The war on terror continues

As President Biden orders the extraction of 3,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan, thousands of families forever scarred by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are owed a cogent answer to the question: How will our government now thwart determined radical Islamists? The feds may now correctly judge domestic white supremacist terrorism to be a greater threat, but it only takes one ambitious plot by a handful of jihadists to kill innocents.

Nowadays among the smart set, mention of the War on Terrorism begun under George W. Bush is likely to elicit an eye roll, as though history has proven it as wasteful and abusive as the War on Drugs. In fact, tools and strategies refined since 2001 remain vital to interrupting attempts to kill before they turn deadly.

Overseas, we routinely wield a much-maligned power to surveil the phone conversations, text messages, emails and other communications of non-U.S. persons who might seek to strike Americans. That this job is far harder due to the widespread availability of encrypted communication platforms does not mean negate the need for the authority.

American drones enable enhanced surveillance of would-be terrorists, and precise strikes by them and by Special Forces to find and destroy terrorist cells. Some strikes go wrong, tragically killing civilians. But many more accomplish precisely what they set out to.

Here at home, the NYPD, working in partnership with the FBI, works daily to root out plots, including trying to stop so-called lone wolves from falling prey to violent propaganda. It’s under-appreciated work.

Military leaders must remain on guard to ensure that terrorists never again find sanctuary under shelter of a nation-state. Other terror fighters must keep doing quieter work to stop those eager to do their worst.