Editor, the Gauntlet,
Re: "Hope renewed," Oct. 21, 2004,
I agree with your editorialist on the value of periodic reflection, particularly in regards to public policy, but I strongly object to his assertion that "the only achievement the current [U.S.] government has made with its war [on terrorism] is drawing the ire of many Islamic third-world countries and the silent contempt of many world powers." In my judgment, only the churlish or the willfully blind would make such as an assertion.
If your editorialist is unable to conceive of any possible achievements that the U.S.-led war on terrorism has had, let me make a few modest suggestions: the destruction of the Taliban regime, the establishment of a provisional government with NATO support, and the successful staging of a presidential election in Afghanistan in the span of three years. How about the fact that there have been no terrorist attacks on American soil since 9/11? How about the killing or capture of hundreds of Al Qaeda operatives since 9/11? None of these count as achievements?
Moreover, despite your editorialist's claims to the contrary, the attitude of other major powers towards the war on terrorism has been quite favorable. Russia's President, Vladimir Putin recently made remarks praising the American government's effort against terrorism. The U.S. also has the public support of major NATO powers like Great Britain and Germany in its campaign against terrorism and efforts to rebuild Afghanistan. Furthermore, the U.S. continues to enjoy a good relationship with India and China. Despite their opposition to the war in Iraq, they support the war on terrorism.
Lastly, I would suggest that your editorialist does a disservice to all victims of terrorism and their families by mocking the campaign against it as a "war on a buzzword." Terrorism is a serious issue--not a buzzword--which deserves earnest consideration.
Comments
I like this. It reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer purchases a rock from Lisa that wards off tigers.
How many terrorist attacks on American soil were there PRIOR to 9-11? Few, and some were homegrown, as in not committed by *gasp* Islamic extremists.
An aside: convenient for the Republicans that a new omnipresent evil has emerged so they can cling to power, no? It could be a slogan: "Terrorists, they're like commies but less refined"
Either way, the "War on Terror" will ultimately lead to many more attacks on American soil than would have occurred otherwise. Granted, if (as I suspect) our southern neighbours choose to reelect Dubya then my sympathy is limited--you sleep in the bed you make.
While the Taliban regime was no doubt a terrible thing for Afghanistan, the Taliban itself was not a terrorist group but more of an oppressive political and military power within Afghanistan. With the Taliban removed, terrorists do have one less safe-house to sit around in, but the problems of the Taliban are far from erased. War-lords dictate much of the political action outside of Kabul, women still face immense amounts of oppression which will take generations to smother out (or some serious external help which isn't happening), and to call the recently held election in Afghanistan "successful" you must ignore the fact that a huge part of international aid workers left the country due to unsafe conditions, leaving it difficult to impossible to oversee the election anywhere outside of Kabul.
As for the war on terrorism, it's very true that hundreds of Al Qaeda members have been captured or killed. But as wonderfully pointed out by I belive Jon Stewart, you don't think they're gonna fill those spots again? The more Israel kills Palestinians, the more suicide bombers seem to show up. The more you poke an angry, cornered animal, the more vicious and aggressive it will get. It's kind of an endless cycle here, and not soemthing to be proud of.
In the end, more people in the US are killed walking across the street each year than are killed by terrorist activities. More and more often, the US definition of terrorism and "rogue states" seem to fit the US as appropriately as they do any other nation. The war on terrorism isn't going to be won ever. Even if the US genocided the rest of the globe, they'll just find some rogue state like Montana to fear next. But hey, we got four more years to see how this Bush character does, maybe he can prove me wrong.