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Tiresome Targets in the War on Terror
By Extra Extra Editorial
Cross-spectrum analysis, synthesized with AI from 14 sources · Updated
Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, media outlets across the political spectrum are reassessing the long-term consequences of the U.S. war on terror. The coverage reflects a milestone moment for evaluating whether military interventions achieved their stated objectives, what domestic and international costs accumulated over two decades, and how counterterrorism policies continue to shape American foreign and domestic policy today.
Left-leaning outlets emphasize the war on terror as a strategic failure that produced unintended harms: civilian casualties abroad, erosion of constitutional protections at home, and perpetuation of cycles of violence. These sources frame the 25-year milestone as an indictment of the entire enterprise, arguing that the approach fundamentally misdiagnosed the problem and created new security threats.
Center and independent sources adopt a more analytical posture, asking whether measurable objectives were met while acknowledging complexities in evaluating success or failure. This framing treats the war on terror as a policy question requiring empirical assessment rather than moral judgment, examining both achievements and costs.
Right-leaning outlets defend the war on terror's necessity and argue that sustained military engagement remains justified despite its length and expense. This perspective emphasizes the ongoing threat environment and suggests that abandoning such commitments would create greater dangers, framing the debate as one of strategic realism rather than ideological preference.
Key Differences
- Left outlets treat the war on terror as categorically failed and harmful; right outlets defend it as necessary despite costs; center sources focus on empirical assessment of outcomes.
- Left coverage emphasizes domestic civil liberties erosion and civilian casualties as central harms; right coverage prioritizes threat prevention; center coverage balances multiple dimensions.
- Left sources call for movement-building to end ongoing conflicts; right sources argue for continued vigilance; center sources examine historical record without prescriptive conclusions.
How this story is being covered
Extra Extra has grouped 14 reports on this story from 13 news outlets across the political spectrum. By political lean, that breaks down as 7 left-leaning, 4 center, and 3 right-leaning sources.
With a coverage-diversity score of 94 out of 100, this is one of the more evenly reported stories in our index right now — left, center, and right outlets are all giving it attention.
On reliability, 7 of the 13 rated outlets carry a high or mostly-factual reliability rating (A or B) and 6 outlets fall into our mixed or lower-reliability tier (C or D). Ratings are drawn from independent assessments and are meant to help you weigh each report, not to tell you which to trust.
This story has been covered over the span of about 2 days, making it a longer-running thread rather than a single news flash.
Below, the same story is laid out side by side as left, center, and right outlets reported it. Read across the columns and watch what changes: the headline emphasis, which facts lead, the adjectives, and what each side leaves out. The story itself rarely changes — the framing almost always does.
Outlets covering this story: The New Yorker, Truthout, Common Dreams, In These Times, Democracy Now!, MSNBC, The Dispatch, Foreign Affairs, Courthouse News, Al Jazeera, Free Beacon, National Review, Daily Signal.
Left(7)
The New YorkerASep 11, 10:00 AM
The U.S. Was Never Going to Win the “War on Terror”
In the twenty-five years since 9/11, the U.S. has waged several military campaigns against extremism around the world, resulting in the deaths of almost a million people. What has it accomplished?
TruthoutCSep 11, 5:10 PM
25 Years Later, We Still Live in the World the War on Terror Made
The war on terror was not inevitable, nor was the extraordinary violence carried out in its name necessary.
Common DreamsCSep 9, 3:23 PM
CODEPINK Statement: Marking 25 Years of the Global War of Terror
Twenty-five years ago, in the ashes of the September 11th attacks, the United States launched what it called the "Global War on Terror." While the country was afraid and vulnerable, neoconservatives i
In These TimesCSep 10, 3:00 PM
How The War on Terror Continues To Terrorize Communities 25 Years Later
Twenty five years after the 9/11 attacks and the launch of the Global War on Terror, the U.S government continues to expand its tools of repression to further crush dissent.
In These TimesCSep 10, 7:00 PM
25 Years After 9/11, How Do We Build a Movement To Stop Forever Wars?
As Trump wages an unpopular war with Iran, historian Jeremy Varon discusses what we can learn from the movement that turned the tide against the Iraq War.
Democracy Now!BSep 11, 12:33 PM
Forever War: How 9/11 Unleashed U.S. Violence on Civilians Abroad & Attacks on Rights at Home
We look at how post-9/11 policies and the so-called war on terror reshaped the country and the world with two Columbia faculty members who convened a two-day symposium on “The Forever War and the Firs
MSNBCCSep 11, 9:05 PM
Trump’s new trade war weapon should unnerve Americans
The president is embracing import bans, which likely are harder for courts to undo. The post Trump’s new trade war weapon should unnerve Americans appeared first on MS NOW.
Center(4)
The DispatchASep 11, 7:00 AM
Did We Win the War on Terror?
Who are our enemies?
Foreign AffairsASep 11, 4:00 AM
The Other War on Terror
9/11 and the unraveling of American democracy.
Courthouse NewsASep 11, 10:07 PM
Kavanaugh recalls 9/11 chaos, defends Bush’s war on terror
The Supreme Court justice recounted sprinting from the White House on Sept. 11, 2011, while working as counsel to President George W. Bush.
Al JazeeraBSep 12, 12:52 AM
How Canadians are bracing for the impact of Trump’s trade war
Canada’s buy-local movement remains strong, but new tariffs could test how much more shoppers are willing to pay.
Right(3)
Free BeaconCSep 11, 9:01 AM
Tiresome Targets in the War on Terror
Journalist Peter Bergen is back again with another book about terrorism, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. It's a history of the failed strategies of successive
National ReviewBSep 11, 10:30 AM
Forever Wars Are Good, Actually
The U.S. overreacted after 9/11, but the truth is more complex than critics say.
Daily SignalCSep 11, 9:00 PM
Victor Davis Hanson: Canadians Feel Real Pain in Stage Four of Trade War
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal senior contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is
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