TPM: Rand Study questions Bush/McSame's "War on Terrah" strategy against AQ

[99th_Monkey]

I hope Obama uses this study to shine light on Bush/McSame's misguided use of massive military firepower
to "combat" terrorism, opting instead for more reliance on behind-the-scenes "policing and intelligence"
strategies for dealing with international criminals who would do America harm.

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Study questions US strategy against al-Qaida
Rand research group says US can defeat al-Qaida with change in strategy

BARRY SCHWEID
AP News

Jul 28, 2008 23:32 EST

The United States can defeat al-Qaida if it relies less on force and more on policing and intelligence to root out the terror group's leaders, a new study contends.

"Keep in mind that terrorist groups are not eradicated overnight," said the study by the federally funded Rand research center, an organization that counsels the Pentagon.

Its report said that the use of military force by the United States or other countries should be reserved for quelling large, well-armed and well-organized insurgencies, and that American officials should stop using the term "war on terror" and replace it with "counterterrorism."

"Terrorists should be perceived and described as criminals, not holy warriors, and our analysis suggests there is no battlefield solution to terrorism," said Seth Jones, the lead author of the study and a Rand political scientist.

"The United States has the necessary instruments to defeat al-Qaida, it just needs to shift its strategy," Jones said.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/07/study_questions_us_strategy_ag.php