If the U.S. fought World War II the same way they're fighting the war on terrorism, the Manhattan Project and the D-Day invasion would've been canceled. Because the way the war on terrorism is currently being fought is designed to extend the conflict indefintely. I suspect that if FDR told Americans that the Second World War would last beyond a human lifetime, it would likely have reduced morale substantially. Yet today we're supposed to be inspired when we hear that the war on terror will last beyond a human life time. That doesn't compute now, and it won't compute later!

I believe there should be a Manhattan Project for the war on terror (Yes, I know the term "war on terror" doesn't make sense, but I'm using it to make a certain point.) If that were the case, I suspect the war could be won in as little as 10 years -- 20 years at the most. So how does one administer a Manhattan Project for the war on terror? I'm not sure myself. But I can say part of this project should include improving the image of America among other nations. And one way to do that is for the U.S. to use non-military aid to help out various countries. If more of the world's people think favorably of the U.S., it will be that much harder for terror groups to get recruits. Some say that for every terrorist the U.S. kills, three more take their place. But if few people have interest in joining terror groups -- thanks to that non-military U.S. aid and other benefits -- then terror groups may eventually lose a lot of members.

But whatever the case, like with most things, this Manhattan Project for the war on terror is likely to be far more complicated than I've explained it. Plus, there's no guarantee it would work either. Nevertheless, it does represent a needed change in policy. And if it doesn't work, we should try something else. That's how problem solving works.