Eric Alterman is right on about this:

Eric Alterman: Altercation
The whole notion of a “war” against terrorism is a right-wing ideological construct designed to further a bunch of goals that have nothing to do with protecting Americans. I’m all for using the military to kill and otherwise disable terrorists. By all means let’s do whatever is necessary to cut off their supply lines in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. But these are police and intelligence functions, albeit with a heavy dose of covert military operations.

Wars, however, involve mobilizing nations and killing thousands of innocent civilians. That is not only unnecessary, it is also counterproductive. Plus, we are only doing the (accidental, but unavoidable) killing civilians part. What sacrifices have ordinary Americans been asked to make? More tax breaks for the rich? More SUVs for yuppies? A stupid Star Wars system?