Why is America losing the WAR on TERROR??

Question

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0822/p03s03-usmi.html?page=1

The solution lies in changing US policy in the region and supporting Islamic scholars who can show how al Qaeda is distorting the Koran.

Christian science monitor is the MOST UNBIASED source of info available.

Answer 1

The problem is that the "War on Terror(tm)" is not meant to be won nor lost. Like the failing "war on drugs," the war on terror is merely a moneymaking scheme for defense and corporate interests that profit off of crisis and fear. Without this war on terror, governments have no basis for implementing draconian policies against their own citizenry.

Now, as far as the US gov't is concerned, the reason its campaign to root out terrorism is failing is because the US is taking the wrong approach. Rather than focusing on using accurate intelligence, they "jump the gun" by exerting military might against those that have no direct ties to terrorist entities. Conventional warfare simply does not work when fighting an unknown enemy. The FBI did not go in with guns blazing in city streets killing countless innocents just to catch a few Mafia bosses but used good old fashioned police work to bring down the crime syndicates. Perhaps, the US gov't should return to what truly works.

Answer 2

The entire premise of a war on a 'state of mind' is even more abstract than a war on drugs. (which failed miserably). What has happened in the 'war' is that the US has capitulated to those that want to instill terror and the politicians (of both parties) have decided that 'rule by fear' is the right course to take. Compromising civil liberties, profiling people because the 'look' like a terrorist (ridiculous), and using abstract concepts of victory without any real goal or strategy to accomplish that goal.

America (and the world) could be better served if we decided to not label any violent act as terrorism. If we would listen to opposing views and engage in honest, unbiased foreign policy, terror would dissapate. There will however, always be people that are upset, and see violence as the only recourse.

How to stop terror? Stop being afraid of everything, listen better, spend more time searching for peace as you do explaining war.

peace

Answer 3

No, the conflict is under no circumstances over. i think of it became Thomas Jefferson who suggested, 'the value of liberty is eternal vigilance.' I take this to point the value of freedom is eternal vigilance. That we as human beings will continuously be struggling with the combat against terrorism, tyranny, evil, and foreign places powers. it truly is extra advantageous to combat and lose that to be afraid to combat. in case you lose a combat, yet fought properly, the opponent will think of long and annoying in the past attempting a 2d combat. The conflict on terror became a fulfillment for me while it became suggested that Osama Bin encumbered suggested if he had prevalent of the potential of the U. S. reaction to the terrorist assaults, he don't have attacked. He theory that the reaction may be the typical gentle diplomatic political predictable reaction. And this is gloomy because of the fact Osama Bin Liden became a sensible guy. He would have carried out extra working with-interior the U. S. gadget, truly than engaged on the exterior to wreck it. The IRONY of the area is human beings wasted such truly some lives and lots money struggling with a conflict in yet another usa that they did no longer look after their very own human beings from terror of their very own usa struggling with terrorist in yet another usa is retaining the u . s .. what number terrorist won't have the possibility to attack u . s . because of the fact they at the instant are ineffective? I advise, heavily, wasn't the component of the conflict on Terror to dodge lots of those assaults on American soil? No, the component became to the kill terrorist who had declared conflict on u . s .. No u . s . did no longer lose the conflict on terror.

Answer 4

The war on terror is basically a war on crime from persons entering this country illegally and having alot of issues with our country and our policies. Radical persons who have nothing to lose can be dangerous persons regardless of their race. America is full of revolutionaries from 1776 and onward. Persons who seek a different lifestyle from their home countries and basically seek opportunities to make money. The bible or the Koran I am sure has nothing to do with the actions of persons who would sacrifice others lives and lie and steal. If this is the case than you can't blame americans for not supporting islamics in this country. They give you a bad name. The persons whom left or did not fit into your culture have come here and used the word freedom as in insult to the persons who work and live here. Islamics need to respect others regardless of their economic status. Those persons have worked a lifetime for what they have. Day in and Day out, that is alot of work. We welcome scholars from all over the world to enlight our world with new ideas but not at the expense or others. I know that the persons who represent islam in radicalism are very distraught persons but that does not give them the right to disrespect our culture even if they don't agree. Just because something may be legal does not mean every person here will go out and practice that freedom. We try; hard to have a country that produces a better life for many and sometimes some persons will take advantage of the freedoms here but also islamics need to know that not all americans are the same. We are different as you are different and it is time to communicate the good we can learn from each other. We need to clean up America and it is everyones job that believes in our ethics and principles. As islam needs to be represented in a positive light free of Islamic radicals who disrespect the Koran and give islam a bad name.

