Exploring the principles underlying the Global War on Terror through Army officers

Eight years into the Global War on Terror (GWOT), the United States is reconsidering its strategy and how to achieve victory. Although U.S. military leaders are spending significant resources on learning the lessons of the GWOT, current literature still approaches terrorism as a new phenomenon. The purpose of the current qualitative grounded research study was to determine whether the GWOT is a war, the extent to which historic principles apply, and how these principles apply to the pursuit of victory. The grounded research involved conducting multiple interviews with 11 Army officers to determine the extent to which previously identified principles of war apply to the GWOT and which new principles are in use. The study indicated military leaders upheld the nine principles of war established by the U.S. Army's FM 3-0, but applied many of the principles poorly. All of the principles were relevant to the participants, yet with newfound applications and interpretations. The data indicated the existence of two new principles of war: the population and information operations. The data in the study indicate that further research is necessary to determine if the two potential principles merit status as principles of war.