Ending Terrorism: What Would it Really Take?

Does not seem so far fetched - what zillions of people (not govts.) have been saying for ages. Is it soooo difficult to accept this approach by the powers that be?

"…
Below is a list of actions/approaches which I believe are necessary components of a plan to really end terrorism, followed by a summary of the US government’s actions in these areas.

Honestly Define Terrorism as Attacks Which Directly or Indirectly Target Civilians’ Regardless of the Perpetrators

Create Viable International Institutions to Prosecute Crimes Against Humanity

Strengthen International Institutions to Address Poverty and Inequality

Support International Efforts to Address Global Problems

Work to Eliminate Weapons of Mass Destruction

Reduce Weapons Exports

Base US Foreign Policy on Fairness and Equality

Recognize and Address Historic and Current Racism

Refuse to Support Military Solutions to Social Problems

Don’t Train or Support Terrorists

Seek to Understand what Motivates “Terrorist” Attacks

Use the Media to Promote Education and Understanding

Reduce US Dependence on Oil
…"

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1201-03.htm

Re: Ending Terrorism: What Would it Really Take?

**Originally posted by Awam ki Awaz: *
Does not seem so far fetched - what zillions of people (not govts.) have been saying for ages. Is it soooo difficult to accept this approach by the powers that be? *

Think about it. Major "powerful nations" export weapons, weapon programs to other nations, as this is their biggest money making industry. Most of "manufacturing" of non-weaponry items is now done in "3rd world countries" or China. If you block weapons export, how would these big nations survive?

In order to promote their weapons, most of the international conflicts will be kept alive and a show of "might" every once in a while (Afghanistan, Iraq etc.).

IT WILL TAKE A sensible govt
and a political will to stop so called " terrorism"
nelson mandela was once called terrorist.
ltte which is one of most ruthless organisation is talking peace in sri lanka
eritrean rebels were once called terrorist by ethopians
all it takes is a political will
look at israel if the killings of palestinians stop and they are given a state with dignity almost 50% of the recruits esp in the arab world will shun so called "terrorism"

Dear Awam ki Awaz,

I like your ideas.

I agree with your post with heart.

I think majority of these ideals are common dreams of majority of peoples.

What is wrong with the minority of em?

Some very nice idea's but one's that will never be realised as long as extremists on both sides are silenced.

Terrorism would end once the US stops murdering innocents around the world.

Couldn't you reduce this list to a single line item:

"Don't Train or Support Terrorists"

If everuone lived by that single rule, we'd have no terrorists. The rest of the list is mere surplusage.

^^That is very simplistic view, MV. One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. Remember "Mujahedeen"...hevaily supported by US to quash Russia? They were terrorists to Russia but freedom fighters for US and Afghanistan. Oh BTW they were "trained" by US.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kaleem: *
One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter.
[/QUOTE]

I don't think that's true. If you factor in the intentional targeting of innocent civilians as part of your definition of terrorist and/or terrorism and leave it out of your definition of freedom fighter, you have no overlap. IMO, one who intentionally kills innocent civilian men, women and children as part of an ideology or resistance is not deserving or entitled to the label "freedom fighter." Period.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Kaleem: *Remember "Mujahedeen"...hevaily supported by US to quash Russia? They were terrorists to Russia but freedom fighters for US and Afghanistan. Oh BTW they were "trained" by US.
[/QUOTE]

I do have a recollection of the "Mujahedeen." I don't have a recollection of them being widely known for killing Afghan civilians in Afghanistan or Russian civilians in Russia. For a period of time, I recall them generally being known for ambushing and killing Russian soldiers in Afghanistan. To be sure, during the extended civil war in Afghanistan, all factions generally engaged in the slaughter of innocents who happened to be of the wrong tribe or loyal to the wrong warlord. This was more a cultural thing though rather than what we generally view as terrorism.