Terrorism -And Bin Laden- Are Alive and Well
US War on Terror Has Obviously Foundered
Nov 15, 2008 Khadija Muhaisen Dajani
Ashraf Al-Akhras and Nadia Alami marked their third wedding anniversary on November 10, 2008. Three years ago, as the Jordanian couple entered their wedding hall, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt, taking with him tens of innocent lives, including the fathers of the bride and groom. On that same night, two other suicide bombers carried out separate attacks in other hotels in Amman, murdering 56 innocent children, mothers, fathers, and young men and women. Hundreds of people were injured.
Is the World Safer Today?
In response to the September 11 attacks, America launched its war on terror, vowing to rid the world of terrorism, starting with Afghanistan and Iraq. Billions of dollars and millions of lost lives later, the extent of barbarity -by all- continues to baffle. Not a day goes by without the media reporting terrorist attacks that do not differentiate between religion or race, innocent civilians or military personnel.
On November 12, 2008, a 14 year-old Afghani girl was left blind when she and five other girls were doused with acid as they walked to school in Kandahar. The next day, 1500 school desks were vacant.
In Pakistan, on November 4, 2008, a dozen children aged 8 to 11 were kidnapped by Islamist militants on suspicion of spying for security forces.
Not everyday, however, is it reported that the United States continues to spy on its own citizens. The prison it has unlawfully set up on Guantanamo Bay Naval Base for “enemy combatants” still houses alleged terrorists not protected under the Geneva Conventions, according to US government interpretation. The world's greatest constitutional democracy, writes Craig Unger in The Fall of the House of Bush, has gone on to establish an “imperial presidency” effectively granting its president enormous powers, “gutting the concepts of checks and balances.” Tortures, detentions, and surveillance have gone on unrestrained, “unencumbered by such hindrances as the Geneva Conventions, Congress, or other government agencies,” making America synonymous with torture and abuse.
Can We Defeat Terrorism?
America's president elect has vowed to withdraw US troops from Iraq, largely viewed as a recruiting ground for terrorists to fight the “infidel” foreign forces occupying Muslim lands. He has also promised to close down Guantanamo, focus on the war in Afghanistan (although the identity of the enemy has grown vague) -and capture bin Laden.
It is without question that the dismal failure of the war on terror has given terrorism new life, creating hundreds of bin ladens around the world. The US occupation of Iraq, the escalating chaos in Afghanistan, the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the unchecked torture and abuse in US detention camps, and global economic decline have given terrorism ample justification to thrive.
Instead of spending billions of dollars on wars, a fraction spent on rebuilding broken bridges could help lift millions of people out of the darkness of ignorance. The route of war has been tragically unsuccessful. It is time to build a new course.
US Forces in Iraq
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