The situation developing since 9/11 and the declaration of the war on terror, has reached a bewildering stage. The chain of events, ranging from racist attacks, suicide bombing, and militant attacks on hotels, religious sites and vulnerable targets has increased beyond visible control.
It is no longer clear as to whether the enemy is one Al-Qaeda, many different terrorist organizations, the Taliban, political foes within a country pretending to be Al-Qaeda, frustrated segments of society or a combination of all. It leaves to question whether the way war on terror has been conducted has brought more harm than benefits.
The “War on Terror” is Guided Against an Impossible Enemy
Scholars, advocates, sympathizers and activists around the world echo a common complaint that the “War on Terror” raised by Bush looks too much like a “War on Islam.” The image of a “terrorist” is of a bearded Muslim raised in a conservative family from South Asia, the Middle East, and Muslim Africa etc. This “war” is being conducted via military force and media. Countries like Afghanistan and Iraq bore the brunt and became the objects. However, instead of winning support, this war managed to marginalize a large population of the world that was either Muslim or sympathizing with the targeted group of people.
Notorious Jails Around the World Breed More Terrorists
On the one hand where the United States has sacrificed, and is continuing to do so, the lives of its soldiers waging war on an invisible enemy – terrorism; it has also managed to outsource much of its dirty task to other countries like Cuba, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kosovo, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Iraq, North African, East European and Central Asian countries. The means of torture used here is known to be even more severe than the ones used within the United States.
Holding alleged terrorists, who may be innocent too, for many years under inhumane conditions, may even turn the mildest of them to those with a desire to avenge. In the film, the Road to Guantanamo, it shows three perfectly carefree, “British-minded” youth of Pakistani descent turning into more religiously inclined boys, aware of their Muslim and Asian identity while in Guantanamo.
Further, harsh interrogations for long periods of time can force any one into confessing to acts they may have not committed at all. This does not mean victory for the interrogators and forces fighting terror – in fact it is a loss. It may lead agencies to wrong clues and hence wrong decisions. The real Al-Qaeda may still be unharmed or taking a completely different route to the one being revealed via harsh interrogations in Guantanamo.
Media’s Involvement in the Battle Against Terrorism
Whatever the case may be, media will show what sells. It is a profit-making business and hence will follow what is in demand, otherwise it faces tough competition from other channels. If terrorism is portrayed by the governments as the utmost threat to society, and if Guantanamo inmates are shown as the worst security threat, the people will be scared, even paranoid. Media will show the “facts” out there as portrayed by the governments, interrogatory agencies and authorities. The fear in the minds of ordinary people will increase. Media loves the hype too – it has to make its money and so it will. This obviously leads to a vicious cycle of untruths, not necessarily making it easier to get to Al-Qaeda but definitely aggravating fear and hatred in the minds of people.
In this process, the US image has been greatly varnished too. Paranoia from both sides of the plain, will lead to hate crimes and racism or hate crimes will lead to further insecurity. As a result, we will have a deeply segmented society with more bitterness and more frustration. More people will resort to “terror” to unleash their frustration. We will end up in a world with more terrorism and more innocent people being jailed in the name of war on terror.
Is There a Solution to the Harms Caused by War on Terror
If we are to survive and develop as a society, we will have to move beyond the expansion of armed forces, the investment in notorious jails, and the deprivation of justice to innocent young men and women. Jails will have to be closed so that more people in the world feel secure - those who are innocent but imprisoned still. Only when the names of US and its western allies will no longer be connected with torture of people, will the credibility of the "war on terror" increase.
The opportunity cost is the money that could be used instead on providing more education, more employment , advanced technology, improved health system, and a better economy. If the governments do not see it, then we as a people in this world of freedom of expression, citizen journalism, independent media and blogging are meant to make the governments realize the truth.
