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1.0 Introduction Although World War 2 has ended for approximately six decades, Nobel Laureate Richard E. Smalley has identified war as the sixth biggest problem facing humanity for the coming fifty years (Smalley Institute Grand Challenges, 2003). Giant global wars have ceased since then, but smaller conflicts between huge countries and smaller ones still continue to appear. Currently, the world is at the crossroads of the most serious crisis in modern history. After decades of peace, war and terrorism has begun to appear once again. In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, in the largest display of military might since the Second World War, the United States has embarked upon a military adventure which may mark the beginning of a new era of warfare.
1.1 War War and terrorism are distinct, but sometimes closely related terms used in modern warfare. The term “war” is used to define both armed and unarmed conflict. An unarmed conflict involves a concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious, an act of antagonism or contention. However, this paper will focus on the armed conflict of war, which is a state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states or parties. Armed war can also be defined as a state of usually outdoor and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations. Because armed war is often related to political communities, it is also commonly known as political violence or intervention. In an armed war, warring parties usually hold territories, which is used as a ‘wager’ for battle; the winner brings home the bacon, whereas the loser leaves with nothing. Each party also has a lead person or organization which can give, or collapse, thus ending the struggle. From a political perspective, wars can be seen as a group of campaigns between two opposing sides involving contend over authority, territory, resources, religion, or political theory.
1.2 Terrorism