Nadine, I agree with virtually everything you've said. All things being equal, there is a tremendous advantage to terrorists and terrorist organizations to be able to operate in countries that are their enemies in name only. Of course in many parts of the world the governments are so inept and poorly run that terrorists are far ahead of the curve and there is very little to fear from the military or police forces. The key, as always, is whether there are local populations that will support, shield and feed them either because they share their ideology or because the terrorists have the resources to "pay" for their help.
The Clinton administration, according to Clarke, recognized the same truth that you pointed out but did not feel the need to invade and occupy Iraq in order to dissuade Iraq from supporting terrorists. According to Clarke they missiled the offices of the Iraqi intelligence agency and then told Iraq in no uncertain terms words to the effect that "we know where you live and there's a lot more coming if you don't learn." Clarke said a second lesson was never necessary.
I agree with the use of that kind of limited force. I think that most government officials are painfully aware that THEY cannot hide from our missiles the way terrorists can. We need only make it personal to those that make the decisions in order to influence their cost/benefit analysis in ways that make it easy for them to decide that engaging in, supporting or knowingly condoning terrorism is a foolish and deadly course of action for THEM. That is, of course, reprisal that falls far short of taking down every institution of a country and assuming the role of attempting to govern it.
If we are to follow even that much more limited course of action, however, we need to be able to articulate and substantiate our justifications, we need to be able to set easily understood and internationally acceptable rules of engagement and we need to follow them. We need to do those things if we are to set ourselves apart from those who would use such deadly force against us and if we are to allay the fears of the world and of the people of the world that we are, as the lone remaining superpower at present, out of control. |
