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All the talk around the world is about day before yesterday's attack on the US. The planning and execution of the terrorists is really spine chilling. For once, the US itself has come under a devastating attack. It is a new experience for them. No terrorist assault has been perpetrated with such fool-proof planning and clinical precision. And with it, a new chapter in the history of terrorism has been opened. The thought of what lies ahead (like use of passenger aircraft as weapons) is shuddering.
I only wish the US took the warnings regarding the dangers of Taliban (and more generally Islamic fundamentalism) much more seriously, when not only India became a victim (Khandar hijack), but US itself became a victim, not once but many times. It is still not too late for the US.
When in December 1999, an IA plane was hijacked, some of its passengers killed and at the end of it all, the criminals walked off to Pakistan, for the great guardian of world peace and democracy, it was no issue at all. Now, the US for the first time has realised what terrorism is, and what a way to experience it. It is easy to be wise after the event. Nevertheless, lessons have to be learnt. True, the US is a military and economic might. True, the US has always rushed to the help of many nations, especially in Europe, when attacked. True, the US has most generously disbursed humanitarian aid worldwide at times of crises. But, the same US has always fallen short of looking beyond its self-interests.
India still bleeds because of terrorism. It is a war that we have been fighting valiantly, but it is not one which can be fought by India alone. America has made countless resolutions on the need to exorcise terrorism from this world. But it never felt the need stand up to its reputation as a global power to stamp out (what it has now realised as) the "evil" from Pakistan. Because it thought cross-border terrorism affects only India. Little did it heed to warnings that this so-called jihad has many variants, (in retrospect) even one that can blow up the famed World Trade Centre. In fact, the US has been a victim, albeit in smaller scales -- earlier blast in WTC itself, the attck on USS Cole and the attack on its embassies in Africa. And somehow, America has thought that terrorism is always somewhere else and its victims are someone else. When Osama bin Laden vowed to destroy America, instead of getting down to make a prudent and judicious assessement, America was overwhelmed by its pride and complacency.
As world's only superpower, America needs to be more responsible. There is more to this world than America's self-interest. Security and peace of mind can't be bought with dollars.
It is still not too late for Bush and his administration to wake up; wake up not only to the dangers of terrorism but also to why there is terrorism in the first place. This is not to justify terrorism. No problem is solved through terror. But, with some foresight world leaders can prevent these horrific acts, by looking for early symptoms and acting to nip them, then and there. It is easier said than done, But then all noble things are so.
September 13, 2001 |
