Let's be clear:ÿ terrorism is a grave threat to the entire world, not just the United States.ÿEvery nation on the globe must be actively involved in combating terrorism, and, if it is to be defeated, cooperation is a must. Most citizens of the United States, regardless of political philosophy, know and understand this.ÿThe United States has the opportunity to play a unique role as a superpower. As shown by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, America has the resources to win a military showdown in the War on Terror, if necessary.ÿThat said, the War on Terror is more than a military conflict, and progress in it cannot be evaluated through body counts.ÿ Above all, the War or Terror is a battle of ideas, and the objective has to be preventing future attacks, not simply tit-for-tat retaliation.
ÿThe United States has become sloppy in its efforts to fight terrorism, and has allowed politics to overtake smart policy in its pursuit of the perpetrators of attacks worldwide.ÿPatriotism should never become political, yet in the United States, Republicans accuse Democrats of being "soft" when it comes to issues of defense, and of "emboldening the enemy" by criticizing President Bush and the Iraq war effort.ÿ Generally speaking, Democrats were supportive of the War on Terror until it went haywire in Iraq.ÿ Liberals and Democrats have a point when they suggest that we don't need to be in Iraq.ÿ
Although the United Nations is reviled by many conservatives and does have some significant problems with scandal and corruption (like most organizations), it was effective in hamstringing Saddam Hussein, and diminishing his ability to produce Weapons of Mass Destruction.ÿIf we want to win the War on Terror, we have to be committed to building strong alliances and network to catch terrorists before they strike, not afterwards.
ÿIn many ways, the United States was in deeper trouble than it realized when it came to terrorism.ÿAlthough America clearly did not attack itself on September 11, the nation has to bear a large portion of blame for the attacks, because decades of boneheaded and shortsighted Middle Eastern policies finally came back to haunt us.ÿ At one point, both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden were our allies.ÿWe sided with Hussein against enemy Iran, and with bin Laden against the hated Soviet Union.ÿToday, the United States has captured one man, and vowed to bring the other to justice "dead or alive".ÿThe United States has to take more than passing interest in Middle Eastern affairs, and care about more than the region's oil supply.ÿ
Because most of the West cared only about extracting oil and exploiting Middle Eastern leaders, a trail of destruction resulted.ÿ Terrorist organizations then turned destitution into an excellent recruitment tool. If we want to stop the Middle East from continuing to be a "breeding ground" for terror, then we have develop partnerships that take the long-term view of what's best for the United States and the region, not simply exploit the region for our benefit.ÿ Military force always has to be the last option considered.ÿ Worldwide, it is this approach, not a shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later approach, that is best for fighting terrorism.
ÿMost people in America also agree with President Bush that freedom is a gift from God.ÿ However, since when did "freedom" equate a Western-style liberal democracy and a capitalist free market?ÿ Democracy and the free market are not biblical concepts, but Western concepts.ÿ The two are not necessarily the best ways to run an economy and a nation.ÿ Although America has powerful ideals, we must be careful not to impose our values on other cultures.ÿA government being a monarchy or employing socialistic policies should not mean that the United States refuses to lend its support.
ÿThe United States must also not allow religious and racial biases to blind it in the War on Terror.ÿ Terrorism is a global problem, not a Middle Eastern problem.ÿIf we continue to assume that terrorism is tied only to Muslims and Arabs, then the nation will be in for a rude awakening when blond-haired, blue-eyed Christians attack.ÿ We must not allow ourselves to put racial and religious stereotypes on terror.
ÿIn this long struggle, the United States has to continue to protect its chief ideals:ÿ the protection of individual rights, and a respect for the rule of law.ÿThese two things make America distinctive from the rest of the world.ÿAlthough President Bush often claims that his duty is to protect the "homeland" and America's citizens, he swore in his Oath of Office to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."ÿEvery president must prosecute war in accordance with the law, and no president is above the law.ÿA domestic spying program that bypasses the law is unconstitutional, and runs contrary to our ideals. We can only win the War on Terror if we stay true to our ideals. But if we are willing to trample our ideals and limit our civil rights and liberties in order to preserve the homeland, how are we any better than our enemies?
Robert Idlett is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, and is a liberal columnist for the Eagle.
