How can we combat the threat of terrorism?

Published July 27, 2010 in Short Answers by Mary Ruwart

Question

How should we combat the threat of terrorism that based upon radical interpretations of Islam?

Answer

Perhaps we should combat these terrorists the same way that we earlier combated monarchy: by example. Once the European nations saw the prosperity of the United States, they sought to imitate us by eliminating or marginalizing their monarchies in favor of a representative system of government. We never fired a shot.

The three reasons that bin Laden gave in declaring war on the U.S. in 1998 were very similar to the ones behind the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In both cases, we aided the enemies of the attacking nation (Israel and China, respectively). The U.S. established an embargo, which most nations consider an act of war, against both Japan and Iraq. Before Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy provocatively and deliberately invaded the territorial waters of Japan. Prior to 9/11, bin Laden complained bitterly about U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Certain actions provoke attack, and don't increase our safety. Perhaps we should consider refraining from them in the future.

Both Saddam and bin Laden were heavily funded by the U.S. as an inducement to fight enemies we considered more dangerous (the Ayatollah and the Russians, respectively). Perhaps we should stop arming unscrupulous men in the belief that we can control them.

After World War II, we made Japan our trading partner. Attacking each other now would be unthinkable and economically devastating. Perhaps we should encourage interdependency with the Islamic nations with trade rather than embargoes.

Read more of Dr. Mary Ruwart's responces to tough questions in her book Short Answers to the Tough Questions.