Letters to the Editor
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There is a metric for whether we are winning the war on terrorism
It is surveys of attitudes towards the US in the Muslim world. Because, as the Spanish discovered when fighting the ETA, while few people become terrorists, they are supported by a large community who shares the terrorists grievances.
Al Quaida is not a government. It has no ability to tax. Its resources come from donations and businesses. Any government currently hosting Al Quaida business or activities could do a lot to hurt Al Quaida's ability to operate.
Many in the Muslim community celebrate terrorist acts. While in any community there are always crackpots and those who believe conspiracy theories, the bulk of Muslims will not listen to radical Islam if they didn't see a body of evidence to support the idea that the US/West wants to get rid of Muslims. And Bush's 'war on terror' sounds an awful lot like a code for a war on Islam.
So, when Muslim attitudes towards the US improve, we are gaining ground in the war on terror. When they dive, we are losing.