many. What does this mean? This means that despite our ninth year of the War on Terror, Al-Qaeda is still alive and well. This is just another sign that ultimately there is no end in sight for this war. World War II was over less than six years after it started and we are nearing our tenth year in the War on Terror. It is a war that we cannot win.Why? It is because we are choosing to fight in the wrong way. We are using rockets and missiles to fight beliefs and understanding. We are using troops and battleships to fight concepts and ideals. How could we ever hope to win a war this way? We are very much in a modern age of imperialism and colonialism that we are unfortunately perpetuating in this War on Terror.
The United States has overstepped its borders, quite literally. We have troops in dozens of countries all over the world, which has helped to contribute to some of the negative impressions of the U.S. overseas. How would you like it if there were a German Air Force base outside of Columbus, OH? Would you want South African troops stationed near Philadelphia, PA?
How are we supposed to win this war then? We win a battle when we admit the times that we are wrong and make reparations for these actions. We win a battle when we stop imposing our will on the rest of the world. We win a battle when we accept criticism and move forward together with the countries that have taken issues with our geo-political stances. These battles can be won because they address ideologies and beliefs about the United States. In this way, we stop fueling the fire. We counter these anti-US ideals by showing that we are willing to work with the other countries of the world instead of bullying these nations into doing what we demand.
I am not saying that we should not stay alert or try to ignore the terrorists plots or threats against us and our Western European allies. We need to have the good intelligence to know when these attacks will happen and prevent them before they do. Ultimately, this prevention is our goal in the War on Terror. We are trying to attack first so that we will not lose lives of the citizens of the United States. Why not prevent these attacks by preventing the ideals that create the warriors that oppose us?
Greater cooperation and listening and understanding is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of acceptance and taking the higher road. We will be "the bigger person" so to speak. Acknowledging the imperialism that our nation is engaged in is crucial. Taking steps away from that imperialism is what would be a very powerful symbol to the rest of the world. A symbol for peace.
this article is so good, is the author single?
ReplyDeleteSo Alan if we take the non violence route on this one what would we do? Not trying to be negative about it, more just being a devils advocate, would talking really be enough? When people try to change your opinion on something you feel strongly about do you really listen to why you should change it? I agree with you that missiles against an idea are a bad idea, but this idea in general is a really tough thing to fight. Talking is a good step; it’s just hard to say how far it’ll get us. Just putting that out there.
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Actions are absolutely necessary here, you are right. Pulling out troops, removing our imperialistic forces in other countries is key. Conferences, debates, and discussions though, I believe can be equally important. If a nation willingly enters into dialogues with other nations, that is also paramount, as it shows that our country is not choosing to act unilaterally.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but I just don't see how there is another way around this. We are talking about people who have a deep and fundamental hate for the Western world, the US in particular. Terrorists and Al Queda were there before we invaded, and they attacked before we bombed them. How is it that we handle the problem of terrorism? By trying to talk it out? I highly doubt that will work with these people. If they tried to convince you that you should abandon democracy, how well would you listen? Their ideas on religion and government are who they are, just as your ideas on these issues are a big part of who you are. No one could just talk the idea out of you - but I agree that they couldn't bomb the idea out of you either. I struggle to know a solution, but do you honestly think we can have conferences, debates, and discussions with terrorists?
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm saying Brian. Talking and try to change their opinions can only get us so far, if it gets us very far at all. But bombing isn't the answer, so what is? It's very tough to answer.
ReplyDeleteSusan
No, and I'm sorry if it comes across that way. I'm not suggesting that we sit down with Bin-Laden and say, "Hey guy, whats got you down?" I'm saying that we meet with countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and others where we have troops stationed and let them know that we want to work with them in moving forward together.
ReplyDeleteAl-Qaeda and terrorists certainly existed before we began bombing them, and there isn't an indication that their numbers have decreased. Their deep seeded hatred for the US was based on some of our actions that we had committed overseas. Sure, these people are radicals, but I'm arguing that if we address some of the roots of the problem, we will be able to slow or stop the rate of radical reaction to our international actions.
If we hold Peace Conferences and choose to respect some of Pakistan's autonomous decisions, I believe that a few more people will think, "Hey, the US isn't really trying to dominate the world like these crazy people are telling me."
If we pull out troops and stop enforcing our colonial stranglehold on many countries of the world, this will stop fueling the anti-US hatred that is so prevalent.
What we need to address is the fact that there are people who feel that the US needs to be confronted in this radical way. If we take away their reasons to become radicals, we take away the war.
Sounds like alan is on to a seriously viable thing. The fact of the matter is before we started bombing centers of Al-Qaeda terrorism they weren't nearly as able to expand and recruit because there was no centralizing cause around which to justify their extremism. Sure, they existed but good luck finding a year in the last couple centuries in which some terrorist cell wasn't threatening the innocents of the world. Every time we flex our military muscles and add another civilian death from our perch across oceans and continents it's like droopping a golden egg to Al-Quaeda recruiters, who now have concrete, emotionally provacative justification for their armed assault on us. That's not national security it's more like poking a badger with a stick. The U.S. would be benefited considerably more if we focused on aid, protection, and humanitarian efforts on behalf of those most affected by terrorist cells in occupied countries, and the more countries we pulled into a relief effort like this the better. You can't eliminate the ideals behind terrorism any more than you can kill the ones behind democracy or any other abstract idea. What we can do, however, is establish a reputation as the aid of the world as opposed to the new enforcers, and nations will respond to that.
