Al-Qaida alone reportedly has factions located in at least 40 countries; thus, we cannot feasibly exterminate every terrorist. Yet, we may well thwart the birth of future militant fighters.
Terrorism exists because of three factors, according to Daniel Yankelovich: "(1) a small group of committed militants, (2) a large group of moderates who deplore the militants' tactics but share their grievance and (3) a convenient scapegoat ... we need an enlightened long-term political strategy to divide the moderates from the jihadists and to remove ourselves from the role of scapegoat."
As a scapegoat, we are viewed as being belligerent, obstinate, and arrogant. Regardless of the veracity of these claims, we must acknowledge them. Let's come to terms with our demonization and demonstrate the opposite.
Let's establish a commonality of temperate religious, scholarly, and sociopolitical representatives from Islamic and Western countries to stimulate active discourse on how to edify our populaces. As Ervin Staub of the University of Massachusetts states, by extirpating paltry differences and humanizing "the other in words, images, and actions," we begin to mend rifts and yield real progress.
Staub further asserts, "There are societal conditions...that make it likely...some will join groups that are or will become terrorist, or accept and support the actions of such groups." Thus, abating the educational, economical, and psychological grievances of relatively deprived Islamic nations will be mutually and utterly beneficial. Moreover, we must dynamically support the underpinnings of egalitarian processes in all repressive regimes, while denouncing allied countries' desecration of people's rights. If we continue to exclusively pursue a military course despotic and strapped societies will continue breeding new militants, like a perpetually mutating virus.
Principally, we must strive to make this a campaign against militant Islam, and not Islam en bloc. Alas, Lt. Gen. William Boykin stated publicly a purpose to fighting terrorism, "I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol," in addition stating "the enemy is...Satan." Bush has also referred to the "war" on terror as a "crusade," even after imprudently using the term in the days after 9/11 ("Crusade" is translated as "war of the cross" into Arabic). And as American soldiers recently advanced into Fallujah, Lieutenant-Colonel Gareth Brandl avowed "the enemy has got a face. He's called Satan. He lives in Fallujah and we're going to destroy him."
Our enemy is not Satan. Our enemy is bin Laden. Our enemy is al-Zarqawi. Our enemy is the militant extremists that defile Islam. Moderate Muslims will continue to slight us and mutely acquiesce to these militants as long as they observe us perpetuating the link between Christianity and combating terrorism. America has long forgotten the atrocities of the Crusades, but Muslims have not. "That such a dark, seething religious history of sacred violence remains largely unspoken in our world does not defuse it as an explosive force in the human unconscious. In the world of Islam, of course, its meaning could not be more explicit, or closer to consciousness." As James Carroll prudently affirms, "Memory is a political act. Forgetfulness is the handmaiden of tyranny."
As long as America plays the scapegoat for Islamic militants, the less chance we have of achieving appreciable progress; martial tactics alone cannot achieve this progress.
Write to Russ at rjwpsy@yahoo.com
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