According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the war on terrorism is a phrase used to describe the "American-led global anti-terrorism campaign launched in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 .” Following these attacks, President George W. Bush primarily aimed to eliminate terrorist groups in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, although it was a multi-faceted campaign. However, based on the consequences of the past, moving forward, the United States should remove its military from the Middle East. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned" Get an Original Essay Our presence in the Middle East happened long before The 9/11 terrorist attack and the subsequent War on Terror. The first time the United States became involved in the Middle East was during the Truman administration. American troops were in Iran during World War II to transfer military supplies to Iran. Soviet Union and to also protect Iranian oil. However, President Truman protested the Soviet presence in Israel and, as a result, Joseph Stalin withdrew his troops. This began American duplicity in the Middle East as Truman opposed Soviet influence in Iran. In the decades that followed, other successors had intervened in various wars, threatened countries, and made treaties to bring peace to the Middle East. However, over the last decade or so, particularly under the George W. Bush administration, our involvement in the Middle East has consisted of overthrowing the Taliban regime, democratic regime change, and attacking countries that gave refuge for terrorists. Although the United States originally had good intentions regarding the occupation of the Middle East, times have changed and so have our goals, but now the consequences are worse. The war on terrorism was successful in its early years. US actions have prevented terrorist attacks on American soil, and many suspected terrorists have been arrested around the world. Furthermore, the United States overthrew the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, closed terrorist training camps, and captured and eliminated many Al-Qaeda members. The main objective of eliminating terrorist groups has been achieved while increasing international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. However, the failures of the war on terrorism have outweighed its success for several reasons. The war in Afghanistan has scattered al-Qaeda's network, making it increasingly difficult to capture and fight terrorists. Furthermore, continued attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq have increased anti-Americanism among local Muslims. In turn, it appeared to amplify and support Islamic groups that wanted to fight against America, while at the same time increasing the number of Muslim militants. Some critics also believe that the War on Terror was a disguise by which the United States “sought to control global oil reserves, increase defense spending, and expand the country's international military presence.” Furthermore, US actions in the Middle East led to their regression in development, as Iraq descended into chaos and civil war following the removal of Saddam Hussein's repressive regime. Additionally, from 2004 to 2007, more than 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed due to violence and instability in the Middle East. If the United States had not intervened in the Middle East, there would have been more terrorist attacks on American soil after the September 11 terrorist attack. However, it might not.