Terrorists won,U.S lost?

[AUz]

Osama bin Laden spoke often of a strategy of "economic warfare" against the United States, a low-level war aimed at bankrupting the world's economic superpower.

A decade after the 9/11 attacks, it's hard to argue that bin Laden's strategy was ineffective.

The attacks themselves, according to the September 11 commission, cost Al Qaeda between $400,000 and $500,000 to execute.

They have cost America, by our estimate, more than $5 trillion - a "return on investment" of 10,000,000 to one.


Interactive: How much did 9/11 cost the US? - The 9/11 Decade - Al Jazeera English

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

From an economic and geopolitical standpoint, yes... Osama achieved his goal.

Osama Bin Laden was in effect, the world's biggest suicide bomber. And arguably one of the most effective ones as well.

He was essentially "baiting" the USA to create a hellstorm in the Middle East, and they fell for it. To the detriment of the global economy, and to the detriment of global security.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

To the people in South Asia (and in the Middle East), tell me... how much terrorism was there in your country, BEFORE the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001? And how much afterwards?

 

[gambit]

To the people in South Asia (and in the Middle East), tell me... how much terrorism was there in your country, BEFORE the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001? And how much afterwards?

I guess you living for so long under state directed terrorism you would not recognize it.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

I guess you living for so long under state directed terrorism you would not recognize it.

LOL, at least TRY to stick to the topic this time gambit.

In 2001, America was soaring. In 2011, they have the largest debt and the largest deficit in the world.

What could have been done differently?

 

[gambit]

LOL, at least TRY to stick to the topic this time gambit.

In 2001, America was soaring. In 2011, they have the largest debt and the largest deficit in the world.

What could have been done differently?

So how was your question related to the topic?

 

[VKVM]

I guess you living for so long under state directed terrorism you would not recognize it.

Reported for going off topic

To Chinese-Dragon: I do not believe that is important. What is important is the "here and now". Terrorist must be dealt regardless.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

So how was your question related to the topic?

Osama's goal was to cause chaos in the world. To spread terrorism and fear.

After the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, there were a slew of high-profile terrorist attacks all over the world. Even in European cities like London and Madrid.

Today, the Middle East and South Asia are being subjected to a torrent of terrorist attacks. The likes of which did not exist in such vast numbers before 2001.

Bin Laden's goal was to spread terrorism, and apparently it has worked.

 

[canadian icehole]

Q: Terrorists won, U.S lost?
A: Yup.

 

[Skyline]

I think US failed. US has most advance military technology but why it takes this much time? This is due to lack of their experience on field even after than 10 years of the war on terror.

 

[jeypore]

Q: Terrorists won, U.S lost?
A: Yup.

Mr. A$$hole, Maybe then the conclusion of US to win would be to become terrorist faction to Your (other) Countries. Maybe then they will be considered Winners in this battle..

You guy's think in linear form only, what about the security of the state that US has created over last 9 years, or all the potential terrorist plots that have been stopped in there tracks....

Anyways my two cents!!!!

 

[jeypore]

To the people in South Asia (and in the Middle East), tell me... how much terrorism was there in your country, BEFORE the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001? And how much afterwards?

Modern form of terrorism, was form after 1948... So Afghanistan was business as usual!!!!!!!

 

[RezRoll]

I think US failed. US has most advance military technology but why it takes this much time? This is due to lack of their experience on field even after than 10 years of the war on terror.

A bit too premature to call it a failure. There are pros and cons currently from war of terror (WOT). US internal security has improved alot, Americans have never been safer travelling around these days, but economically wise, it kind of messed up the US economy. There is no clear winner or loser currently in this WOT.

Against terrorist, no matter how advance your military is, fighting a war with them is near impossible, due to the fact that it's hard to differentiate between a terrorist and civilian first of all. And then comes the factor that the civilian casuality has to be minimized, and we all know terrorist are often hiding behind civilian infrastructures.

If the US didn't care about civilian casuality, perhaps the WOT could have been won easily, though it would have involved alot of innocent civilian deads. Not a feasible idea in today's world.

 

[AUz]

Interestingly,terrorists prefer to "injure" US soldiers rather than to kill them..It cost wayy more to the U.S economy (movement of injured soldiers (cost of fuel),health care charges (ALOT of 'em) and also many times social security charges for the whole remaining life of a soldier !)

Osama's low-intensity "economic warfare" is proving to be mighty effective!

WOT has made U.S more safer than ever before --A fact !

WOT has made the world more insecure than ever before --A fact !

 

[gambit]

Osama bin Laden spoke often of a strategy of "economic warfare" against the United States, a low-level war aimed at bankrupting the world's economic superpower.

A decade after the 9/11 attacks, it's hard to argue that bin Laden's strategy was ineffective.

The attacks themselves, according to the September 11 commission, cost Al Qaeda between $400,000 and $500,000 to execute.

They have cost America, by our estimate, more than $5 trillion - a "return on investment" of 10,000,000 to one.


Interactive: How much did 9/11 cost the US? - The 9/11 Decade - Al Jazeera English

So the calculus is purely based upon what it cost financially per adversary? I wonder what the picture would look like if we include the slighted image of Islam, the loss of prestige for a religion, the embarrassment of a community over the spectacular defeat of two of their armies and the violations of the lands those armies were tasked to defend...

Any more?