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To: New York Times <letters@nytimes.com> Re: If we are to defeat terrorism Date: Thu, 13 September 2001 |
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Dear Sir/Madam, I’m a European through and through and want nothing more than for America and the West to win the battle against Islamic terrorism. However, I am quite sure that we have absolutely no chance of success unless we take an honest look at our own part in creating or supporting the political and economic injustices that generate the hate on which such terrorism feeds. The victims of these recent, terrible acts of war were innocent indeed, but not American economic and foreign policies, against which they were directed. Until we face up to our own share of culpability the problem is going to get worse and worse. As time goes by there will be an increasing threat of chemical, biological and even nuclear terrorist attack, and in trying to protect ourselves we will be in danger of transforming our free societies into police states. As so often in the past, both sides are convinced that they have God on their side, and as usual neither side does. If God is really on our side, He will give us the strength and humility to look for, discover and correct our own faults and culpability. That does not mean that we should not go after the terrorists - who surely have the Devil himself on their side - at the same time. But if we are to defeat them, we must recognise our own share of the blame. Otherwise, after destroying one batch of terrorists, others will simply follow ad infinitum. |