From what I have read here and elsewhere, it would appear at first sight that the
"FINAL SOLUTION"
to the problem of living safely on this continent and elsewhere in the 21st century and beyond is the total elimination of the enemy.
In history, Scipio Africanus and other Romans early in the 1st. century AD attempted to solve the pesky Carthaginian problem by defeating the Carthaginians at sea and razing Carthage to the ground and ploughing lime and salt into their soil so that agriculture would be impossible to sustain any survivors. In the 1940s Hitler attempted to exterminate the Jews in gas chambers to rid the Fatherland of its "corruptors, vermin and filth". But neither the Romans nor Hitler succeeded in their "final solution".
If I may so presume, the beginning of the solution to this perennial terrorist problem lies in delegitimizing the perceived claims/cause of the extremists. If history is any guide, the intractability of the West and the Islamic World would preclude any easy solution. And so would it not appear that there is no other course of action but to exterminate the enemy so that we will all then be able to live happily ever after? Yea, isn't might right? An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth? Why not bomb the bastards and nuke them into oblivion? Yea, let us apply our scientific and technical know-how! Surely, that will be a tribute unto the Lord, right?
But isn't it easier, less stressful and cheaper to delegitimize/defuse the enemies' perceived claims/cause? Why not give this and peaceful co-existence a try? Has this any historical precedent anywhere else? YES, YES, YES! But so far I have not seen any exploration, let alone suggestion, of this theme. It seems to be not an option at all: it is an anathema and anyone espousing such a theme deserves to be reported to the FBI! and to be dealt with the greatest severity.
The tide of nationalism and the incursion of Communism rose in SE Asia after the end of WWII
and the British colonial masters had their hands full battling nationalism on the one hand and Communism on the other. Britain also had the arduous task of maintaining peace and harmony among the various ethnic groups in its colonies. To cut a long story short, Britain neatly solved its problem by not only relinquishing its former colonies but also helping them politically to delegitimize/defuse the claims/cause of the communists. And by so doing, Britain not only saved a lot of money and face but also many lives of its own nationals and of its former colonials in the process.
Now let no one misconstrue I am making an apologia for terrorism in general or for 9/11 in particular. Terrorism in any shape or form is unacceptable and intolerable! In Central America and South America dissenters have all too often found to their dismay that their claims/demands for change etc were as a voice in the wilderness until they forced their governments to stare into the barrels of guns. Their governments cracked down on them and they retaliated. And so is it really that incredible for terrorists to resort to any spectacular/memorable act to jolt up what they perceive to be an apathetic world to their perceived claims/cause? Perhaps we should also blame our home-grown Tim McVeigh for the inspiration he provided them and for his exploit which they emulated and topped?
IMHO, we will all do well to take stock of the Golden Rule. To be sure, many will be quick to condemn it as utter nonsense fit only for contemplation by mystics. But there is no gainsaying that the history of the world is replete with attacks by one side and reprisals by the other side and with rationalization and self-justification by each side for its actions.
To be sure, the present crisis is by far and away worse than what Britain faced in SE Asia. To be sure, obsession with some of the pronouncements in the Bible and Qur'an have so polarized and solidified the positions of the opposing sides that short of attempting to delegitimize the claims/cause of the enemy, no easy solution seems to be in sight. Just as this crisis took years to attain its present complexity, it may well take years to unwind. It is specious to say we have tried to make the enemy see sense and have failed and therefore we have no options left but to obliterate them from the face of the earth for all eternity. What seems closer to the truth, IMHO, is that we are being intransigent because we can afford to: we have political-economic power and scientific-technical and military superiority. Also, it is the popular and politically correct thing to do right now. Yea, vengeance is sweet! We used to have bounty-hunters, didn't we? Yea, fire away, pardner!
Many folks habitually take for granted the might and wrath of the West and for it to prevail again this time around, as it has ever since the West's victory at Lepanto on October 7, 1571. But will it prevail for all eternity?
Beware: the history of Mankind is replete with the rise and fall of civilizations and superpowers and there is truism in the dictum that those who ignore the lessons of history are condemned/destined to relive them.
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PS. I suppose GT (Grand Tracker/Torquemada?) and her ilk will scan/sift this post for subversion/sedition and hidden messages for the enemy and inform the FBI pdq! <ggg> |
