Were we at war during Carter 1 and Clinton?
Yes. The jihad started in the carter administration with the takeover of our embassy in Tehran. Carter's brilliant response and the subsequent 444 days of our daily humiliation at the hands of islamist "students" convinced all of the umma that we could be defeated.
clinton's active support of the muslim side in the Balklands assured islamic radicals everywhere that we are a stupid and self destructive people. When he tucked his tail between his legs and ran from Mogadishu, that was the defining moment when Osama bin Laden decided that islamic victory was inevitable.
Yes. We were at war. carter and clinton were just too weak, stupid, and cowardly to do anything about it or even recognize the fact.