How can we win the war on terror?

Question

Our government seems oblivious to the fact that many Middle Easterners do not see the huge difference between our actions and those of the terrorists. They think there is some moral equivalency. When our soldiers are attacked, they say we're just reaping what we sow.

How can we get these people to understand that we are trying to promote freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights so that they can have a better life? Why can't they get it through their heads that we WANT to leave these countries as soon as they are strong enough to sustain, govern, and police themselves?

Thanks for so many great responses. Read this website. Let me know if it changes your opinion of winning the war.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,343378,00.html

To: Umut Yakar
I was in Alanya (Antalya) Turkey in 2004. It was absolutely beautiful. Perfect weather, perfect ocean and beach. Good food. Turkish people are #1 in my book!

I am getting some GOOD responses.
To: fenrisl0k1 - You say, "It's impossible to force people to stop using any and all means of preserving their freedom". I think you are missing the point. Terrorists aren't defending freedom! Their countries are already democratic; they just don't want to participate in the political process. They are Islama-fascists who want total control.

I also can't agree that "left to their own devices" they will suddenly learn to love freedom. They are like a huge truck stuck in the mud of the Amazon rainforest. They can't extricate themselves without help.

Answer 1

In past wars that we've won, we fought to win. This is not now the case. Until we've utterly demoralized the enemy, they see a worthwhile fight.

It would also be helpful if Congress actually declared war; they haven't. So, all of their second-guessing -- that emboldens the enemies and demoralizes us & our military -- is doubly cowardice.

Answer 2

Can't be done. The War on Terror is a marketing phrase designed to group together every possible action against every possible person or group who might want to hurt the US.

And that's un-winnable. Why? Because there will also be people who want to hurt others. They used to be called criminals and bandits. Now they're called terrorists.

You say that many foreigners think the US is no different than the terrorist governments it's attacked. I've got news for you. Many Americans don't think the US government is much different than than the terrorist governments it has attacked. Tyrants think they can invade other countries just because they don't like the way they're being run. Tyrants think they are above the law, and that the courts have no authority over them. Tyrants think that civil liberties can be cast aside if they get in the way of political agendas. And tyrants think that they can use torture, fear and hatred to accomplish what they want, regardless of the consequences. And the US has done every one of those things in the past five years. So, no wonder people equate us with terrorists.

No rational person is going to believe the US wants to promote freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. Especially not when we condone torture, stifle the press, trample on civil liberties, ignore our own Constitution, and call anyone who dares to question these actions an enemy of the state.

Not to mention, what right does the US have to invade another country, topple its government and force it to adopt our particular way of running things? If your answer is "because we can", then you understand the point I'm making.

{Edit} The asker commented that my answer is cynical. It wasn't not meant to be. Rather it was specific to the question. Had the question been, "Can we accomplish things in the Middle East?" or "Will the US efforts in Iraq prove beneficial?" my answer would have been different. Yes, we can make progress. Yes, eventually the efforts made will likely help Iraq, and quite possibly many other countries in the region.

Will the so-called "War on Terror" ever be over? Not unless and until the US declares it's over. Why? Because there is no other single side, nobody who can surrender, no one force that if defeated would result in victory. The War on Terror, as a grand global campaign, can only be won by having nobody left to fight. That's what I meant by my answer.

Answer 3

Remember the War on Drugs? Or the War on Crime? Or maybe the Prohibition aka War on Drink? None of these wars were won, because none of them could be won. In fact, each of them left their government (the US) bloodied and disgraced.

Any war on a concept like terrorism is doomed from the declaration. It's impossible to force people to stop using any and all means of preserving their freedom, and the attempt often produces much more violence than before.

Trying to use force against such a broad idea is doomed to overreaching. Instead of going merely after Osama bin Laden, we went further after the Taliban, then Saddam Hussein, now we're thinking of going after Iran and Syria and North Korea. Before long, if we don't quit this misguided "war", we'd find ourselves fighting the whole world.

Specifically in Iraq/Afganistan, the resistance doesn't believe that the United States or anyone else has good intentions. They have experience with imperialists similar to the US for the past two centuries, who promised peace and prosperity but delivered only more war, oppression, and theft of natural resources. They feel that their very culture is threatened by Western interference, that what works for us won't work for them. Their way is their own way, and we have no right to tell them how to treat themselves. We wouldn't want anybody trying to force us to change ourselves, either.

The only way these peoples can become peaceful is if they are left to their own devices. Eventually, the people will get tired of whatever home-grown dictatorship/whatever is keeping them down and tear it down themselves, as what eventually happened in the Soviet Bloc and is happening (slowly) in China. Our attempts to keep peace and maintain the status quo, as we had attempted in Africa for the last half-century, is only going to cover the problem and let the wounds fester longer. Let them make war on each other and themselves; they'll learn the hard lessons of how to make a peaceful country in their own way, but it's the only true way, and they'll be stronger, freer, and all while staying themselves.

Answer 4

The moral equivalence is a flawed concept of middle easterners and Americans alike. There are millions of people in this country who believe that Osama bin Laden has the same moral standing as their own family members, their neighbors, their friends, and even themselves.

The best way to get on the track to winning is not to convince people over there. The only way to convince people over there is to fight the war on the terms of al-Queda and other anti-Westerners. This is exactly what we are doing right now. We are fighting on their terms, not ours.

Another flaw on our side of the equation is that we make decisions based on allegations of prisoners (i.e. SCOTUS decision on Gitmo).

Simply put: We must prove allegations are true before consideration, we must acknowledge our enemies did not sign onto the Geneva Accord, and the Generals on the fields of the Middle East must have more of their input acknowledged by the stuffed suits in Washington.

Answer 5

The problem of US people is actually lies on the fact that they strongly believe what they are given by means of media without questioning the reliability or correctness of the news. Be sure that "these people" sincerely understands what your government is willing to do and are very sorry that the world seems very different from USA than the Middle East.

In fact we will unfortunately have the problem of terror, as we continue to call people from other parts of the worlds as "these people". Discrimination in this perspective is the actual source of terror in today's world.

The war against on terror can only be won when we actually understand "these people" and not expect them to understand us.

Answer 6

Look back upon our civil war in America, it was a challenging time for we were fighting for our beliefs of the North and South. Even though the north won the southern ways still prosiest. How long ago has the war ended? Do you see what I'm trying to say? Even tho you win a war you may never win the battle for ones views of life.

Answer 7

i really like the first answer that man knows what he's talking about!!
way to go sir!!! i hope more people start to realize the size of this disaster we as humans are facing!! the world is ran by the most evil and most powerful people and they will not rest until they reduce the world's population by 80% by creating wars and terrorism.

Answer 8

middle east has long history of political oppression freedom of its people being curbed power being held by super rich clerks only with time they will understand the values of freedom

Answer 9

In my opinion, there will never be a victory on either side. We will have to be on alert forever as other countries will have to be. This is not a temporary or 'fixable' problem. All we can hope to do is contain it.

Answer 10

You have more chance of winning a war on dandruff then you do a war on terror