|
|
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
|
| |
March
2007
Volume
12 - Number 3 |
|
A Personal Perception of the Terrorism Risk By Erik Speranza The U.S. led invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped
create a new generation of Islamic radicalism and has increased the risk
of terrorist actions since the attacks of September 11th. The goal
of reducing the terrorist network and promoting U.S. ideals of democracy,
equality, and freedom by expelling a radical dictator in Iraq has failed.
Alternatively, the war has stoked the jihad movement through constant house
raids, indefinite detentions, and unnecessary and excessive torture.
These extremist tendencies cannot be reversed through a ‘shock and awe’ quick
fix approach, but rather through partnership and patience.
The mistreatment and abuse alone is enough to incite radicalism, however the more substantial reason behind the hatred for the U.S. is the apparent lack of understanding of Middle Eastern culture. The occupation of Iraq is encouraging anti-American sentiments in the region because of a lack of the most basic comprehension of the political and religious history of the region and its inhabitants. Without respecting the values of the people, a democracy cannot be introduced and the terrorism risk within the Islamic community increases. The stubbornness shown by U.S. leadership to stay the course in Iraq and rely solely on military force to implement political change has been proven ineffective. The political climate of Iraq and the Middle East will not change with brute strength, but rather with an understanding of cultural and societal values. These values must be the backbone of the restoration plan in Iraq. The inability of U.S. leadership to understand this has allowed Islamic radicals to grow their terrorist base and spread anti-American propaganda to more sympathizers. As the war continues, terrorism risks also grow beyond the community in the Middle East. The Washington Post reported on 20 February 2007, in an article by Craig Whitlock, “as the war drags on, it continues to serve as a powerful rallying tool for radical Islamic networks around the world that have developed recruiting pipelines as far afield as Europe and Southeast Asia.” These increases in terrorist networks help radical Islamic leaders extend their venomous reach beyond the Middle East and onto American soil once again. The next attack against America may not be as large-scale or as coordinated as those on 9-11, but the results will be just as grave. To ensure the risk is reduced over time the U.S. needs to show that they are willing to work in conjunction with Middle Eastern nations to achieve common goals, while respecting each country’s unique cultures and values. Most notably, and probably most controversial, is dealing with Syria and Iran. While these nations are not American-friendly, efforts have to be made to discuss commonly held interests to achieve the goal of a diplomatically balance Middle East. One cannot achieve peace and reduce terrorist activities in the region without involving all nations. While many of the U.S. adversaries may not use extreme measures, an anti-American culture is breeding and over time it could present a great danger. Actions need to be taken now to help reduce the risk of terrorism by creating a culture of understanding and respect for the nations the U.S. collaborates with. The Federal government has enacted many new laws and programs to help prevent a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. The next steps are to build upon this domestic foundation and expand the country’s conciliatory reach internationally. Only through these actions will the nation be able to spread the ideals of democracy, equality, and freedom while creating a safer country and safer planet for this and future generations. |