The President’s updated national strategy for combating terrorism, dated September 2006, offers a new vision for “protecting and defending the Homeland, the American peoples, and their livelihoods.” In the overview to the 23-page strategy, President Bush states, “This updated strategy sets the course for winning the War on Terror … and incorporates our increased understanding of the enemy.” The strategy goes on to note that “effective counterterrorist efforts, in part, have forced the terrorists to evolve and modify their ways of doing business.” But, it adds, “Our understanding of the enemy has evolved, too.” The key long-term approach to combat terrorism is still “advancing effective democracy.”
As commander of Air Forces Central, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich has been at the heart of almost all U.S. military action in the Middle East, from overseeing airstrikes against Iranian proxy groups to protecting troops as America’s air defense commander for the region. Just before handing over his command to…