1. the phrase "war on terror" was used by some Congress members when Libya and the United States forces were fighting in 1986. The Libyan government was accused of orchestrating terrorist attacks all around the Mediterrean Sea, the Middle East and Europe.

2. when Bill Clinton launched missile attacks against al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan and the Sudan in 1998, the term "war on terror" was also used.

3. after the horrible 9/11 attacks the term "war on terror" was used once again, this time George W. Bush said it.

4. Come to think of it, with the various definitions of "terror" maybe there's always been a War On Terror thruout most of history. Fancy cutesy-wutsey terms boost ratings and sell papers. After all, we've had a "War On Drugs", the Cold War ended in 1989, and when I was in the San ...