How to Debate the War on Terror

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the U.S. and many other countries across the world have been engaged in an active war on terrorism. Many laws have since been enacted in the name of the War on Terror. Debating the war on terror can become tricky and very emotional, but the key to successfully debating the War on Terror is to know the facts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine if the occupation of Iraq was really about defeating terrorism. A common point of contention when debating the War on Terror is that the organizations responsible for committing the September 11th attacks were not located in Iraq or associated in any way with Saddam Hussein. There's no doubt that the events of 9/11 were conducted by terrorists, but the evidence doesn't support the original claim.
2. Research the War on Drugs and use it as an example in your debate. A parallel among the War on Terror and the War on Drugs is that there is no clear-cut way to "defeat" either of the respective wars. The War on Drugs has created a huge problem for corrections facilities across the nation, because most prisons are heavily populated by drug offenders instead of violent and sexual offenders. Understanding that both "wars" have been conducted the same way will provide you with great rebuttal points for your debate.
3. Discuss the many freedoms that have been taken away or disregarded in the name of the War on Terror. One cannot debate the War on Terror without mentioning the impact it has had on civil liberties and freedoms of Americans and citizens in other nations.
4. Point out that there is no way to "win" this war on terror. By nature terrorists are civilians, which means they look like everyone else, making it difficult to discern between terrorists and non-terrorist civilians. The only real victory in the War on Terror is to eliminate those that look like terrorists. Argue that every time a non-terrorist civilian is killed, another terrorist is created.
5. Mention the May 2003 "victory". Soon after Saddam Hussein's regime was removed, victory was declared in the War on Terror, yet the war continues. The false announcement of victory is a great talking point when you mention that no one knows how to actually win the so-called War on Terror.
6. Question the true motives of the War on Terror. Beyond the United States, support for the War on Terror has diminished even within U.S. allies. Use statistics to illustrate the decreased support for the efforts to end the War on Terror. You can also point out that many countries now believe that the U.S. efforts to fight international terrorism are really to control oil in the Middle East.

Tips & Warnings

• Use public-opinion polls to illustrate growing dissent for the War on Terror.
• Be prepared to answer questions regarding alternatives to military force to combat terrorism.