Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The War on Terrorism, Taliban and Al Qaida


The war against Taliban, Al Qaida and any such anti-organization, will never end, until and unless we accept the reality of who they really are and what are their goals. This is so because it not a war for land, property or any tangible property. It is a war of a twisted ideology, misinformation and lack of or warped education and knowledge. For us to effectively get a grip on this situation, we have to get some facts straight.

· Those who are wreaking havoc, carrying out acts of terrorism, disrupting communities and countries, are not acting in accordance with the teachings of Islam, or for that matter, any religion.

· Their behavior and actions are not synonymous with those associated with the term “Muslim”.

· The press and media in their quest for sensationalism, possibly unintentionally, promote the cause of the terrorists and afford them free and unworthy advertising of their cause, especially when they are labeled as Islamic terrorists or Islamic fundamentalists.

· Whenever the words “Islam” or “Muslim” are used, automatically the uneducated and ill informed, are sympathetic and accepts the actions of groups to whom such labels are assigned.

· The mainstream and vast majority of “Muslims” do not subscribe to the thinking of those mentioned above nor are they in agreement with their teachings, philosophy or actions. They are in fact normal citizens with the same aspirations, norms, fears and desire for a normal life for themselves and their families. They are also subject to the same fears and threats.

· The above mentioned have to be more vocal in their condemnation of terrorism and have to actively propagate the true principles of Islam. They have to be able to discern truth from falsehood, especially when it is coming for the “Leadership”

· Muslims have to be able to question the rhetoric of their leaders, without fear of recrimination, when they show support for the terrorists, their, teachings or causes.

To overcome them the normal rules of combat, attack and engagement cannot be the same as used for conventional armies, dissidents or enemies. Their value system and thinking are not those of civilized societies. Therefore the rules of civilized societies and peoples cannot be applied to them. If that is done the battle is lost.