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Too Much America Bashing: Bad For World’s Security

Bhuwan Thapaliya - 1/8/2008

The fight against terrorism is not over. It is not even, in reality, nearly over as Osama bin Laden and other senior al- Qaeda leaders are yet to be captured or killed by America and her allies united for the fight against international terrorism upon the aftermath of September 11th. Nevertheless, as this year comes to its close, it can be said that the fight against terrorism though lopsided and tedious at times have so far, nevertheless, has helped to shape the future campaign.

In military terms, they are pragmatic and reassuring; they are pragmatic and reassuring for more or less the same reasons: Allies overwhelming military superiority, its military success, and it’s never say die sprit against the terrorists. This does not mean however that al-Qaeda and other terrorists cannot strike again, they can any time, but now most of their bases are destroyed and they lack sense of impunity though they still have supporters in many places. What they don’t have now is a permanent base. But given the nature, reach and the brutality of these terrorists, they have all the capabilities to operate from the floating bases. Hence, the fight will go on. But it needs to be won.

It needs to be won, we all agree but how. What are the methodologies to win the war against terrorism? Sadly, no concrete methodology exists. As World Bank knows eradicating poverty is almost impossible, considering so, now they are talking about alleviating the poverty. Likewise, what we must understand is this fact: As long as society exists, terrorism cannot be eradicated, it can be alleviated only.

So waging war against terrorism is just a damage control and nothing else because when one network is destroyed, then after sometime another network rises to imitate it, exploiting the same sentiments among potential recruits because society cannot keep everybody happy. But this doesn’t mean that we should try to alleviate the terrorism only, the focus should be on eradicating it completely because terrorism and poverty are two different things. Poverty is a hydra headed monster but terrorism is a hideous disease.

Some critics of the American led war against terrorism still retort that the allies’ interventation has yet to achieve its goal in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is true but they must not also forget the fact that the allies are patiently accumulating the fruits of successes. American troops have suffered a grave humanitarian loss and strategical disaster in Iraq but the drastic semblance of order, less suicide bombings, fewer deaths in the last few months in Iraq has given the world a ray of optimism and new lifeblood to the American troops in Iraq.


Though they were blasted from the world over, America kept its cool and never lashed out, but instead they demonstrated patience, determination, and are now, at least smelling success in what was earlier doomed as the cavernous graveyard of the twenty first century. But the war is not finished yet, for all the recent successes in Iraq, America has no illusion that this war is over. The road looks uncertain as ever, but there certainly is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, there have been signs of progress, but no real breakthrough, in Iraq as even now, tragic and politically embarrassing accidents are happening. The dilemma this poses for the United States is obvious. The very complexity of the Iraqi mess is hampering the global status of the United States. At times it seems that America’s military strategy and its diplomatic strategy find themselves at war will each other. Hence, the time has come for these two strategies to merge together or else any further American move may actually be counter productive- it might unite people against America.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the bombing of caves and tunnels, and the recapture of some major forts from the Taliban, however, have not yielded up the success allies were hoping for. The whereabouts of Osama is not yet known though American officials and intelligence suspects that he is hiding somewhere in between Afghan- Pakistan border. What makes the Afghan problem complex is this fact: International peace keepers are keeping the peace mostly in Kabul and perhaps not in other parts of Afghanistan.

But these peacekeepers are not to blame because they are doing their best, using the resources available, but their numbers and powers are still a matter of dispute given the complex geography and the remoteness of Afghanistan. There is another dilemma for the peacekeepers because western troops are still conducting search and destroy operations in Afghanistan and keeping peace in the midst of war in not easy.

Nonetheless, in the midst of this, American determination has bolstered the will of allies to clip the wings of radical movements. But yet American credibility is still so low as masses still think that the war in Afghanistan was merely a test for the new weapons or to secure accesses to Central Asian oil and the war in Iraq was merely to control the Iraqi oil, pressurize the Iranian regime and ultimately enforce absolute sovereignty over the world at large. America’s activities had added urgency to such questions.

In the midst of this all, however, it is still difficult to say how much harm would the terrorists and brutal dictators such as Saddam would have done if they were unchecked by the United States. I know majority of you would disagree with me, but my notion is this: when faced with hardship every nation craves escape, and American upon the Sep 11th sought escape by fighting the terrorists and cutting their escape routes.

Any other nation would have fought fire with fire and America also did the same. So when America is waging the global war against terror by putting its economy at stake, why are not we supporting America? Had the US done it for its own safety then it would have been different but it is fighting terrorism, the hydra headed monster, so why the heck are we, sitting in an arm chair complaining the America led war.


Yet there are majority of people who advocate that America should cease military action in Iraq, but these peoples are unable to say what should be done instead. They call for a reappraisal of foreign policy, more care for the plight of the poor, more facilities for the immigrants, more education and domestic investment. All fine; but most people would find these ideas perfectly compatible with fighting fiercely to defeat terrorism.

I agree, at times American moves were speculative and at other times regressive, but let us not forget that this world would be very unsafe if we condemn America and concede terrorists and their sympathizers. I think the rhetoric of American bashing would make this world more vulnerable to the terrorist atrocities. I’ve said it before, and am saying it again: Too much America bashing is too bad for the world’s security.

But again, having said so, I think America cannot win the war against terrorism alone. It needs the solidarity and cooperation of every nation, and it must respect the sovergenity of these nations and keep in mind that the fight against the terrorism cannot be deemed a success by the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Afghans and Iraqis.

Hence, The Bush administration must show some restrain and respect if it is to regain the lost glory of America. Meanwhile, the risk to the world from America is subject to considerable hypothetical debate, yet there is a little doubt that there is a mammoth risk to the world from the terrorists. Thus considering this, America needs assistance and solidarity, rather than a punch because America in practical sense, at least has waged a battle against the terrorism and it is living up to its commitment regardless of the circumstances. .

Amid the difficulties, the crucial tactical question is this: how far does America want to march in its fight against the terrorism, and how much price it is willing to pay as impatience with American tactics is mounting all over the world? And one grave problem is exposing America: Iraq war. Washington is currently riven by a debate on what to do about Iraq: to leave or not to leave. Disagreement runs so deep in America about this but getting things wrong would destabilize the Middle East and give a new lease of life to the radical extremists.

The dilemma for America is very grave. It just looks harder. Either way. Meanwhile, America must damage the terrorist international around Osama bin Laden, and it is good to see that it is doing exactly that. America certainly has opened a war against terrorism now it is up to us all to help America before we become a prey of the terrorism.