A 'war on terror' by any other name

By Ed Lasky

John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism,speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, titling his talk , 'Securing the Homeland by Renewing American Strength, Resilience and Values':

'The United States of America is at war. We are at war against al Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates. That is why the President is responsibly ending the war in Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11, and why he has refocused our efforts on Afghanistan, where al Qaeda continues to plot from the tribal regions along the border with Pakistan and inside of Pakistan. We have a clear mission. We will not simply degrade al Qaeda's capabilities or simply prevent terrorist attacks against our country or citizens. We will not merely respond after the fact-after an attack has been attempted. Instead, the United States will disrupt, dismantle, and ensure a lasting defeat of al Qaeda and violent extremist affiliates.'

Oh...because Obama and his minions say the same, it will not be mischaracterized and impugned as a partisan prop. Barack Obama is starting to use this phrase (just as he sent the National Guard to the border with Mexico) purely as a political response to falling poll numbers, despite David Axelrod's disavowal that the high-minded poobahs at the White House don't look at polls.

After a series of terror attacks (some successful; some thankfully not) Barack Obama has begun to realize his "see no evil, hear no evil" approach towards threats to Americans does not resonate with most voters.