Author Description

Why? This is the key question that has so far gone unanswered in the current struggle, the United States' so-called global war on terrorism. It is the "why" questions that can be notoriously difficult to answer. It used to be the case in American secondary education, when pupils were taught how to write, that they were prompted to consider answering the traditional battery of basic questions: who, what, when, where, how, and why. In a general sense, the "who-what-when-wherehow" questions seem rather straightforward; they involve description, characterization, classification, or basic fact-finding. But the "why" question is in a category all of its own. It can pose the thorny challenge of uncovering more than just superficial reality. In terms of human behavior, it probes deeper and requires the writer to explore such concepts as meaning, truth, falsehood, intent, passion, and belief. It demands a completely different scope and level of reasoning. Over and above description, classification, or characterization, it requires analysis. In the fields of study that address human interaction-for example in ethics, politics, international affairs, or warfare-answering "why" questions involves penetrating the underlying cultural and metaphysical belief structures that serve to guide both individual and collective behavior. While "who-what-when-where-how" questions more often lend themselves to measurement, "why" questions inevitably reach beyond the scope of data collection and processing. The latter explore the strategic high ground that forms the basis for understanding humanity in all its shades, customs, cultures, and conflicts. Policy and academic elites in the United States seem very skilled at answering the "who-what-when-where-how" questions. In the current conflict, apparently inaugurated by the shocking events of 9/11, policy and academic elites have meticulously researched the answers to this standard battery of questions. Yet few thoughtful analyses have emerged