A Global Coalition against International Terrorism

The September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were a watershed in strategic development and international relations, marking the end of the post-Cold War era. It was an era in which there was only one superpower and much uncertainty about the direction of global developments because the superpower had no agenda.

The new international order may prove to be a mixed system. The overwhelming material capabilities of the United States suggest that U.S. dominance in the military realm will continue. The September 11 attacks and global reactions to them, however, show that neither isolationism nor unilateralism will suffice in the fight against terrorism. Thus even in military matters, the United States will need the assistance of various allies when taking specific actions. In the policymaking field, different coalitions have already begun to emerge—with impetus from the United States—to tackle a variety of political, intelligence, law enforcement, and financial issues. Whether a concert of great powers built around the Group of Eight will develop is unknown. What is clear is that the United Nations plays an important role in providing legitimacy for U.S. actions, and that it will continue to be involved in, for example, such activities as peace building in Afghanistan.

For the United States, the September 11 strikes were incredibly traumatic. The largest such attacks ever on U.S. soil, they targeted two of the greatest symbols of American power, killing thousands. Thus the pressure on the Bush administration to respond forcefully was understandable, as were its early efforts to develop a strategy and create a broad-based coalition to deal with the consequences of the attacks. Overall the United States has performed well since September 11. It has displayed a willingness to lead, a critical factor in maintaining the stability of the international system. (It is worth remembering that during the post-Cold War period, some questioned U.S. resolve to stay engaged in world affairs, let alone assume the role of global leader.) In addition, the United States appears willing to lead within a multilateral mode. This does not mean that American decisionmakers will seek consultation on every policy they adopt or action they take. It does mean, however, that Washington will need to consider the views of potential coalition partners when deciding on the direction of U.S. foreign policy. Of course, not everyone in the coalition can be expected to agree with every tactical or strategic decision the United States makes in the fight against global terrorism. Indeed regional and even national antiterrorist initiatives should be welcomed as long as there is some degree of coordination.

Coalition partners ought to encourage public support for one another's efforts to combat global, regional, and, most important, domestic terrorism. In addition to freezing the banks accounts and closing the training centers of terrorist networks, especially those of al-Qaeda, coalition members should develop reliable information and public education programs. They should also share intelligence and foster police cooperation both regionally and inter-nationally.

The first phase of the struggle against terrorism is over. The Taliban no longer rules in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden is on the run, and a provisional government has been created in Kabul to begin the process of peace building. There is concern, however, over whether the antiterror coalition can endure beyond these early successes. Some members worry that bipartisan and popular support at home for President Bush's policies may weaken following the destruction of the Taliban and the eventual capture or killing of Osama bin Laden. Bush and his administration must therefore continue to stress that the fight against terrorism will be long and all encompassing, involving diplomatic, economic, legal, intelligence, and military resources. They must also take steps to assure their coalition partners that U.S. policies will remain multilateral.

As the coalition against terrorism evolves, its mission cannot be determined solely by the United States. Indeed smaller coalitions have already begun to emerge. NATO and U...