In promisng a strategic reappraisal and repositioning of the US war on terrorism, President Obama argued he was marking an important crossroads moment for the country. In essence, the argument went, it was the end of the period of war footing that opened on September 11th 2001, and was defined by what the US saw as an existential threat to it from terrorism. That threat has not gone away entirely, he conceded, but responding to it required a qualitatively different, more focused approach to those movements which directly targeted and threatened the US.
In practical terms, he said, that would mean curtailing the use of controversial drones, recommiting to closing the prison at Guantánamo Bay, and discusssing with Congress setting new limits on his own war powers.
With al-Qaeda’s core now “on the path to defeat”, he argued, the nation must adapt. “Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organisations must continue,” he said, warning of the dangers to the country of “perpetual war”. “But this war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises. It’s what our democracy demands.” “We must define the nature and scope of this struggle, or else it will define us.”
The much-awaited speech at the National Defence University was also something of legacy speech, defining how Obama hopes to be seen by history as a commander-in-chief whose focus was disengagement of US forces in a safer world, and one in which the use of lethal force by the US is substantially reduced. Republicans saw it as a premature declaration of victory, liberals as not going far enough in dismantling the US war machine, or sufficiently explicit about the path he was taking.
On drones, a cause of real friction with both Afghan and Pakistani governments, the new policy tightens the guidelines for their use, specifying that they are to be limited to targets which pose “a continuing, imminent threat to Americans” and cannot feasibly be captured.
Crucially, the formulation does not seem to justify strikes against entities which are primarily insurgent, not terrorist, although it continues to permit, somewhat vaguely, attacks on forces "associated" with al-Qaeda. It hints at the welcome ending of the CIA's involvement in the drone war with the army taking over lead responsibility, but the campaign in Pakistan will continue under CIA control. The president also suggested that Congress should row back on – "refine and ultimately repeal" – the broad mandate to use force given to his office after 9/11 , the Authorisation to Use Military Force,
He promised to resume releases of Guantánamo’s 166 prisoners, specifically those “recommended for transfer” to other countries. But it’s not a new pledge, and unfortunately exemplifies the gap between Obama’s aspirations and delivery – only time will tell whether this speech’s delivery will also fall short.