Arrogance, Politics, and the American Way

In the wake of September 11, 2001 the world changed. We've been hearing that from the respected media so often that it seems like a mantra from the latest new-age religion. The seemingly senseless act of terrorism which deprived so many of their lives has lit the fires of war. Mars' dogs are straining at the leash, ready to be loosed on whomever we deign responsible. It is likely that Afghanistan will be our battleground. This decision is of questionable merit; military giants from Alexander the Great to the Soviet Union have attempted to take the Afghani homeland and all have failed. Afghanistan is a rabbit's warren of mountains and caves populated by the most defeated and broken people in the world. They will fight vigorously against any invader for possession of the rubble. This also begs the question: has the US become a modern Rome? Do we seek to punish the Afghanis in the same manner that the Romans punished the Carthaginians during the Punic wars? Afghanistan presents no great battleground poised to grant us a Zama-like triumph. A much closer analogy for this conflict would be Vietnam: no clear enemy, no local support, and no victory. Anti-American sentiment, already sown in this fertile soil will reap its most bountiful harvest, and that crop will spread through the region like nothing ever seen.

What then, is the course that we must take? Surely military action must be taken for us to remain in our position as the leader of the free world. There is no clear course for policy makers to espouse. The prospect of a large scale ground conflict is unpleasant, assassination would be difficult and probably elevate Bin Laden to martyr status. We could revert to our 60's style 'topple the unfriendly government' policy, but that's partly to blame for our bad standing in the region in the first place. What will guide us in this decision? Patience and understanding. Patience must be exercised above all. We must give the rage and hatred time to dissipate and make the military decisions when we are wholy rational. Second, we must seek to understand Islam and Islamic law, so that we can better manage our relations with the countries where Islamic law is the law. We must understand the reasons for the hatred that caused this terrible attack, and not just attempt to solve the symptoms. For the very moment we crush Osama Bin Laden, another will rise up to take his place. This war is not one that can be one with ordinance of the military sort. It must be fought on the international and public front. A first step would be to ease our support of Israel and begin to view the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in a more balanced manner. We must also follow sound economic policy and attempt to better the economic conditions in Palestine. People who actually have something to loose think twice before they will undertake actions that might cause them to loose it. In time the Taliban will moderate, even as the process has begun in Iran. If not, history has shown that they will be toppled. If the best choice is that we provide more humanitarian aid to the Afghanis than that decision, rather than a more emotionally satisfying one should be made. Sometimes helping your potential enemy to stand after a big fall is a better aid to your cause than kicking him when he's down.