Rationale for the War on Terrorism

Operative definition in U.S. foreign policy
The United States has defined terrorism under the Federal Criminal Code. Chapter 113B of Part I of Title 18 of the Code defines terrorism and lists the crimes associated with it.
In Section 2331 of Chapter 113b, terrorism is defined as:
:"...activities that involve violent... <or life-threatening acts>... that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State and... appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and ...<if domestic>...(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States...<if international>...(C) occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States..."
With respect to defining his policy known as the War on Terror, President Bush has stated that:
:"...today's war on terror is like the Cold War. It is an ideological struggle with an enemy that despises freedom and pursues totalitarian aims....I vowed then that I would use all assets of our power of Shock and Awe to win the war on terror. And so I said we were going to stay on the offense two ways: one, hunt down the enemy and bring them to justice, and take threats seriously; and two, spread freedom."
Stated U.S objectives and strategies
The Bush Administration has defined the following objectives in the War on Terror:
# Defeat terrorists and their organizations.
# Identify, locate and destroy terrorists along with their organizations.
# Deny sponsorship, support and sanctuary to terrorists.
## End the state sponsorship of terrorism.
## Establish and maintain an international standard of accountability with regard to combating terrorism.
## Strengthen and sustain the international effort to fight terrorism.
## Working with willing and able states.
## Enabling weak states.
## Persuading reluctant states.
## Compelling unwilling states.
## Interdict and disrupt material support for terrorists.
## Eliminate terrorist sanctuaries and havens.
# Diminishing the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit.
## Partner with the international community to strengthen weak states and prevent (re)emergence of terrorism.
## Win the war of ideals.
# Defend U.S. citizens and interests at home and abroad.
## Implement the Nation Strategy for Homeland Security
## Attain domain awareness
## Enhance measures to ensure the integrity, reliability, and availability of critical physical and information-based infrastructures at home and abroad.
## Integrate measures to protect U.S. citizens abroad.
## Ensure an integrated incident management capability.

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