The September 11 terrorist attack leaves two theoretical questions: "Is it an unmistakable harbinger Of a clash of civilizations?" and "Will the new anti-terrorism international order emerging front the September 11 lead to a LIS-led unipolar international system?" The answers are mixed: short-term optimism and longer-terra uncertainties. On one hand the anti-terrorism order looks firm given the quick military success in the war in Afghanistan, over-whelming diplomatic victory that isolated Osama bin Laden, and compartmentalization of Islam that makes an immediate anti-Western solidarity unlikely. Nevertheless, a long-terra prediction is still shrouded with uncertainties since the next war requires a comprehensive victory. To destroy all terrorist swamps will be militarily difficult while the international coalition is diplomatically brittle. Islamic sentiment with potential to develop into anti-Americanism and the continuing Israel-Palestine conflict as a source of Islamic terrorism are further burden. This is why the melt war should be won in runny dimensions. It requires balanced analyses of criminality and cause of terrorism as well as with clearer distinction between majority ordinary Muslims and Islamic terrorists. A failure in the next war, for example a coupling of Western parochialism with what the Islamic world perceives as arrogance of power, will yelp continuation of terrorism or even precipitate a clash with the Islamic civilization. If it is won militarily, diplomatically, 171711 culturally, the anti-terrorism order will facilitate a transition to a new LIS-led international order.
