The volume and capabilities of terrorist groups around the globe have given scholars and experts reason to label the war on terrorism a new world war.

ISU experts agreed there are aspects of a world war to the war on terror, but disagreed to what extent.

Today many countries are host to militant attacks stemming from the grounds of religious, territorial, cultural and political oppression. Conflicts involving terrorism especially plague parts of the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Many experts have dubbed these worldwide acts of violence World War III. Former CIA Director James Woolsey has reportedly named the war on terrorism World War IV, having previously given the third world war title to the Cold War.

Richard Mansbach, professor of political science, said he uses the term post-international war in regards to the war on terrorism.

“A post-international war is unlike traditional wars which are between states,” Mansbach said. “It can erupt anywhere in the world. It involves unorthodox techniques, and national boundaries are meaningless.”

The United States has become active in a campaign to end terrorism by establishing military influence in Afghanistan after Sept. 11 and partnering with Britain in invading Iraq and ousting Saddam Hussein.

“The issue of terrorism is a great threat to the United States,” said James McCormick, professor and chair of the political science department. In order to end terrorism, he said, “We must get other nations to use political and military efforts.”

Recently, President Bush asked the United Nations for military and political support in postwar Iraq, but McCormick said the United States will have to make some concessions if they want UN support. He said Iraq needs a sense of shared governance. However, he said he doubts America will be willing to give up military control.

“The administration is losing popularity at home with the war,” Mansbach said.

He said he is concerned Bush’s speech to seek UN support was directed more toward the electorate at home.

“I am very pessimistic; the administration doesn’t seem to understand the position they have put us in diplomatically,” Mansbach said. “American aversion to multilateralism is exceedingly dangerous.”

Saddam Khattak, president of the Muslim Student Association, said he is concerned the media have a large influence on how younger generations view the Islamic religion.

“It is important to spread the peaceful image of Islam because Muslims, anywhere in the world, don’t want to be a part of the war,” said Khattak, senior in computer engineering.

Khattack said he believes confusing all Muslims with Muslim extremists is a common stereotype.

“Even if terrorists have Muslim identities, the terror they perpetrate cannot be labeled ‘Islamic terror,’ just as it could not be called ‘Jewish terror’ if they were Jewish or ‘Christian terror’ if they were Christians,” Khattak said. “Murdering innocent people in the name of a divine religion is unacceptable.”

Khattak said he doesn’t consider the war on terrorism a world war yet.

“Terrorism is, no doubt, a danger to the whole world and we should be united against it,” Khattak said.

“It is obviously affecting a lot of countries and it may become a world war.”

— The Associated Press contributed to this story.