What do you believe is the most effective way to combat terrorists?

Answer 1

Someone asked this question a few days ago. I'll just repeat what I said then.

To fight terrorism, several things would need to be done differently.

First, nations would have to stop viewing terrorists as criminals and start treating them as soldiers. You can not fight terrorism by threating to press criminal charges in a courtroom. Group leaders must be located and killed. Not located and arrested. Can you imagine what the result would have been if during World War 2 allied nations issued arrest warrents for Hitler and tried to arrest him rather than fight him.

Second: Stabalize Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether or not you believe the US and other countries should have invaded is moot. The fact is they did and if they pulled out before the coutries are stabalized it would make a bad situation worse. The current difficulties in bringing order to these nations can be put at the feet of the civilian leadership. If we look at the first Gulf War, we saw a coalition force of over 500,000 soldiers move into Iraq. Even with that many troops, the leadership at the time realized it was not enough to constitue an effective occupying force, and as such no attempt was made to become an occupying force. We look at the situation now, we see the military being forced to trying to secure an are with less than 150,000 troops when earlier leadership was unwilling to do the same with a much larger force.

Third: Commit to economic and education reforms in countries that currently breed terrorists. As great the difference between a poor person and rich person is in the West, the difference is much greater in developing nations. Poverty breeds discontent. Discontent breed violence. Education reforms are just as important. An education helps people make a better life for themselves in general, thus lessening any discontent. In the case of the Middle East, it is important that tolerance for others be reinforced. There is a great tendency in the region to think of anyone not Muslim as inferior. This is reinforced in the schools and madrassas. Even in Saudi Arabia, a supposedly devloped nation, this view of nonMuslims is being inferior is reinforced.

Fourth: Industrialized nations need to find a way to remove thier dependancy on forgien oil. As long as nations are dependant on this oil, the governments are forced into attempts to manipulate politics in the regio in such a way to secure that oil source. Granted, not all terrorism is born out of oil producing nations, but a great percentage does. Think on how the polictial atmosphere would be in the Middle East if no one was interested in the oil deposits.

The war on terrorism is a war that must be fought by all countries. No one nation, no matter how powerful can win this fight alone. Every nation needs to be involved, and that will be the most difficult aspect of the war. Too many countries have too many different agendas most at odds with each other. This disunity exists not just between nations, but within individual nations as well. Too many politicians are interested in obtaining power whatever the cost in money, lives, or global security. This is a fact that I think every country has to deal with.

I was always of the opinion that there is no room for government in politics and no room for politics in goverment.

Answer 2

why is it that when there is a question about terrorist you all think about muslims? Thats very stereotypical of you all. Nearly every answer is about muslims. It sad. Many governments have used terrorism since before everyone on this site was even born. It was used before the U.S. was even concieved. So why is it always muslims or arabs? Not to mention the CIA has used terrorism before. sorry if I pissed anyone off but thats just the way I feel.

I forgot to answer lol. ok terrorism... I don't think we could ever defeat terrorism unless we all were communists and didn't fight about anything. communists because we would all work together and under communism there is no religion. However true communism can never exist. At least not in this age of time.

Answer 3

Depends what kind of 'terrorism' you mean.
a) Bin Laden and some of the 'fundamentalist/extremist' Muslims have overstepped the mark, and must be hunted down and killed.
b) 'Terrorism' connected with the drug trade in places like Colombia and Afghanistan is not really 'terrorism'. It is a fight to control vast amounts of money, and has no ideology. The very simple way to combat this evil is to legalise, regulate and tax drugs. But world leaders are too stupid to see this, or they are on the take.
c) 'Terrorism' in places like Sri Lanka, Iraq and India/Pakistan are regional and are mostly related to disputes over religion, land and/or identity. These issues must be solved by negotiations and, if necessary, partition of territory.
d) The start of 'terrorism' in the Middle East and the Western world, on the other hand, can be traced back to the creation of Israel, and only the 'acceptance' or 'destruction' of the 'State of Israel' will put an end to it. Hamas and Hezbollah were created in response to the Israeli occupation of their land. (And now some apologists are going to give me a long story about Israel being attacked first, blah, blah, blah, please spare me this cr*p) And as Israel has no interest in gaining the 'acceptance' of it's neighbours, (note it's insane actions in Gaza and Lebanon) I am afraid the destruction of Israel is the only solution to the problem of 'terrorism' in the Middle East.

Answer 4

It depends on what you call a terrorist. A rash of kidnapping could terroize a town, so whould the kidnappers be terrorists? In Latin American, Africa and Eastern Asia, more cops, courts and prisons are needed. That would be a two fold system. There would be more people with something to lose (those with their new jobs) and more eyes watching.

Muslim terrorists are different. It's more of a cult (see Jim Jones as a Christian terrorist cult) since the majority of Muslims are peaceful. The Catholic church got rid of their Christian terrorists through excommunication. That could cripple renigade cleric recruitment.

Answer 5

Really, the first thing you do is use covert operatives and police forces around the world to identify the terrorists.The fact that they have not shot Osama yet feeds the terrorists confidence and is a recruiting draw that has to be cut off. It is a constant smear on the USA. The people who the USA is fighting are not liberals. If you attack them they kill you and if they attack you they expect you to kill them, if you don't you lose face and they hold you in contempt. The other factor is the fact that he is a source of funding that is assured. His removal would be a blow. The important factor is to find and contain and then use surgical strikes to eliminate the terrorists. The fiasco in Iraq has mad the US a laughing stock and continues to create terrorists. I.C.E. Identify,Contain,Eliminate.

Answer 6

I'm not sure if you mean from our security standpoint, or if you mean how do we fight them in Iraq. regarding Iraq I say fight them with terrorism. Use IED's and car bombs where you know the enemy is. If you mean the nations security, I say you have to profile. This is gonna make people mad and they'll say I'm a racist. but I highly doubt that a 90 yr old granny is gonna try to take down a plane, or walk into a store and blow herself up. Now I know people will throw Tim Mcveigh, or the unibomber, or even Eric Rudolph into the mix cause they always do. but that's just 3 in comparison to 19 on 9-11 alone, not to mention how many muslims blow themselves up on a daily basis in other countries.

Answer 7

Focusing on the real enemy, not all of Muslims.
We have to promote moderation between Muslims by showing them our good will.
Otherwise, blind military action and targeting them all brings just more hatred and more terrorism.
Iran, Syria and Saddam weren't and aren't related to Al Qaede and their problem is Israel not U.S.
Solving the old pain full conflict between Israel and Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon helps a lot.
leaving Iraq and Afghanistan helps too.
Promoting democracy in our Muslim friend countries helps too.

Answer 8

Send each and every one of them a picture of George Bush. No wait a minute that will make them want to commit suicide even more. I guess the best way is to play defense with them. Use intelligence to destroy them. It is damn sure not working to attack Iraq. It is worse now then it was before Saddam.

Answer 9

There is no way!! Terrorists do not value their own life let alone others and consider it an honor to die for their cause...its a hopeless situation:(

Answer 10

There are several things to do.
Education.
Work to go to.
Being able to earn descent money.
Having a family.
Stop supporting undemocratic governments. Something like that and the ground for extremist will go dry - they can't grow any more.