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Oct. 12, 2004 It's true - the terrorists are winning. And they are being given a powerful helping hand by the current US political mindset. Think about what terrorists actually aim at, what is the meaning of the word 'terrorism'. A terrorist tries to achieve political ends not by force or compulsion, but by terrifying his enemies into complying with his wishes. So Bin Laden is not mounting an invasion and taking over, he and his friends are merely trying to frighten you into taking them seriously. And - guess what - they are succeeding. Ask yourself if you feel safer now than you did 5 years ago? Ask yourself if you would have put up with the current level of airport security? Or the intrusive powers of the Homeland Security thought police? If you thought the President would ever brag about invading a country on the mistaken premise that they might be dangerous at some time in the future? If you would have reacted with indifference if you heard that the US Government is arresting foreigners, allowing them to be tortured, caging and 'stressing' them, keeping them secretly locked up indefinitely OUTSIDE THE LAW? If your answer is 'I don't like those things but sometimes the Government has to do them', then the terrorists have gained a victory over you personnally. They have frightened you into accepting something you would not have accepted before. Sad, isn't it? I lived through some of the troubles in Northen Ireland (incidently funded largely with US money) when the real fear of being blown up or shot made normal people live in fear every day. The terrorists certainly achieved their ends then. Every one of us made compromises to keep safe, and there were armed troops everywhere. Thank God, that conflict has gone off the boil. Not because of any 'War on Terror' (imagine Bush helping out on that one!). It petered out because the UK Government managed to keep things more or less controlled while people found different ways to live. And then - after around 30 years - the terrorists got old and bored, and took to politics instead. In fact, they seem to have been defeated by time and indifference to their threat - people just lived around them. What are the lessons for the current situation? I would guess - don't treat the terrorists too seriously. Keep fighting them through intelligence, good international police work and putting a spoke in their wheel when ever you can. But above all, don't be too frightened. Don't let them rule you. Travel if you want to. And don't ever let them drive you into throwing the rule of law out of the window. The Homeland Security edifice is Bin Laden's proudest monument. Much prouder than crashing planes and killing people. ------------ About the author: Eric lives in tropical Queensland and writes books - some naughty, some nice - that can be found through Renaissance eBooks (renebooks.com) He reads widely and when he is not thinking about lunch, worries about the state of the world. Email: ericge@westnet.com.au Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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