Why The War on Terror Cannot Be Won

That’s it then. We’ve got the blessing of the UN, and so we’re going into Iraq to remove a tyrant, free the world of terror, and to bring peace and democracy to those persecuted by Saddam. But will this bring about the end of terrorism? No. Sustained bombing and propaganda will not win the war against terror. After their homes have been destroyed, their sons killed in the fighting, and Saddam has been removed, many will still hate America.

George Bush, however, is wrong to say that they hate what America truly stands for. The people of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, and others long for peace, prosperity, liberty and freedom. But the America they see stands for none of these things. To them, it is arrogant, selfish, self interested, even provocative, and the comments of many of our leaders support these ideas. We must not forget that this is not a war between two nations, but one between nations and extremists. If we allow extremists on our side to take over, it will become even more destructive. While Al Jazerra broadcasts a tape from Osama Bin Laden claiming this is a war against Islam, CBS is interviewing men who say that ‘Islam is an evil religion’, and flouting their belief that ‘ Mohammed was a Terrorist’. Words such as these only galvanize the Iraqis, and others, against us.

This is not a crusade, nor is it a Jihad, and we should not forget this. The notion that America and it’s allies are against the Muslim world is furthered by the it’s continued support of Israel. No matter who is to blame for the bloodshed, it is American military aid that bulldozes Palestinian homes, and kills without trial alleged terrorists. There are terrorists among them, people whose frustration has boiled over to the point of using their lives in self-defense, but for the Israelis to punish all Palestinians, with the perceived support of America, is wrong.

Currently, Iran is in a dilemma. As the world squares up for war in Iraq, a choice has to be made. To side with Iraq would be unthinkable; Iranian civilians bear the horrific burns and scars of Saddam’s chemical weapons from the 1989 war. However, supporting America would be almost as incomprehensible. They have not forgotten that during that war, America supported Saddam Hussein, even as he murdered his own people, and that America branded it an ‘axis’ of evil, even when they were ready for cooperation.

What George Bush needs to realize is that the war he fights is not a conventional war, and so cannot be fought the conventional way. We cannot win against the terrorists, lest we rid the world of evil, rooting out all that would take up arms against the US, and such attempts will be futile. Remove the reasons for terrorism, remove this evil hatred of America and it’s allies, and you will remove the terrorists. Take away the causes, and the truly evil ones, who have no political or religious motives, will be isolated. They will have no desperate or disenfranchised young people to recruit, and terrorist organizations will wither and die. And then, and only then, we will have won the war against terrorism.