So what do you we do? What is your solution to terrorist attacks on the United States?
If you answer "Put up with it", I'd like to suggest that you need to return to the US for a while; you've been in Europe far too long. Your fellow countrymen are NO MOOD to accept that as an answer.
I've said earilier that I have no overall objection to the actions in Afghanistan. So "Put up with it" is not an answer that I would proffer. But recognize it for what it is: retaliation and if you're lucky, a delaying tactic for future events. It's nothing more than that. Israel has retaliated so often that it isn't a delaying tactic any longer.
To your question. First, there is the premise that terrorism emerges out of regions of poverty, long standing internal conflicts and ignorance. Second, our greatest fear is of nukes, biological, and chemical weapons. Third, dispense of the notion of focusing on attacks to the US, it can't be done. It's a global problem it has to be dealt with in a global view. Fourth, there is no instant solution, nor single solution; it took 30 years of SALT, START treaties to make the progress that we've had.
A short list of my top six, in no particular order.
1. Stop the sale of weapons to third world countries and institute a world wide ban on personnel land mines. Dispense of the notion that it can't be done; it has to be done.
2. Get chemical and biologial weapons and nukes off the damn planet. Russia has 40,000 metric tons of chemical weapons awaiting destruction; the longer they are there the more likely someone you don't want will get hold of them. Support the biological and chemical weapons treaty; not sabotage it. Yes, it's not perfect, but it tooks 30 years of negotiating with the Soviets to make substantial progress in nukes. It's a long view. I was pleased to see this article this morning. washingtonpost.com It's a return to progress.
3. We would be better served if we used foreign aid on education in third world countries rather than military aid.
4. Nation building is a better and cheaper choice than military retaliation and mini-Marshall plans.
5. Freeze financial assets of all terrorist organizations. The US cannot be the sole judge of who is or who is not a terrorist organization. Especially, since our list is determined by what our immediate interests are.
6. The world [which includes the US] should show as much resolve for the one-half million people in sub-Sahara Africa that have died of AIDS since Sept 11th as it has shown since the 3,000 persons that died in NY and DC....and other such examples. One can throw in Global Warming here.
I see little resolve on the part of the US for any of these six points. Unless that changes, it's just a matter of time before we see a disastor beyond anything we can imagine. Barring that change, I hope that I'm worm bait before it happens.
jttmab |
