President Obama’s Counterterrorism Strategy in the War on Terror

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 1-11

3. Strategic Counterterrorism in Afghanistan

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 13-36

4. Drone Security Policy and Targeted Killing

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 37-63

5. National Defense University Address, 2013 West Point Address, 2014

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 65-80

6. ISIL and Counterterrorism Policy

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 81-125

7. AUMF, Transparency, and the Role of Congress

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 127-136

8. National Security Strategy Report—2015

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 137-146

9. The Outlook Post Obama

   • Leonard Cutler

   Pages 147-166

10. Back Matter

    Pages 167-192

    PDF

This book assesses President Barack Obama's counterterrorism policy as it evolved throughout his presidency, from the expanded use of drones to the controversial decisions regarding the Syrian conflict. President Obama has achieved the dubious distinction of having been the longest continuous war president in American history, and this title explores how Obama pursued and expanded executive war power in key areas, simultaneously committing to a light footprint approach for U.S. military forces and emphasizing the use of drones, targeted killing of terrorists, and training, advising, and assisting local forces to defend themselves from militant groups such as ISIL. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the defining issue of the Obama counterterrorism strategy: Syria, and his refusal to militarily commit to defeat Bashar al-Assad and support Syria’s insurgency. The work concludes with a consideration of counterterrorism policy post-Obama. 

• Counterterrorism strategy
• Drones
• Targeted Killing
• Light footprint
• Signature strikes
• Obama Counterterrorism
• Syrian conflict
• Executive war power
• War in Afghanistan
• terrorism

• Siena College, NY, USA

  Leonard Cutler

Leonard Cutler is Professor of Public Law at Siena College, USA. He has authored several books and articles addressing national security and counterterrorism policy. Cutler has provided testimony to the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate and the President’s Task Force on Detainee Disposition on Counterterrorism, Surveillance, and the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).

Policies and ethics