Thursday, July 07, 2005
Proper Response to Bombings
As the headlines began to roll in early this morning, one thing became clear. Great Britain still has that Winston Churchill bravado. While Spain responded with fear, Britain responded with strength. The pictures and comment from the streets of London held an eery resemblance to the New York City scene of September Eleventh. Blair's words were strong, though his voice was shaken, but far and above the national leaders, the local leaders were strong. As I listened to the mayor of London, Ken Linvingston, I could not help but think of the leadership of Rudy Giulianni in the recovery process.
Since that day, the politicians in the USA have gone back to their partisan ways, but for a brief glance, we saw the strength and resolve to avenge and defeat terrorists from both sides of the isle. I have no doubt that the same response will come from Britain. The politics of globalization and socialism are the main vein of thought across Europe, but when it comes to the war on terrorism, the USA (strongly opposed to globalization and wholesale socialism) and Britain can agree that terrorism must be defeated.
I read a troubling article in a back issue of Reader's Digest. It had been written after terrorists bombed Pan Am flight 183 over Lockerbe, Scotland. It's comment was also eerily relevant to the bombings of the past ten years. It named names of terrorist leaders and outlined a plan of attack directly coinciding with the Bush plan. It talked of plans to capture leaders, freeze financial assets, and invade states who sponsor terrorists. The latter plan is the most controversial. However, we must remember that terrorism, and specifically bombing civilian targets, has been a way of life for decades in the Middle East. The larger inter tribal and religious warfare has been in place for centuries. The active governments in these areas operate within this culture. Though Osama Bin Laden needs to be brought to justice, his capture will not destroy the culture of tyrrany and terrorism in the Middle East. It is through projects like the current government in Iraq that permanent positive change will take place. As people realize freedom, the terrorists will become irrelevant as an impetus for social control. The rule of law will become far more important. Thus, as Britain strengthens its position with the USA in the War on Terror as a response to today's bombing, the terrorists will see the "hand writing on the wall" and know that their upscaled activity will ultimately result in their demise.
Since that day, the politicians in the USA have gone back to their partisan ways, but for a brief glance, we saw the strength and resolve to avenge and defeat terrorists from both sides of the isle. I have no doubt that the same response will come from Britain. The politics of globalization and socialism are the main vein of thought across Europe, but when it comes to the war on terrorism, the USA (strongly opposed to globalization and wholesale socialism) and Britain can agree that terrorism must be defeated.
I read a troubling article in a back issue of Reader's Digest. It had been written after terrorists bombed Pan Am flight 183 over Lockerbe, Scotland. It's comment was also eerily relevant to the bombings of the past ten years. It named names of terrorist leaders and outlined a plan of attack directly coinciding with the Bush plan. It talked of plans to capture leaders, freeze financial assets, and invade states who sponsor terrorists. The latter plan is the most controversial. However, we must remember that terrorism, and specifically bombing civilian targets, has been a way of life for decades in the Middle East. The larger inter tribal and religious warfare has been in place for centuries. The active governments in these areas operate within this culture. Though Osama Bin Laden needs to be brought to justice, his capture will not destroy the culture of tyrrany and terrorism in the Middle East. It is through projects like the current government in Iraq that permanent positive change will take place. As people realize freedom, the terrorists will become irrelevant as an impetus for social control. The rule of law will become far more important. Thus, as Britain strengthens its position with the USA in the War on Terror as a response to today's bombing, the terrorists will see the "hand writing on the wall" and know that their upscaled activity will ultimately result in their demise.
