What is a political solution for an end to terrorism from your point of view on the ground?

Question

I obviously asked a "difficult question" recently and got one answer !!.. which has resulted in this question.

Looking forward to enjoying some good craic here....;-)

Answer 1

All answers prior are interesting, and all hit most of the points. Today's world is extremely complex, and there are no easy answers: near-instantaneous communications, speed-of-light opinions, biased media, and agreed-upon standards by those who "play by the rules" are all a two-edged sword. If everyone was "civilized", and did as was legally expected, there would be no turmoil and mass illegal death; but there would be endless discussions, lawsuits, and aggrieved victims worldwide. Not every government has the patience or inclination for such antics.

It is easier to tell you how not to achieve an end of terrorism. You will not eliminate it by nuking countries, populations, or religious groups. You will not end it by sitting at a treaty table, making concessions (showing your weaknessses and giving them the feeling of victory for their methods), and holding out an olive branch. You will not end it by logical debate proving that your way of government is superior to theirs--many terrorists have no governmental aspirations, at all. You will not end it by appealing to their human nature, that life is sacred, and all major religious texts support this--they will not feel the same sanctity for human life.

I have to say that the outloook for the ultimate answer to your question is bleak: until those who feel that the "infidel" (whatever flavor) must die, die themselves, and stop teaching younger, impressionable people their mantras of hatred, there is no political answer to cure this plague that can be supported by Man's current knowledge. Sorry.

Answer 2

Let's start by being a little more specific. You don't mean stop "terrorism" but instead you mean "terrorism by fundamental Islam". If that's the case then the answer is it won't ever stop in our lifetime. You need to recognize that Islam has been fighting the "dar el harb" (infidels" since the eigth century. They once controlled everything from India to Spain and want it back again under a new caliphate. With that as their goal there will be no end to terrorism until there is an end to fundamentalist Islam (Wahabism and the Muslim Brotherhood) is stopped from teaching their radical, jihadist view to each new generation.

Answer 3

f In the 18h and 19th Centuries the settlers in America and Australia would have seen the native populations as terrorists. Their answer to that terrorist problem was genocide. For them, it worked as a solution., though they dressed it up as 'bringing civilisation'.
In contrast, the settlers in South Africa didn't just want the land, they wanted the labour of people they had practically enslaved. Times have changed and now the native South Africans run their own country.
Genocide isn't an option anymore. So now people dealing with terrorists have to find other ways.
Terrorists usually have a reason for what they do. It may sometimes seem crazy to us but it's motivation enough for them to go and murder and bomb.
So, if the most effective option isn't available them compromise is necessary.
It can work, as in Ireland, where some of the terrorists are now in government. The others have been bought off with government money.
The case of Islamic terrorists it's unlikely to. The Caliphate they want is asking too much.

Answer 4

There may not be a political solution. There are just too many countries involved. And diplomacy is not an answer as long as Americans keep calling the Middle East an evil empire. It might be a better idea to get countries not actively involved to create a dialog between the Middle East countries. Not much of a chance though as long as the US is involved. Think Israel vs Palistinians.

Answer 5

To be quite honest I do not see an obvious solution to terrorism. I am not even sure it is possible to end terrorism.
However there are quite a few ways to diminish terrorism.
1. Seize and or destroy all economic means that are known or suspected of funding terrorists. Terrorists need money to do what they do, and by eliminating their money supply they will have a harder time being able to accomplish their goals.
2. Nations need to extend their intelligence assets. Terrorism is not regular warfare, where one is at least able to identify the enemy. Terrorists hide and blend into the population and thus in order to simply identify such suspects, federal governments need to increase their intelligence assests.
3. Both federal and local governments need to find more efficient ways to close "loopholes" in their government systems that terrorists can find and exploit. For example, stricter control over firearm sales, driver licenses, visas, passports, and so forth.
4. Disencourage potential terrorists by making public examples. For example, give a one and only chance for some terrorists and/or accomplices to "walk away" and offer them amnesty. If they refuse to do so, they will/should receive capital punishment if ever captured or could be shot to kill at sight.
I suppose one of the problems of the modern world is that the public have come to undermine the government to such an extent that the federal governments have very limited options to virtually anything.

Answer 6

If you are talking about the situation in Iraq then you can't.

The "co-alition" is effectively trying to occupy a foreign country which is determined to resist. In practically every case where this has happened the same situation occurs. The occupied nation see's it as a guerilla war the occupying nation sees it as resistance/terrorism. Same thing different sides. The US had Vietnam, the USSR had Afghanistan and the UK had/has Northern Ireland.

Unless you are prepared to take extreme measure like Nazi Germany or some of the other notable dictatorships that would be unpalatable to a western democracy then you have a long hard struggle that utlimately you will probably lose.

Answer 7

This is a tricky one. In say, a country like Iraq which has a population of about 30 million, how do you distinguish friend or foe? The simple truth is you can't, so you can only fight your enemy on his terms. I don't think that everyone in Iraq is pro American or British despite what they say, so how do you go about it?
The German army had a novel way of dealing with terrorism. When a German was killed by a partisan, the Nazis killed say 10 villagers, if 10 Germans were killed, they'd kill the town. The killing of German soldiers soon decreased rapidly. Whilst I don't condone any atrocities by the Nazis, the simple fact of the matter is, the most effective methods are generally unpalatable to the rest of us, and media friendly methods just don't work.

steve m
I totally agree dude. All countries that say they hate all westerners should be given a reason to hate us. The only reason they give it the big 'un is that they know we haven't got the balls (politicians only) to do anything about it.

Answer 8

If there were an answer surely even the useless lot we have in parliament would have come up with it by now.
Perhaps we need to look at what makes a terrorist in the first place. As already said, one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. Find out what cause they are using to justify their actions and see if it can be resolved. There are always going to be those that will never be satisfied - give in to one lot of demands and they will come up with another.

Answer 9

ther is no POLITICAL solution to terrorism.

terrorism is beyond the boudries set out by normal rational people in a democratic state.

If you trace the history of terrorism and war you will see that 99% of it is actually governed by religion. look at the IRA catholic versus prodestant (royalist) britain.

the fight for jerusalam - again two religions both after one centre for religion.

iraq / Iran same as....

so as you will never control religion through politicians....i think it is an interesting but impossible question.

mind you some of the views are intteresting!

Also the more political a stance you take over these idiots the more you highlight their cause. Which is partly why they commit such atrosities as they do.

any way be safe and dont get blown up...lol...

Answer 10

If there is a good solution i guess the government would've picked up on it by now!

I think the only way is to brainwash the terrorists into thinking we are all equals and you don't get anywhere in life from blowing up and maiming people! The rest of us know this but it seems they don't quite grasp the true meaning of life!

We could banish all religions as they are what cause most of the wars and problems in the world. Personally i think everyone can worship who they want so long as we are all open minded enough to realise it doesn't make us any less of a human.

Suicide bombers and people who think they go to a better place for killing themselves and hurting others - TAKE HEED!!

Good question...i wasnted to air my views about this subject!