In the United States it is commonly accepted that al Qaeda declared war against America—even before 9/11—and that the war on terrorism is a struggle between the United States and al Qaeda. But is it only between the United States and al Qaeda? Or are al Qaeda’s attacks representative of a phenomenon and movement separate from the United States? What does al Qaeda’s radical brand of Islam represent within the Muslim world? How does that affect what the United States can—and cannot—do in the war on terrorism? Do we truly understand what the war on terrorism is all about? And if we don’t, how can we hope to prevail?