The controversial replacement of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, has exposed the strategic confusion at the heart of NATO’s war on terror. The strategies pursued so far have not only failed to stabilize Afghanistan but have also destabilized Pakistan. Consequently, this war is unlikely to end in the near future, if victory, howsoever defined, is the objective. Even if victory is obtained, the subsequent revival of Islamic extremists is quite likely. Thus, without an ideological war strategy, there is no point wasting taxpayers’ billions in temporarily repulsing ragtag Islamist militias.