Some acts of war are war crimes, and if September 11 had been an act of war it would have been no less criminal. But I don't think that calling it an act of war is the right thing to call it. And broadening the metaphor out into "a war on terror" is even more of a mistake.

A war which has no end is not a war It is an emergency which is matched by an increase in the power of the state - but with no time limit laid down. The truth is, it's a kind of coup d'etat.

"War on Drugs" "War on Drink" "War on Crime" - "War on Witchcraft" no doubt it would have been at one time.