The metaphor (and fact) of war.

Metaphors make a difference. I suggest that the War on Terrorism initiated by President George W. Bush in response to the events of September 11, 2001, is substantially metaphoric. Like the War on Poverty and the War on Drugs, the metaphor of war facilitated the mobilization of effort, but as in these familiar cases, it entails less desirable consequences. In criticism of the response by the United States, I urge the relevance of Ralph White's concept of realistic empathy, and, applying that concept, endorse McNamara and Blight's (2001) insistence on multilateralism in all our international initiatives.