Bush at War: In Search of a Strategy?
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Submitted to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Class 07-002
Introduction
In his book Bush at War, author Bob Woodward quoted then-Secretary of State Colin Powell as saying, "Eighteen days after September 11, they were developing a response, an action, but not a strategy."[i] Powell's statement is indicative of someon 
e who failed to grasp the "big picture" of a global war on terrorism due to a narrow-minded focus on military action against those responsible for the worst terrorist attacks in American history.
This paper will argue that the actions and rhetoric of the Bush Administration in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks did in fact constitute the development of a strategy for a global war on terrorism. This will be accomplished through an examination of the concepts, resources, and objectives advanced by the administration over the weeks leading to military action against Afghanistan. But first, it is necessary to review the meaning and components of strategy.
What is Strategy?
According to Dr. Jack Kem, strategy is "The art and science of developing and employing instruments of national power in a synchronized and integrated fashion to achieve theater, national, and / or multinational objectives."[ii] Put more simply, strategy involves ends (the objectives you want to accomplish), ways (how to accomplish your objectives), and means (the resources to be used to accomplish your objectives).[iii] With these concepts in mind, it is now possible to examine the Bush Administration's efforts in the context of strategy development.
The Bush Administration's "Ends"
Class 07-002
Introduction
In his book Bush at War, author Bob Woodward quoted then-Secretary of State Colin Powell as saying, "Eighteen days after September 11, they were developing a response, an action, but not a strategy."[i] Powell's statement is indicative of someon
This paper will argue that the actions and rhetoric of the Bush Administration in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks did in fact constitute the development of a strategy for a global war on terrorism. This will be accomplished through an examination of the concepts, resources, and objectives advanced by the administration over the weeks leading to military action against Afghanistan. But first, it is necessary to review the meaning and components of strategy.
What is Strategy?
According to Dr. Jack Kem, strategy is "The art and science of developing and employing instruments of national power in a synchronized and integrated fashion to achieve theater, national, and / or multinational objectives."[ii] Put more simply, strategy involves ends (the objectives you want to accomplish), ways (how to accomplish your objectives), and means (the resources to be used to accomplish your objectives).[iii] With these concepts in mind, it is now possible to examine the Bush Administration's efforts in the context of strategy development.
The Bush Administration's "Ends"