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JUST THE FAQs
"What Can We Do About This?"
by H. David Blalock
It is only natural that we, as citizens of the most powerful nation on earth, feel we can solve this situation through some action of our own. Unfortunately, we cannot because of the fact that our very existence is the reason. There can be no end to this without destroying either ourselves or the opposition.
There are those who insist we can solve the problem of terrorism by simply trying to understand the enemy, or by making them understand we are not their enemy. This is naivete at its very worst.
The only effective response to terrorism is war.
Terrorism is, in itself, warfare. Defined as violence against non-combatants for the purpose of gaining political power, terrorism is the worst kind of war. Its purpose is to force the enemy into an untenable position, forcing them to surrender to demands that would otherwise never be considered. This type of leverage is especially useful against democratic societies, where the political power infrastructure can be manipulated more easily by individual acts. In other, less populist forms of government, terrorism is less likely to produce the desired changes.
Past efforts to stop terrorism and bring peace to the Middle East have nearly always failed. With the single instance of the Egyptian-Israeli treaty, which is effectively moot since Egyptian nationals simply join terrorist organizations to wage war on Israel, no lasting treaty has been reached between Israel and any Arab state. The Israeli-Jordan peace treaty of 1994 has been continually ignored by both sides. The armistice between Israel and Syria of 1949 is a faded memory. Since diplomatic action has produced no significant change in the situation since 1948, military action is the only option remaining. Israel recognized this decades ago and does not hesitate to use military measures in its response to terrorism. Until 9/11, the United States had been squeamish about Israel's attitude. No longer.
America is not helpless in the face of continued terrorist threat. We need not be bogged down in continued, endless debate about how to proceed. In 1996, the United States passed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. In this Act, the U.S. defined what constitutes a terrorist organization, a terrorist sponsor, and what can be done against them. Measures include freezing of financial assets, legal prosecution, fine and imprisonment. It prohibits assistance to terrorist states, demands restitution for victims, and provides guidelines for the removal of alien terrorists from the country. The definition of biochemical, conventional, and nuclear terrorism is specifically addressed, as well as guidance in counter-terrorism. Modifications to U.S. law as dealing with terrorists are listed, including extended punishments for international terrorism and expanded use of the death penalty. A rewards system is established for information leading to the apprehension of terrorists.
Using resources already available, America can rise to this occasion immediately and effectively. Military, legal, and diplomatic forces can be brought to bear dwarfing anything that has gone before. Not since World War II will there have been such wide-reaching conflict. There is never likely to be anything similar to this again.
It is entirely possible that the United States, alone and unaided, can bring an end to all terrorism. It is simply a matter of how far we are willing to go and how much pressure we are willing to bring to bear.
For further reading:
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (Enrolled Bill):
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c104:S.735.ENR:
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JUST THE FAQs: "What kind of attacks can we expect?"
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