When GW said the war on terrorism can't we won in a conventional sense, he was absolutely correct.
We can't sit down and negotiate with "terrorism"
We can't sign a peace treaty with "terrorism"
When a terrorist raises a white flag, that's all you get, one terrorist.
Nobody speaks for all the terrorists and all their causes.
About all we can do is raise our voice and say that we're not going to take it anymore. If we are attacked, we will go anywhere, anytime to track down the attackers and eliminate them. If some nation is foolish enough to offer them protection...KABOOM.
Terrorists will never stop, until their efforts are always futile and non-productive.
Our war on terrorism is a technique, we can use it any time we need it. Our military is like a junk yard dog. If you attack us, we turn it loose, it follows you home and doesn't leave until there is nothing left to eat.