The Post-bin Laden Era

If the death of Osama bin Laden marks the beginning of the end of the "global war on terrorism," as Michael Cohen argued in a WPR briefing this week, it will have profound consequences for U.S. national security policy. For the last decade, the fight against international terrorism, as personified by bin Laden, was one of the central organizing principles of American foreign and defense policies. Preventing another Sept. 11 was the rationale for the military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as for a whole host of programs in dozens of countries around the world, ranging from security cooperation to improving governance and social services. It was also cited as one of the reasons for seeking improved relations with other major powers including Russia, China and India.