Terrorism is such a bad thing that all terrorists should be punished. It would probably be best if they were all killed before they could cause any damage to us.
The problem is that terrorism is like the Hydra. Cut off a few heads and they not only grow back, they multiply. The end result is even more terrorists.
So the current method of attempting to control, reduce and eradicate terrorism is obviously failing.
Just what is terrorism?
At its base, terrorism is the means which some people, yes, terrorists are people too, use to gain political power. It is not to be confused with the individual, random acts committed by the suicidal and mentally ill who suddenly run right off the rails.
The true terrorist leader is older, much more calculating and hides in the background. He uses the very inequalities he seeks to overcome to recruit followers. Whatever his background or origin, his aim is to over throw the status quo creating a new status quo where he is the leader.
A terrorist organisation needs to be looked at as a political organisation.
Just as it would be impossible to eliminate the Democrats or the Republicans in the USA, or the Labour Party or the Tories in Britain, so it is impossible to eliminate the terrorists once they have created themselves in a country.
Why? Because they represent an ideal, an idea!
Controlling Terrorism.
Terrorism gains its power from using violence as opposed to the ballot box. Modern terrorism gains its members from the disaffected young. The very people who are at their most idealistic and ready to try to change their world. These young people are the lifeblood of the terrorist leadership.
There are two ways of dealing with the disaffected young.
We can try to control them after they have become disaffected or we can stop them from becoming disaffected.
Our current method of attempting to put the genie back in the bottle is obviously failing. The world has become a much more dangerous place since all out war against terrorism was declared. The disaffected young have multiplied in the resultant chaos and have gathered at the banner of the terrorist leaderships.
Another course of action.
Perhaps what is needed is a total redefining of the problem.
Rather than using the old Biblical, and totally human, reaction of an eye for an eye, perhaps the Christian ideal of “turning the other cheek” may be of use. It has certainly never been tried on a mass level.
Maybe the nations of the world should stop the war on terror and concentrate on creating a world where there are no disaffected youth. Cut off the terrorist leadership and isolate them from their powerbase.
A Sort of Conclusion
Could the cost of improving the conditions in places where terrorism is growing be more than the continuing cost of the wars to control terrorism?
Certainly the methods used by our nations is not working.
A change in direction may just create the conditions needed to reduce, if not eliminate, the threat of terrorism.
The real problem is that there are those in power in our nations who would see the proposal of this solution as a new form of terrorism.
Filed under: politics Tagged: | Peace, politics, terror, terrorism, war
It’ll never work
Archie, you can’t sell more military hardware that way! What would all the out of work war profiteers do then?
On the flip side, one could consider neutron bombs…
I agree with you, and it would probably be cheaper. We haven’t done anything in Iraq except make more terrorists, and as Rob points out, make the war profiteers wealthier. Maybe we could pay them to beat their
swordsguns and bombs into plowshares, or something else useful.very thought provoking archie. I like you on your soapbox
Imagine Iraq today if, instead of “The Surge”, there had been battalions of hospital and school builders. Even better, what if construction and logistics jobs were given to Iraqis instead of imported US contractors?
While we’re at it can’t we make all the women beautiful and all the children intellectually above average?
I like your thinking Archie ……. I don’t suppose it would be possible to ban organised religion would it? ……. I’m sure that would help for a start …………
organized religion is fine as long as they don’t get any tax breaks, tax them like any other business. Build schools and hospitals, teach people to subsistance farm using organic techniques and heirloom seeds. Encourage water conservaton and renewable energy sources.
organized religion is fine as long as they don’t get any tax breaks, tax them like any other business. Build schools and hospitals, teach people to subsistence farm using organic techniques and heirloom seeds. Encourage water conservation and renewable energy sources.
oh, sorry about the double comment.
@ Buff, If no one dreams the impossible, it certainly will be impossible.
@ Rob, Oh of course – the dreaded military-industrial complex! Surely it isn’t really ruling the world – - -
@ Silverstar, Sometime soon we need to change our thinking or one of the remaining species will begin thinking in our place!
@ Nurse M, I had forgotten where I had put it – luckily I came across it while renovating my mind
@ Mike, You made my point so much more succinctly than I ever could.
@ Cybe, see my reply to Buff
@ Daddy P, Perhaps we need the Invisible Pink Unicorn to take a stand and stamp out violence!
@ hmh, it was worth saying twice.
How about lessening the testosterone about the place???? We could do stuff to the dangly bits which may (or may not) decrease the aggression. Then again, there are females now allowed to be suicide bombers insome Muslim countries so that belies my previous statement!
Yes if the ‘war’ money was spent on education and health things hopefully would improve.
On the 3rd hand the money spent on Indigenous education and health hasn’t been appreciated nor has it helped. (That’s my soapbox!)
When are people going to take responsiblity for their own health, and the education and health of their children? Whitefellas as well as blackfellas, all those on welfare.
Cooling off out there now? It is in here, only 38-39. Much more pleaseant!