ReplyDeleteI have this weird conflict within me. If I am strictly speaking in terms of what is best for America, then I totally believe in isolationism, the way the founders intended. But unfortunatly my conscience doesn't allow this sort of thought. So I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteI wish the Bush policies were more effective, they sort of worked in Iraq after 8 years of rough battle, billions of doallrs, and thousands of American lives, but its hard to see means justifying the ends in any of our foreign policy efforts.
I think Alan Dicken is right to say that bombing the hell out of terrorists won't rid the world of them. If anything, it'll just create more terrorists.
ReplyDeleteInstead of the billions and billions of dollars invested in the army and weapons industry and defense, can you imagine what it would be like if we took all that money and poured it into education and health care services?
This may be a little off topic, but I think I big issue here is fear of the unknown. We don't understand them, so we fear them and so then we don't like them. And vice versa. Sitting down and listening and starting a dialogue is a good first step in eliminating the fear of the unknown and becoming connected with one another by our common humanity. It's not wrong to have ideals or beliefs. But I think until we can understand where they're coming from and they understand where we're coming from, we won't get anything achieved.
world war two was over in 6 years, yes because WWII was the 5th and final time United States Congress declared war. If we declared war now then the country would empty out and we'd have it wrapped up in about 4 months.
ReplyDeleteso how did we provoke the attack on September 11th? Oh that's right because those terrorists were born and raised to hate Americans. Because from the moment they could think their brains were filled with the idea that if they have the privilege of killing massive amounts of Americans that they will have a glorious place in heaven. You are using logic Alan and logic doesn't work with the demented mind. Have all of you forgotten that we didn't start this?
"The fact of the matter is before we started bombing centers of Al-Qaeda terrorism they weren't nearly as able to expand and recruit because there was no centralizing cause around which to justify their extremism."
excuse me Anonymous I forgot we started attacking them.
9 years and too many SNL skits about Bush being a greedy idiot has made you forget. or maybe you listened to a greenday album one too many times.
Watch this video and ask me to say I'm sorry for helping give them a reason to justify their extremism.
http://www.history.com/interactives/witness-to-911#/west-street-and-chambers-street/
Adam, bombing them isn't working. And I think Alan is just suggesting another method, like talking, just so no one else gets hurt and no other lives are taking. And maybe talking won't work because they're to stuck in their opinions, but maybe seeing that we're attempting to talk will be a start. And if we start to show them some of the good that America has done they'll focus less on the bad.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah we might not have attacked them first but America has done some pretty terrible things that I'm a little surprised more people don't hate is. The other day I read an article on America finally apologizing for intentionally affecting people in Guatemala with STDs so we could test it with penicillin. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/01/us.guatemala.apology/index.html?iref=obnetwork
Pretty terrible.
And one last thing...long story short Luke 6:27-36. "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you....Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Without love and mercy, life will just be one war after another.
Susan
Travis I think you dead on, isolationism. Stay out of what is going on in the rest of the world. We have so many problems to deal with right here on our own soil. Sometimes I think that these other nations have justification for their hatred of America. Does this mean that I hate America? No, absolutely not, I love my country. I love that I have so much freedom. I love that there are unlimited opportunities available to me.
ReplyDeleteLike several people said earlier, if we didn't have so many bases in so many different countries that we occupy, PEOPLE WOULDN'T HATE US!! As good as our intentions may be it is wrong for us to be there. They don't hate our lifestyles or our customs. They hate the fact that we are a bully and think that if we want our troops in a country it is our right to do so.
To close, I really think it would benefit the United States to decrease the number of troops around the world.
crazy talk : The United States should make a worldwide announcement that they will be pulling our troops from every foreign country they currently occupy. We are going to mind our own business and start paying attention to the economy, homeless, and put so much of the money we spend to keep these bases around the world towards beneficial things to Americans. Schools, law enforcement, fire safety, public places, and hell maybe even put some of it toward rehabilitating dilapidated areas of our country.
What I think is really amusing is that in places like Palestine, Iran and Pakistan, young adults are posting things on THEIR blogs like:
ReplyDelete"Everyone knows that Americans are fundamental ideologues that can't be reasoned with. The extremists get told from the time they are little that their religion is right and everyone else's is wrong. They get taught as young as 4 years old what a great thing the US military is and how it stands for freedom. They even support this military in the churches there, despite how the military has violated international human rights law, has tortured people, has killed civilians on purpose - and that's just what they've done in 2010! I mean, how do you try to talk about peace with someone that was raised like that?
Still, I'm not sure that bombing them is the answer, although I don't know what else to do....nothing else works with these people! I mean, we've tried talking in the past, and it didn't work. Instead, there's been MORE American troops here, MORE civilian deaths, MORE pressure to abandon our culture and way of life. We have to take concrete actions to protect our families and our country. We can't just sit back and hope that "talking" will prevent another child's death.
I dunno. I'm stumped Abu/Priscilla/Maheesh/Yasmine. How 'bout you?"
What might our comment stream look like on their blogs?
clearly what we are doing now is not working...what can it hurt? don't worry about the sliver in your brother's eye til you remove the plank in your own eye...I'm just saying
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