Term "War on Terror"

President Bush first uttered the words "War on Terror" in a speech to Congress shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, "[o]ur war on terror will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated."  Scott Wilson, “Global War on Terror is Given New Name”, Washington Post, March 25, 2009. 

Right Wing think tank researcher and commentator Daniel Pipes identifies the term with an earlier President, Ronald Reagan.  See Daniel Pipes,  "Reagan's Early Victory in the War on Terror,"  New York Sun, June 15, 2004.  In particular, he describes Iran's release of American hostages on the day of President Reagan's inauguration to be the first victory in the War on Terror.  

What counts as "terror" or "terrorism" may be politically controversial.   Recently, President Obama’s administration has attempted to halt the use of “Global War on Terror” or “long war”.  Instead, the administration prefers “Overseas Contingency Operation.”  Wilson, supra.

Student contributor:  Nina Farnia

Last major update: 8/7/2009 4:08 PM