Root cause of terrorism need to be addressed******
Monday, 9 May 2011
Gopal Sengupta
The whole world is relieved to know that Osama bin Laden was killed by the US forces in Pakistan. He was America's one-time friend-turned-foe. His death will bring solace to many people who lost their loved ones due to his fanatical ideology. Today, the US is rejoicing but one should not forget that it is the same country which created the monster. He is dead but terrorism is alive and kicking. Terrorism is not confined to a single religion. Intolerance and incubating hate are characteristics of humankind. Now, bin Laden has been eliminated. Iraq and Afghanistan, in the meantime, have been destroyed. George W. Bush, who was instrumental in destroying the countries, is enjoying his retired life. We will now have to wait for another bin Laden to appear on the international scene. That is the way the empire works. It always needs enemies to justify its presence. His death is, no doubt, a major blow to terrorism. After 911, like millions of people around the world and as a peace loving global citizen, I supported the war on terrorism because I believed that the terrorists who killed innocent men, women and children should be brought to justice. But after 10 long years of the war on terror, I fail to understand who are terrorists and who are civilised. In the course of a decade, the champions of democracy and human rights have turned violators themselves. Even though the war on terror was fought in the far-off mountains and seas, it brought only dilemma and trouble for Muslims, who have become more alienated and are viewed with suspicion in the west. The west maintains that the war is not against Islam but treats Muslims and Muslim leaders as terrorists. Yes, bin Laden was a terrorist, a mass murderer. We cannot forget what bin Laden did. But we also cannot forget why he did what he did. His killing will not end terrorist activities. Only a change from religious fundamentalism to humanism will put an end to terrorism. Terrorism has no religion. The root causes of terrorism are unemployment and poverty. The US is being seen as a hero today but who sowed the seeds of terrorism? The root cause of bin Laden's terrorism was not religion alone. It had also to do with the anguish over the growing interference and domination by the US in the affairs of other countries in the name of democracy. The war around oil money triggered a mob psychosis that resulted in the creation of thousands of terrorist outfits in and around Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Palestine. However, his killing has brought to the fore a few points. First, the US never hesitates to remain united as a nation against forces it fears to be dangerously inimical to its people. Second, the elimination of the dreaded fugitive does not detract from the reality that it was the US that nurtured bin Laden. Third, the US which placed uncritical and undeserving faith in Pakistan stands betrayed. For some, his death is a moment of justice and for many others it marks the weakening of terror. But I pity him, his admirers and followers. They never realised that extremism of anything, including religion, leads nowhere. Here was a man who remained a fugitive for many years when he was alive and did not even get a decent burial - a human and fundamental right - after death. What did bin Laden achieve? The war on terrorism is far from over. Osama bin Laden projected himself as the saviour of the Islamic world that was being persecuted by the west. As long as hatred and intolerance are allowed to be planted in the minds of the young in the name of religion by the fundamentalists, terrorism can never be rooted out. With the death of bin Laden, only the kingpin of al-Qaeda has been eliminated. The outfit has a wide network worldwide. There are many waiting to retaliate. Only when the US gives up its Big Brother attitude, will terrorism come to an end. Those who gloat over the death of bin Laden should realise that terrorism, like love, is born in the human heart. If terrorism is to be erased from the face of the globe, the issues which causes it need to be addressed by the global community first. The writer lives in Canada and can be reached at e-mail: gopalsengupta@aol.com
The whole world is relieved to know that Osama bin Laden was killed by the US forces in Pakistan. He was America's one-time friend-turned-foe. His death will bring solace to many people who lost their loved ones due to his fanatical ideology. Today, the US is rejoicing but one should not forget that it is the same country which created the monster. He is dead but terrorism is alive and kicking. Terrorism is not confined to a single religion. Intolerance and incubating hate are characteristics of humankind. Now, bin Laden has been eliminated. Iraq and Afghanistan, in the meantime, have been destroyed. George W. Bush, who was instrumental in destroying the countries, is enjoying his retired life. We will now have to wait for another bin Laden to appear on the international scene. That is the way the empire works. It always needs enemies to justify its presence. His death is, no doubt, a major blow to terrorism. After 911, like millions of people around the world and as a peace loving global citizen, I supported the war on terrorism because I believed that the terrorists who killed innocent men, women and children should be brought to justice. But after 10 long years of the war on terror, I fail to understand who are terrorists and who are civilised. In the course of a decade, the champions of democracy and human rights have turned violators themselves. Even though the war on terror was fought in the far-off mountains and seas, it brought only dilemma and trouble for Muslims, who have become more alienated and are viewed with suspicion in the west. The west maintains that the war is not against Islam but treats Muslims and Muslim leaders as terrorists. Yes, bin Laden was a terrorist, a mass murderer. We cannot forget what bin Laden did. But we also cannot forget why he did what he did. His killing will not end terrorist activities. Only a change from religious fundamentalism to humanism will put an end to terrorism. Terrorism has no religion. The root causes of terrorism are unemployment and poverty. The US is being seen as a hero today but who sowed the seeds of terrorism? The root cause of bin Laden's terrorism was not religion alone. It had also to do with the anguish over the growing interference and domination by the US in the affairs of other countries in the name of democracy. The war around oil money triggered a mob psychosis that resulted in the creation of thousands of terrorist outfits in and around Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Palestine. However, his killing has brought to the fore a few points. First, the US never hesitates to remain united as a nation against forces it fears to be dangerously inimical to its people. Second, the elimination of the dreaded fugitive does not detract from the reality that it was the US that nurtured bin Laden. Third, the US which placed uncritical and undeserving faith in Pakistan stands betrayed. For some, his death is a moment of justice and for many others it marks the weakening of terror. But I pity him, his admirers and followers. They never realised that extremism of anything, including religion, leads nowhere. Here was a man who remained a fugitive for many years when he was alive and did not even get a decent burial - a human and fundamental right - after death. What did bin Laden achieve? The war on terrorism is far from over. Osama bin Laden projected himself as the saviour of the Islamic world that was being persecuted by the west. As long as hatred and intolerance are allowed to be planted in the minds of the young in the name of religion by the fundamentalists, terrorism can never be rooted out. With the death of bin Laden, only the kingpin of al-Qaeda has been eliminated. The outfit has a wide network worldwide. There are many waiting to retaliate. Only when the US gives up its Big Brother attitude, will terrorism come to an end. Those who gloat over the death of bin Laden should realise that terrorism, like love, is born in the human heart. If terrorism is to be erased from the face of the globe, the issues which causes it need to be addressed by the global community first. The writer lives in Canada and can be reached at e-mail: gopalsengupta@aol.com