Combating terrorism: Future Shape

War on Terror

24 Sep 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com

Combating terrorism: Future Shape

Huzaima Bukhari and Dr Ikramul Haq Tuesday, September 23, 2008    The blatant act of terrorism in Islamabad on Sept 20 targeting the Marriott Hotel jolted the entire nation and world at large. This raised some important questions about the Huzaima Bukhari and Dr Ikramul Haq of "war on terrorism" and survival of modern day societies. Like fascism, terrorism is a self-destructive ideology. If we want to fight terrorism we will have to understand it. Wishful thinking about military might and invincible air strike power will not help to win the war against something that relates to human behaviour. Use of brutal and ill-directed force against a few groups, dubbed as terrorists by America and some of its allies, without eliminating the causes that lead to terrorism will be a self-defeating exercise.   Use of force and denial of peoples' legitimate rights on the contrary is bound to provoke more terrorist acts around the world. A policy of pre-emptive strikes is only a short-term solution. In the long-term, the governments of the world will have to sit down and chalk out a comprehensive strategy to ensure that such elements are dealt with an iron hand without disturbing the peace and tranquillity of individual societies and the world as a whole.   The most important question faced by humanity in the aftermath of 9/11 is whether we are afraid of freedom or want to preserve it for our future generations. All the terrorist attacks constitute a strike against freedom but at the same time are reflective of callous attitude of those who claim to be self-appointed guardians of free world, human rights, faith and freedom. The economic imbalances within a society and from global perspective, revival of religious movements (primarily a camouflage to manifest certain political aims) and imposition of will of the mighty on the weak have all given rise to what culminated in the shape of 9/11 in 2001 and events thereafter which have created worldwide turmoil and reign of fear.   Freedom of expression per se has been considered as a sufficient need to achieve a democratic society. The fallout of this appears to be a misconceived notion on the part of some individuals and groups that this freedom gives them licence to impose their own ideas on others using money, power and/or physical force. They are not only intolerant towards others' views but also suffer from the misconception that their ideas are the only truth through which the world can be changed into a better place. The terrorists think their way of thinking is the correct version of life and that they know the path towards attainment of the ultimate truth.   The problem is neither side – the developed societies or those who want to push them back into the Dark Ages -- is ready for a dialogue. Both have a non-comprising attitude when matter comes to ideology. The powerful seem to lack the rationalism to be fair towards the powerless and understand their problems. This in turn causes resentment and frustration in the latter, which is sometimes perverted and skewed by those who are good at exploiting such situations (read the terrorists) and comes out in such ghastly acts of terrorism and destruction as seen in Islamabad on Sept 20. If we want to change this situation, a balance needs to be struck between the powerful and the powerless. As long as a sizeable section of the world's people lives in a state of powerlessness, the powerful will always remain the target of hatred and attack.   In devising military strategies to fight the forces of fanaticism and terrorism, the people at the helm of affairs should not overlook the human side of the whole problem. Freedom and democracy are inseparable. The right to express our thoughts clearly means something only if we are able to have thoughts of our own. If the shape of the world is to be determined by a powerful cabal of vested interests, then the sceptre of terrorism is unlikely to fade away any time soon.   German social psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm rightly concluded in Free of Freedom that "the victory over all kinds of authoritarian systems will be possible only if democracy does not retreat but takes the offensive and proceeds to realise what has been its aim in the minds of those who fought for".   The same is true for the fight against terrorism. In order to secure triumph over the forces of destruction and disruption, there will have to be world free of double standards, exploitation and authoritarianism. Email: ikram@huzimaikram.com http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=137394