FROM WHERE I STAND - November 3, 2001 The current events unfolding in the Middle East are far more complex than is being presented by so many today. It is easy to say “bomb bin Laden into the ground and the problem of terrorism is dealt a final blow” - end of story.
Realistically, we must look at several of the variables that can and will affect America's policy and procedure dealing with terrorism.
FIRST: America needs to re-define its policy of defining terrorism. We have condoned terrorism in Yassir Arafat and the PLO as we brought Arafat and Rabin together on the White House lawn on September 13, 1993.Arafat, the grandfather of terrorism and the modem hijacking, has insured Israel's right to defend herself because of uncontrollable terrorist attacks. More Israelis died the first five years of the Oslo Accord than did the previous ten years. Also, 1993 was the same year of the first World Trade Center bombing organized by Osama bin Laden.
Americans have been angered and outraged over the loss of life caused by the events of that fateful September day, but per capita, compare the loss of Israeli life from terrorism in the past year alone and you will see a staggering disproportionate concept of brutality terrorism.
SECOND: If we establish this confusing double standard then how will we define who are the terrorists of the future? Even if we bomb Osama bin Laden and his Taliban henchman continually for the next six months, that does not eradicate his training bases in the Sudan nor does it stop the flow of Islamic ftmdamentalist rallying to the cause from nations as far away as Italy, England and even China.
Even as I write this article, this war has ended up committing Special Forces units to the area and is now even discussing the need for a limited commitment of conventional ground troops. This is because Afghan rebels don't want to commit until they are convinced they can win.
Does our bombing of Osama bin Laden do anything to cause Iran and Syria to keep from funding and training the radical elements of groups like Hizballah, both nations being bent on the destruction of Israel and America? How far does the bombing of the Taliban go to ebb the flow of money pouring into other terror groups such as Hamas, Democratic front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad or the Popular front for the Liberation of Palestine?
We can spend millions upon millions bombing Afghan fundamentalism, yet blood continues to flow in the nation of Israel, as many of these groups wage their "Holy War" against Israel's civilian populace. They justify their violence in the name of nationalism, but it is a campaign of terror nonetheless.
THIRD: We as individuals, nations, and even the world look at the horrible aftermath of terrorist attacks and question how this can happen, but who keeps the nations in check? America is so quick to come to the aid of nations like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the "moderate" nations of the regions, that pour, G-d only knows, how much money into terrorist groups such as the PLO, furthering the cause without getting their own hands bloody.
This past week Prime Minister Tony Blair was blasted by Syria's President Assab for the bombing of the Taliban strongholds, which is to be expected of the terrorist oriented Syrian position. But Blair came under the same harsh criticism from the Saudi Arabian government for the same issue; now Blair and President Bush have to be wondering just how long their precious coalition will hold together.
As moderates pressure Bush and Blair from one side and the extremists press from the other side, pressure obviously will be brought to bear on these leaders from other non-Islamic groups to stop the bombing in the name of humanity.
The longer the Taliban can hold out and endure, the better their chances become for survival, not because they are right or good, but rather because the picture will become more clouded as time and the war progresses. As this happens, watch for the nations of the world to pressure President Bush to force Israel into concessions with the promise of terrorism ceasing.
Without a doubt we see history repeating itself, just as the nations of Israel and Judah made their weak alliances with their very enemies trying to have a peaceful existence, only to be greeted by death and destruction.We have seen the same pattern in church history as well, when religious leaders sought to blend into the secular world trying to be free from persecution, again to be met with disastrous results, such as the Sadducees in the 2nd Temple Period and the church in Nazi Germany.
As long as this war continues you can count on several things:
1) America will be sucked into a military and political quagmire.
2) Israel will be squeezed into conformity.
3) World opinion will change and the concept of terrorism will become more vague and convoluted.It is safe to say that September 11, 2001 changed America forever, but its effects on the world will be far reaching, and peace is even farther away.