Reconsidering U.S. policy

My column last week, "Consider Peace, Not War," inspired several incredulous students to e-mail to ask how could I take such a position. Indeed, the questions were tough: what is the United States supposed to do after the Sept. 11 hijackings? Isn't Osama bin Laden supporting the oppression of other Muslims by helping prop up the Taliban regime in Afghanistan? How can we abandon Israel, the only Middle Eastern country with some semblance of a democracy, even if you are right that it is only for Israeli Jews?\nAfter considering these questions, I would like to respond by making four suggestions for a fight against terrorism. First, the United States must support an international police force that is globally networked to investigate al Qaeda, follow the money trail, insert undercover agents in terrorist camps and bring the perpetrators before a World Court. \nAlthough these attacks occurred on U.S. soil, our politicians have made it clear that bin Laden is an enemy of universal peace and brotherhood; let him be tried before the world for crimes against humanity. \nFurthermore, his prosecution should be vigorously pursued without concern for who is uncovered and linked. This may mean embarrassing U.S. allies who have supported terrorist networks or the teaching of a radical form of Islam with money and logistics. Nonetheless, the prosecutors must follow the evidence wherever it may lead. \nSecond, we must acknowledge the various roles nations have played in creating terrorism. The United States certainly shares some of the blame for creating the Taliban by funneling $3 billion from 1979 to 1989 into Pakistan. This money helped create and sustain the Afghan Mujahadeen in a holy Islamic war against the former Soviet Union. Pakistan also deserves blame for helping install the Taliban to protect its national interests. \nWe must expand our analysis to ask deeper questions: how did this version of Islamic fundamentalism gain a foothold among a minority of peoples in countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Afghanistan? Why do many Arabs, against the vehement objections of Israelis and Americans, accuse Israel of sponsoring terrorism in Lebanon and the occupied territories? As a country and a world community, do we need to reconsider our definition of terrorism?\nThird, the United States must recognize and support the many citizen movements for democracy, not only in the Middle East, but across the Third World and here in the United States. These movements abhor the use of violence. In fact, many of them protest against the violence inflicted upon them.\nWhether it is Palestinians protesting their treatment at the hands of Israeli soldiers or Nigerians protesting against the military government and oil companies supported by that dictatorship, or African Americans protesting the murder of 15 black men by Cincinnati police since 1996, we cannot turn our backs on their grievances.\nPerhaps most important, we must attack the root causes of poverty and desperation that cause young men to believe they have more to gain from death than from life. We must re-evaluate our economic policies and the insane acceptance that some people and nations are worth more than others. A simple comparison between Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia shows that, for political and economic reasons, Europe matters more to policymakers than Africa. \nI maintain that true global security can only occur when we pursue these four objectives. If someone can suggest a better course, I'm all ears.