The War on Terror involves more than just the U.S. and Iraq. A myriad of countries and organizations have been involved throughout the years.
via NATO.int
The War on Terror started as a war waged by President Bush in response to the attacks on America he was soon joined by other world leaders. The war affected and continues to affect many countries. September 12th Bush contacted British Prime Minister Tony Blair who gives his support. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf lends his support as well. “The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announces that it is prepared to invoke for the first time Article 5 of its charter, which states that an attack against one member would be considered an attack against all. This step will be formally taken at a NATO meeting on Oct. 2.”1 The U.N. then makes an international statement condemning the attacks. Pakistani General Mahmood orders the Taliban to surrender Bin Laden. French President Jacques Chirac expresses support for the U.S. but is hesitant about a war. The U.S. then talks to Russia about using their defunct military bases. Soon the United Arab Emirates followed by Saudi Arabia denounce the Taliban which they once recognized. “At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, President Bush meets with various world leaders, including Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the coalition.”2 Then the U.S. tries to gather support for Hamid Karzai to become Afghanistan's new leader, which is successful. All of these people and more had a hand in shaping the war.
AP. Tony Blair's speech on Sept. 11, 2001
President Obama ran on a campaign based on ending the war and closing Guantanamo Bay. Although there have been a lessening military presence in the Middle East, none of those things have completely happened. Whether it's because it's his advised choice or because the powers that be won't allow, we may never truly know. According to Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for the New Yorker, Bush bombed four countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Somalia) during his presidency and Obama has bombed seven (Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya and Syria).3 If our history of unrest with the Middle East is any indicator, we'll always be at war with those countries.
1PBS. Frontline. Campaign Against Terror. Fighting on Two Fronts: A Chronology. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/campaign/etc/cron.html
2PBS. Frontline. Campaign Against Terror. Fighting on Two Fronts: A Chronology. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/campaign/etc/cron.html
3Poynter.org. Media Wire. Fact-checking the war comparisons between Obama and Bush. By Lauren Carroll and Jon Greenberg. http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/272471/fact-checking-the-war-comparisons-between-obama-and-bush/