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White House reviewing anti-terrorism approach | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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29/5/2005

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Bush administration is undertaking a review of its anti-terrorism strategy in recognition that the al Qaeda network has morphed substantially in past years, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Frances Fragos Townsend, President George W. Bush”s top adviser on terrorism, told the newspaper the review was meant to broaden the U.S. approach from its focus on capturing and killing al Qaeda leaders linked to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

&#34Naturally, the enemy has adapted,&#34 she was quoted saying. &#34As you capture a Khalid Sheik Mohammed, an Abu Faraj al-Libbi raises up. Nature abhors a vacuum.&#34

Administration officials declined to specify the policies under consideration in the review, the newspaper said.

Still, it said much attention is focused on how to deal with a new generation of terrorists schooled in Iraq, including jihadists who have since moved to other countries across the Middle East and Western Europe.

Several administration officials said the review could lead to a new national security presidential directive superseding the October 2001 document signed by Bush that pledged the &#34elimination of terrorism as a threat to our way of life,&#34 the newspaper said.