B ush A dministration , W eak on T error 1

The U.S. public widely credits President Bush with toughness on terror. Most recent polls show more Americans approving than disapproving his handling of the campaign against terror.2 In fact, the Bush administration is weak on terror. It wages a one-front war against al-Qaeda, the main terror threat, when effort on every relevant front is needed. Specifically, the administration focuses on an offensive military and intelligence campaign abroad while neglecting five other critical fronts: bolstering homeland security, securing weapons and materials of mass destruction from possible theft or purchase by terrorists, winning the war of ideas across the world, ending conflicts that fuel support for al-Qaeda, and saving the failed states where alQaeda and like groups can find haven. The administration has also bungled parts of the military offensive by diverting itself into a counterproductive sideshow in Iraq and by alienating potential allies. As a result, al-Qaeda and related jihadi groups remain a potent threat more than five years after the 9/11 attacks.3 Assessments by U.S. intelligence and other analysts indicate that the terror threat has actually increased since 9/11.4 The Bush administration’s toughness on terror is an illusion. Its counterterror campaign has been inept and ineffective.5 President Bush talks the talk of strong action but doesn’t walk the walk. And his weakness on terror is putting the United States in great danger.