The More Things Change – the More Things Remain the Same, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Recent historical events illustrate that counter terrorism efforts, as resulting from a military response, have been largely ineffectual.  Most of these types of conflict situations tend to drag on for years without resulting in any definitive solutions. Military campaigns by the USA in both Iraq and Afghanistan being prime examples.  The cost of the military campaigns is huge in terms of loss of life, monetary expenditure and diverting resources to meet the needs of the military campaign.  Recent events in Syria illustrate that even the United Nations is incapable of agreeing a joint military response from the different nations that it represents.  It is considered that direct military intervention does not achieve the longer term objectives and that a new approach and direction is required.

Most of the Military assumption is based upon the single premise that ‘you cannot negotiate with terrorists’ and this slides nicely into the justification for a military response.  The concept of using overwhelming force, as demonstrated in regime change in Iraq, only results in short term gains. The longer term of dealing with the aftermath of a military campaign can take decades to resolve and even then there is no guarantee of eliminating the terrorist threat.

State Terrorism

Terrorism has become a global war in which no country is immune.  The IRA has waged a campaign in Britain that lasted over 125 years; the Basque Separatist movement has carried out a terrorist campaign with Spain.  The Palestinian and Islamist Jihadist movements are the latest in a long line of terrorist activities.  The danger is that they now have a longer reach and threaten other countries with nuclear and biological weapons.  Only through a united international campaign will the treat ultimately be defeated.

| Iraq War

The prelude to war in Iraq started when the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein invaded its neighbour of Kuwait.  Hussein claimed that Kuwait belonged to the people of Iraq and was being exploited by the West for its oil.  As such the oil belonged to Iraq and he invaded the country in 1990.  The Iraqi invasion force occupied the country for 6 months before they were expelled by an international coalition force.  When leaving Kuwait the Iraqi troops tried to destroy all of the oil wells in Kuwait and later they spent the next several years abusing no fly zone restrictions that had been placed upon them.

The real turning point came after the terrorist attack on New York City (9/11) and President Bush citing evidence that terrorist links could be traced back to Saddam Hussein in Iraq and state sponsored terrorism saw Iraq developing a program of weapons of mass destruction. These including chemical and biological warfare agents. The US administration expressed to the United Nations (UN) that they had accumulated intelligence on the Iraq Government having weapons of mass destruction.  As such they asked the UN to sanction an attack by a coalition of nations acting under the auspices of UN approval.  (Porter, K. 2012)

| Afghanistan

The military intervention in Afghanistan has drawn comparisons with Iraq.  It supports a government that is opposed to the rebel leaders ‘The Taliban’ who claim they are the legitimate Government.  Similar to Iraq it involves a neighboring country that has supported the terrorist group (Pakistan) and recruits soldiers from that country.  The war has been going on for over a decade and has involved the international community and equally like Iraq the UN has been somewhat powerless in helping the military to find a lasting solution to the problem.  It is now widely held that only a political dialogue with the Taliban will result in a lasting peaceful solution to the problem. (Roberts, A. 2007)

| Northern Ireland

The terrorist campaign between the Irish Republican Army and the British Government over the legitimate status of Northern Ireland lasted for over 100 years.  Despite military occupation in Northern Ireland for many decades this only resulted in increased acts of terrorism, increased bloodshed and loss of countless lives of both military and civilian personnel.  Ultimately it had to be resolved by a political settlement. (Gregory, K. 2012)

| ETA Basque separatist movement

The Spanish Government have been in a prolonged military campaign with the Basque Separatist movement ETA. The movement of ETA committed a series of terrorist guerilla style campaigns against the Spanish over many years.  Despite military crackdowns against the organization the dispute remained unresolved and the terror campaigns continued.  Only in the last 12 months has the violence ceased in favour of a political settlement brought about by increased dialogue. (Bhattacharji, P. 2012)

| The Farc in Columbia SA.

