War Without End

This is what policymakers around the world have known for decades. You don't combat terrorism in the same way that you would combat a conventional enemy on the battleground by invading their country and outgunning them... what President Bush likes to call "shock and awe". Terrorism isn't a country, it's not a distinct group of people, it's not located in one convenient location waiting for us to come and blow it all to hell... terrorism is an idea, as is fundamentalist extremism. It's not physically possible to bomb an idea into submission. You could, for the sake of argument, kill all of the people who share an extreme ideology. Unfortunately, anti-Americanism crosses all borders and ethnicities across the globe and is steadily increasing every year. Yes, the most extreme elements of this anti-Americanism could probably be traced to the Middle East; an area that includes over 15 nations. Either we invade all of them, or we just kill all of the bad people in Iraq and create a stable democracy there that will become a role model and a 'beacon of hope' for the rest of the region. Two very reasonable and realistic options, no?

It is, however, possible to have the opposite intended effect in confronting a broad, undefinable extremism that crosses all borders and nationalities with unilateral military action. Terrorism and extremism are both primarily fueled by hatred. What is the worst thing you could possibly do to make someone hate you with a passion? That's right, BOMB THEIR COUNTRY! (... broadly insulting their religion as evil is also very useful) In other words: bombing, invading, and occupying countries = More Terrorists.

I sometimes wonder if the Bush Administration (particularly Cheney) is really aware of the ineffectiveness of their foreign policies, but still allow them to continue. Why, you say? War costs money. Specifically your money. Who's getting that money? Defense contractors have seen steadily rising profits in every sector since 9/11. War against a broad, undefinable ideology is a great way to make money, for a couple of different reasons:

• There's no threat of it ever ending.
• Money is made by the manufacture of weapons, and therefor, by the destruction of the 'enemy's' infrastructure.
• Rebuilding that infrastructure (so that it can be bombed all over again) costs money; money that's pocketed (at a profit) by private contractors.

It's the perfect new economy. Disaster capitalism at it's finest.

A new report released by a think-tank in Britain today is making the tired, old claim that us unpatriotic liberals have been screaming for years. That the War On Terrorism is actually fueling Al Qaeda and terrorism around the world instead of suppressing it. Here it is, via Yahoo.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Six years after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the "war on terror" is failing and instead fueling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements, a British think-tank said on Monday.

A report by the Oxford Research Group (ORG) said a "fundamental re-think is required" if the global terrorist network is to be rendered ineffective."If the al Qaeda movement is to be countered, then the roots of its support must be understood and systematically undercut," said Paul Rogers, the report's author and professor of global peace studies at Bradford University in northern England.

"Combined with conventional policing and security measures, al Qaeda
can be contained and minimized but this will require a change in policy at every level."He described the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq as a "disastrous mistake" which had helped establish a "most valued jihadist combat training zone" for al Qaeda supporters.

The report -- Alternatives to the War on Terror -- recommended the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq coupled with intensive diplomatic engagement in the region, including with Iran and Syria.

In Afghanistan, Rogers also called for an immediate scaling down of military activities, an injection of more civil aid and negotiations with militia groups aimed at bringing them into the political process.

If such measures were adopted it would still take "at least 10 years to make up for the mistakes made since 9/11."

"Failure to make the necessary changes could result in the war on terror lasting decades," the report added.Rogers also warned of a drift toward conflict with Iran. "Going to war with Iran," he said, "will make matters far worse, playing directly into the hands of extreme elements and adding greatly to the violence across the region. Whatever the problems with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs."