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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: Hawkmoon who wrote (130159)4/28/2004 2:48:15 PM
From: cnyndwllr  Read Replies (1) of 281500
 
Hawkmoon, I don't think I'm partially wrong in saying that you cannot "intimidate and cow ideological terrorists by the use of massive force" and, additionally in saying that the attempt to do so simply plays into their hands.

Although you make a proper distinction between the the "foot soldiers" willingness to sacrifice themselves in the present, as opposed to the "leaders and facilitators" unwillingness to accept a near-term death, I don't believe that leads to the conclusion that the leaders and facilitators are "cowards." It is, after all, hard to argue with the proposition that, in terms of advancing their cause, the leaders are "more important alive than dead." Those that see them as heroes understand this.

It's a grave mistake to underestimate an enemy as committed and popularly supported as these groups have shown themselves to be. It's an even graver mistake to think that most of the poor and sometimes hopeless world outside of America and Europe will view these people, their cause and their methods with the same self-interested filter that we see through.

History shows that the battle to civilize the world is a marathon, not a sprint. No superpower can lead the world in the fight against terrorism and anarchy unless the peoples of the world believe in the rightness of that power's policies and the fairness of its ideals.

Our headlong sprint to use overwhelming military strength to win the submission of those that oppose us will, in the midterm and long term, result in immeasurably more harm than good.
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