Answer 5

How is supporting Islamic scholars that can demonstrate how the Quaran is being bastardized going to defeat terrorism?

Islamic scholars are aldready denouncing terrorism, but it makes little difference. Terrorist / radical islam would just as well kill other muslims that don't view things the same way as them. They also don't like Jews.

If you haven't acutally been following the news, most of the terrorist attacks have not been on western soil since 9/11. Most of them have happened in muslim nations, against orther muslim populations that view things differently than the terrorist.

I don't doubt that Al Quieda (sp) would love to set off another chain of attacks on western soil....the fact that they have not been able to says that we ARE winning the war on terror.

The big question to you is, would you rather our military fight this battle for our collective safety, or would you rather have our ER doctors, firefighters, and police fighting this war?

You wing-nuts have to realize this war against terrorism has little to do with GWB. This has everything to do with western progressive society defending ourselves against the equivalent of the mideval crusades.

If you aren't aware, this is when my Catholic forefathers went around the countryside in Europe, the Middle East and Africa "spreading the word", albeit in a forceful manner. Right now, radical islamist are trying to do the same thing.

Answer 6

I had a good answer typed up but my connection timed out and I lost it all.

So what's the solution? Do we continue to fight or close the blinds in our homes and hope for the best? As long as there are people that want to kill me, my children or even you Rove I will continue to support this war/struggle against terror. We have lost lives not fighting terrorism.... at least now we are taking out terrorists instead of letting them just attack us.

*In your defense, CSM shows very little bias to any side. It points out the story and not the opinions.*


***EDIT - I keep seeing people spout off the whole "War on Terror Is A Ideology". Why should we give up on OUR ideology of living in a world without fear of radical Islam? Why do we have to let them be and think all is fine in the world if we just show "compassion" or "reason"? Doesn't anyone think that if we weaken terrorist cells or wipe out that ideology we would be better off?

Answer 7

Why is an opium trade to the world still going on out of Afghanistan along with heroin and hashish .

Its because one group feels it has the right to tell another group what to do .

Its that basic . You post signs that say do not walk on the grass and people will because they can .

You will never end terrorism and in the modern age it is only a question of time till a small terrorist group manages to obtain and detonate a nuclear weapon on American soil .

Who would we think did it and who could we retaliate on without coming close to world war 3 .

The terrorists will always win because it is not like you are fighting an army but a concept/idea and those can never be controlled .

Answer 8

You can't win a war against a thought. Defined by wikipedia terror is a state of fear, an overwhelming sense of imminent danger. How do you wage a campaign against a sense of imminent danger?

From an objective observer one might say that we are terrorists. At any rate I can only pray for those that will not make it through this day and appreciate the fact that I was born in America.

THINK FOR YOURSELF, QUESTION AUTHORITY!

Answer 9

If you "scholars" are so good, why do they need us to have them preach the horror of terror ? They either are in favor of it or want it stopped on their own. How many Muslims need to die of suicide or be killed by suicide bombers to convince them ? I would hope also that yo slipped on saying that America is losing the war on terror. This war is against every nation in the world. It is a war against civilization as we know it today. America is not losing and further, the world is not losing. The moderate Islamic people are starting to rise up against these fascist , radical Islamic terrorist. They know that a ruler by fear is not a ruler at all.

Answer 10

1. The war is being micromanaged by incompetent politicians.

2. We are excessively concerned with avoiding civilian casualties when the Terrorists are living with the civilians and are supported by the civilians.

Essentially the civilians are really enemy combatants and we need to treat them and target them as enemy combatants.

When you exclude a large number of enemy combatants from being targeted you cannot win the war.

The politicians are the ones who designated the civilians as being off limits even though most of the civilians are as guilty as the active Terrorists.

When the civilians provide support for the Terrorists, the civilians should be treated as enemy combatants.

3. Muslim scholars are completely useless in this war.

If anything the Muslim scholars should be targeted as enemy combatants as well.