Targeting roots of terrorism in this long war With the Bush administration's efforts in this long war against radical extremism grinding to an inconclusive halt, it's useful to revisit strategic issues that invariably frame our approach. What makes a terrorist? Are the drivers primarily political or economic? Depending on the answer, one could argue that America's grand strategy should lead with either promoting democracy or encouraging economic growth. Princeton economist Alan Krueger has made a great study of this question, and published his findings earlier this year in a book whose title, "What Makes a Terrorist," lacks a question mark. That's because Krueger, marshaling persuasive statistics and analysis, comes down firmly on the side of politics, pointing out that most terrorists are middle-class and well educated.