M14 Shooter said:
I just GOTTA ask...
-What is the "root cause" of terrorism;
-What is the "long term solution" to terrorism?
Outstanding questions....
1)
Root Cause - The
Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 by Hassan al Banna and the vast majority of terrorists are members, however most Radicals are not. The majority of Islamic Radicals are "
the sea from which the terrorists swim" and are revered. The cancer of Radical Islam grows where socio-economic conditions are poor; governments are repressive and unable to provide essential social services, such as providing adequate oversight of their educational system….or have allowed / sanctioned Radical Islamic curricula. Islamic fundamentalism has given an aim and form to the otherwise aimless and formless resentment and anger of the Muslim masses at the forces that have devalued their traditional values and loyalties and, in the final analysis, robbed them of their beliefs, their aspirations, their dignity, and to an increasing extent even their livelihood. Frustrated by the complete inability to exert any discernible degree of control over their immediate circumstances, frustrated adherents of Radical Islam, goaded by Radical Islamic Clerics, will resort to terrorism as the only avenue to effect religious, social, political, and economic change.
2)
Short Term Solution - Radical Islam is a precursor to terrorism. It lays the ideological and religious foundation for Islamic-inspired violence and, as such, represents a long-term threat to the national security of the United States of America. The ongoing Global War on Terrorism targets the current generation of terrorists; however, unless the ideology that spawned them is also countered the long-term threat to the U.S. will exponentially grow with time.
3)
Long Term Solution - Note...Some of these are active operations and some are general sentiments of the intel community.
a - Acknowledge the threat posed by Radical Islam.
b - We are not targeting Islam, just the Radical Islamists – we better say so.
c - Support the moderate voices (indirectly).
d - Focus our efforts on the long term enemy = the creation of more Radical Islamists.
e - Garner worldwide support for this effort…..and at least engage in the IO war more aggressively. Counter Al Jazeera and like Radical Islamic media….without appearing to do so.
f - Designate DOS (Department of State) as lead agency against countering Radical Islam.
g - Following recognition of the threat – fund the programs necessary to counter it.
h - Reorganize foreign assistance funding and efforts creating DOS “Regional Directors” that actually control assets = Reorganize DOS along Geographical vice Functional Lines (much like DoD Combatant CDRs).
i - Review Current Foreign Policy Focusing on Taking the Political Ammunition Away From the Radical Extremists.
j - Resolve Israeli / Palestinian and Indian / Pakistani disputes.
k - We must succeed in both Afghanistan and Iraq….and ensure these are perceived as successes in the Muslim world.
l - Counter Radical Islamic Media = Counter Al Jazeera and like Radical Islamic media….without appearing to do so.
m - Reestablish funding for cultural outreach programs cut following end of “Cold War.”
n - Give voice to moderate Islamic leaders (indirectly).
o - Support Programs Dedicated to Providing Educational Reform in Threatened Countries. (The official Saudi newspaper, Ain Al-Yaqeen, described royal expenditures on “education” as “astronomical.” (Mar 2002) They built 1500 mosques, 202 colleges, and 2000 Muslim schools. These were established throughout non-Islamic countries in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Asia.
None in the Middle East.)
p - Governments with strong governmental oversight over the education of their young must be rewarded; likewise those that do not provide such oversight must be punished.
q - AT HOME = Constitutional / Legal Review of activities surrounding fundamentalist religions that pose a domestic threat, – we face a new threat and our legal system is ill equipped to handle it. (Many Americans would rather recognize their freedom to preach hate a spit venom above protecting their own asses from the repercussions of it.)
More problems in the MENA Region....
- The populations within the next 25 years…
Egypt’s population will increase by 38%
Jordan’s by 67%
Syria’s by 58%
Saudi Arabia’s by 94%
Pakistan’s by 69%, and
Israel’s by 39%
- Decreasing Fresh Water Supplies: MENA region faces precipitous decrease in per capita fresh water supply.
- Economic doldrums / disaster: Regional unemployment for ages 15-35 = 40%…and growing. ….mostly males….who can’t afford to get married……...
- No known solutions to these problems, save one = Jihad.
Only democracies have shown agility to deal with such problems. In the absence of answers victims will look for scapegoats. Radical Islamic clerics provide the scapegoat for the problems facing the Arab/Islamic world. "Their problems are the fault of the West, specifically the US." (How many of you out there feed into their blame game?) Either we find a way to support the affected countries in finding their own solutions to these problems or our sons and daughters will be fighting another, protracted fight.
