Legal, illegal terrorism!

 The after effects of the recent terrorist attacks on the United states have stretched beyond envisaged proportions. Over 6000 lives were lost, property worth millions was damaged and U.S. markets chalked up their biggest weekly loss since the Great Depression in the 1930s on growing fears of a worsening economy and a long war on terrorism. According to quoted financial sources, the total investor losses of $6800 billion since stocks peaked in March 2000 are equivalent roughly to the combined economies of Japan, Germany and France. 

Thousands have meanwhile lost their jobs, airlines are complaining of fewer passengers, businesses have collapsed, the entertainment and tourism sector of the U.S. is in difficulty, flight restrictions are in place for certain areas, crop-duster planes have been stopped or restricted and some airlines have postponed new aircraft purchases. Countries receiving aid from the USA can expect a drop in aid while the country braces to fight terrorism and rebuilds or replaces its damaged infrastructure.

The pecuniary aspect is only one point of view to the problems. Other aspects have touched almost everybody living in the U.S. while ripples have been felt worldwide. In Tanzania for example, President Mkapa was called upon to travel to the UK for an urgent session with a few head of States and the FBI has given local police the names of 60 suspects. Security at the Dar es Salaam International Airport has also been tightened.

In the U.S. important occasions have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely and many have developed aviophobia, a fear of flying. Many of those working in skyscrapers are experiencing acrophobia, saying that they fear a plane might suddenly emerge out of the horizon. This fear and for future security, one can expect future skylines to be lowered.  

American Olympic track and field star, Marion Jones is among those suffering from aviophobia. She was scheduled to speak at a College function that was to bestow on her the title of ‘Woman of substance’. Following the attacks, she expressed reluctance to travel and immediately drew the wrath of some observers who opined, “the real women, and men, of substance are those who do not so readily surrender to terrorists. They defy terrorists by resuming their lives. They do not change travel plans; as investors, they show faith in this country and refuse to contribute to market panic.”

 After the attacks, Muslims and Indians, particularly Sikhs in the U.S., Australia and other European countries also suffered despite President Bush reiterating that the fight is not against Muslims but against terrorism. Over 500 reports of anti-Muslim discrimination, including three deaths, followed the terrorist attack in the U.S. alone. In one incident last Thursday in Minneapolis, the Northwest Airlines asked three or four people of Iranian descent to get off a plane because crew and passengers were uncomfortable with them.  The Airline defended itself saying that security rules allowed the airline to re-accommodate passengers if their presence made other passengers uncomfortable. The airline’s statement has been a subject of growing criticism because it deprived civic liberties to the three passengers.

 What the terrorists have done is horrific. Yet conventional warfare is not going to bring the enemy down. If the enemy is Osman bin Laden, getting him could well be a problem as he may well be living with the Afghan refugees in one of the country’s borders. If the objective is to wipe out terrorist camps in Afghanistan, the question arises: what sophisticated weapons or facilities do these camps have to justify an attack that could well lead to the loss of many civilians?

 Mark Twain, the writer, was once asked what he thought could be done about a terrible new weapon that had been developed, the submarine. It’s simple, he said, “Boil the ocean”. But, an enquirer wanted to know, “how do you boil the ocean?” Twain responded that while he had provided the solution, others would have to provide details.

 This is not different from the situation that the United States faces in its declared war against terrorism? The solution is to make terrorist operations impossible in the United States and elsewhere but how do you do that? Can this war be waged without creating thousands more terrorists? Will the American people be patient, through ups and downs? To what extent will the proposed additional internal security measures infringe on civic liberties? Does America want the terrorists to undermine its constitution that talks of a free society and if no, how can a free society guard against thousands of possible terrorist contingencies?

 Right now, an amazing amount of energy is being put to make air travel safe but isn’t it likely that terrorists will employ some other means besides aircraft if they strike again? Agreed, a new Cabinet level position has been created to fight terrorism but how can it possibly look under every rock?

 A better way of bringing down the terrorists worldwide is to freeze their funds. Here an accountant working in a back room with a personal ledger of suspects can be more valuable than a soldier randomly firing the enemy! Moreso dialogue should be sought with those harbouring the perpetrators with some form of evidence being provided to justify their extradition. Such dialogue would be easier if random killings of innocent civilians in other wars are brought to a stop because that is tantamount to legalising terrorism in the name of war.