“History has called our Nation into action. History has placed a great challenge before us: Will America, with our unique position and power, blink in the face of terror, or will we lead to a freer, more civilized world? There’s only one answer: This great country will lead the world to safety, security, peace, and freedom.” The question, though, is—how? Torture, extraordinary renditions, targeted killings, and indefinite detention of terrorist suspects are not singular incidents in U.S. security policies in the war on terror but characterize the war on terror as a phase of fundamental conflict between security interest and norms on legitimate violence.