

are attacked by terrorists.

Benefits of this strategy include:

1. Terrorism will soon be defeated and will decrease to zero or near zero.

2. Onerous and expensive security measures will no longer be necessary.

3. Americans and our allies will enjoy freedom to do business and travel

around the world without fear. 4. Those who would use terror to achieve

political goals will have to learn more civilized methods of dealing with

their fellow human beings.

In the opening years of 19th

century, our new nation was faced with the terror of the Barbary pirates.

European nations routinely bought protection from the North African Arab

states that harbored the pirates. Eventually, the United States adopted

a policy of using military forces to destroy the pirates. We have not

had trouble with pirates in almost 200 years. If we have the courage and

persistence to pursue this tough new strategy in the Terror War, terrorism

will eventually be just as distant a memory as piracy.

Strength and resolve work every

time they have been tried.

Don Dickinson

Colonel, Infantry, USA,

Retired

Peachtree City