It strikes me that the War on Terror has a good deal in common with the War on Drugs.
Everybody agrees that the tactics used are not very effective, but we continue on apparently because we believe we have to “do something,” even it if isn’t working.
Which makes both operations more or less a form of theater, indulged in not to achieve a goal but to project an image.
As it does the "War on Poverty".
America historically has done fine when we declare war on another country.
Not nearly so well when we declare war on an abstract concept!!