One month after air strikes on Afghanistan officially began, experts at Penn State say the war on terrorism is not easily defined and not easily solved.

"It really is too early to tell if there will be any long-term effects," Stuart Bremer, professor of political science, said of the war in Afghanistan.

"It is a matter of retesting the question of how effective our air power can be," Bremer said.

He said the real problem would be if the air strikes are not successful.

"If they fail, it will show the limitations of air power and its high costs. It will also be a positive lesson for U.S. foreign policy," Bremer added.

Bremer also said in all likelihood, if air strikes are not successful in reaching their target, ground troops might be necessary.

"If air strikes fail and if ground troops are essential, then there is a decreased likelihood we will intervene," Bremer said.

Economic repercussions are just beginning to be felt throughout the country, as the economy shrinks and unemployment soars.

Economics professor Barry Ickes said the economy is reliant on the war on terror.

"If we don't win the war on terrorism, there could be problems," Ickes said.

He also emphasized that the economy was headed into a recession before the retaliation efforts began.

"It all depends on whether we win or lose," Ickes added.

Stephen Cimbala, professor of political science, said it is essential that the war on terrorism be fought on American soil.

"The essential pivot of the war on terrorism is on the American home front. The terrorists, who struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon Sept. 11, understood our vulnerabilities. We had lapsed immigration controls, inept airport security, and inadequate foreign and domestic intelligence," Cimbala said.

Cimbala said even the American government has not fully felt the effects of the war on terrorism.

"It is still not clear that the immediate post-Cold War utopian mind set, assuming an entitlement to a world of abundance and perpetual peace, has disappeared among our political and cultural leadership. The sense of urgency in government is still sporadic," Cimbala said.

He sites problems still within the airports as just some of slow efforts to ensure safety by the government.

Cimbala feels the spirit of middle America has not been weakened by the war. He thinks the spirit, best observed at the "grass roots" level such as Parent Teacher Association meetings and Little League games, remains strong.

"The essential weakness of the U.S. is found in its chattering classes like political leaders, media and cultural elites. These chattering classes have proffered the view for about a decade that globalization was equally in the interest of all nations and classes," he said.

Cimbala said it is a matter of politics being outdated by trade, and the growing ideals of the, "Western definition of the good life."

"As it turns out, to the contrary, that not everyone embraces our definition of the good life, or that some who do are resentful that they are denied their share of it. Politics reappears, and conflict rears its ugly head. Our elites are forced off their Harry Potter novels and into the real world of truly bad guys. Most are not ready," Cimbala added.