The FARC have around 9,000 terrorist fighters that operate in the country and have been the main protagonists in kidnappings, murders and terrorist activities.  Despite an extensive military campaign by both the US and Columbian Governments they have not managed to defeat the terrorist group.  The FARC has been involved in peace talks with the Columbian Government since the 1980`s but military crackdowns are still the preferred option. Owing to the links with the Drug cartels this has now spilled over into neighboring Venezuela increasing the tensions between the two Governments.  The US involvement further complicates the matter with covert operations in Columbia (Hanson, S. 2012).

RELIGIOUS TERRORISM

A most revealing report was produced by the Rand Corporation – ‘How Terrorist Groups End’ and centered on military responses to the Al Qaida threats.  Most telling is that military responses only accounted for some 7% of resolution in response to military responses whereas as 40% was by more effective policing and 43% by political dialogue.  Even today we are seeing the military response in Afghanistan failing and ultimately the leaders stating that this must be a political settle meet with the Taliban terrorist regime.  (Rand Corporation, 2012).

Religious fundamentalism attempts to use religious doctrines and ideology as a means of creating Jihad (holy war) against infidels and non-believers.  This being particularly strong in the Islamic world today.  Terrorist groups like Al Qaida pervert religion in order to gain followers to commit their terror campaigns in the name of Allah (God).  Such religious soldiers or Jihadists believe that by becoming martyrs for God they will receive rich rewards in heaven.

It was Karl Marx who stated that ‘religion is the opiate of the masses’. Marx was a philosopher and agnostic. Marx felt that all religions were a sign of oppressed people. He felt that religion was an illusionary fantasy that helped the poorer people of society feel better about their lot in life. The economic realities of life are what prevents them from finding true and real happiness in the here and now.  Religion says that all the pain and suffering in the world is OK as you will find true happiness in the paradise of the next world. Marx described people as being in distress and seeking solace in religious beliefs. This is similar to that of people who become injured and seek pain relief from opiate based drugs. Religion helps you to forget the pain and as such look forward to a better future. Equally, religion fools the masses into accepting the pain and suffering in life by promising them a place in a perceived paradise in the afterlife. In order to achieve this place they must endure the suffering and accept the practices of the religious doctrines.

Conclusions

The international community continues to find new battlegrounds in order to address the war on terrorism. Indeed there are numerous terrorist groups like Al Qaeda that have an international dimension.  The historic approach has been to address force with a countermeasure of a stronger military response.  After eight years in Afghanistan the US and its allies remain locked in a military response with the Taliban.  It has been proven that large-scale military buildup is not an effective response to combat terrorism.

The ultimate approach must be one of political dialogue interwoven with improved education of the younger people.  It is the winning of the hearts and minds of the younger people that will ultimately lead to an ideological revolution and a rejection of violence as an answer to the issues involved.  The west needs to understand Islam and engage in a constructive dialogue to promote peace, harmony and reconstruction in the region without the need for military intervention. It is a risky proposition but the only viable long term solution. (Kolodkin, B. 2012)

References

Bhattacharji, P. (2012, 3 10). Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) (Spain, separatists, Euskadi ta Askatasuna. Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/france/basque-fatherland-liberty-eta-spain-separatists-euskadi-ta-askatasuna/p9271

Gregory, K. (2012, 3 10). Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) (aka, PIRA, “the provos,” Óglaigh na hÉireann) (UK separatists). Retrieved from Council for Foreign Relations: http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-organizations/provisional-irish-republican-army-ira-aka-pira-provos-glaigh-na-hireann-uk-separatists/p9240

Hanson, S. (2012, 3 10). FARC, ELN: Colombia’s Left-Wing Guerrillas. Retrieved from Council for Foreign Relations: http://www.cfr.org/colombia/farc-eln-colombias-left-wing-guerrillas/p9272

Kolodkin, B. (2012, 3 10). Combating terrorism in 2010. Retrieved from About.com: http://isforeignpolicy.about.com/od/defense/a/counterterrorism-strategy.htm

Porter, K. (2012, 3 10). The Iraq War. Retrieved from About.com: http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/newsiss3/p/iraqwarprofile.htm

Rand Corporation. (2012, 3 10). How Terrorist Groups End. Retrieved from Rand Corporation: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9351/index1.html

Roberts, A. (2007). Counter-terrorism, armed force and the laws of war. Survival: Global Politics and Strategy Vol 44 Iss1, 7-32.