Terrorism is the threat that makes no one completely safe. But does it excuse the most powerful government in the world to play so insecure and anxious? If the United States is the most civilized country and the leader in the fight against terrorism, where is the confidence and some humble endurance?
Probably the most frustrating circumstance for muslims (and other "disfranchised" parties) is that the strong "American" antagonist (i.e., the ruling Republican/corporate/Christian fundamentalist clan in the US) wants to have it both ways: to feast on their share power, and to take most sympathy as some underdogs or victims. The others are left with nothing, even without rebel righteousness. If the strongest player whines the most, what should be expected then from much weaker sides?
It is often said that with power comes responsibility. That should imply that the most powerful player has considerable responsibility of what happens around.
The essential objection against terrorists is that they use the most primitive power of physical destruction to express or achieve whatever they want. It is probably the last or the only power they have, but this is primarily their own problem.
The responsibility of the strongest is not the concern of given enough powers to the others. It is the responsibility of using their own powers prudently and honestly. When the strongest exercise their powers without respect and regard of others, the underprivileged may feel free to use whatever powers they have without usual constraints. This is not justification of anyone. This is just an observation of how moral standards develop.
Conservatives often say that we liberals always "blame America first". But what we actually insist on is taking the responsibility of being the most powerful seriously. Republicans tend to forget this responsibility, to put it mildly.
In particular, the main critique of this Bush administration is that it never seems to take responsibility for anything. Wrong consequences of their decisions never seem to faze them. Seldom is the question asked, what are Bush's achievements in the "war on terror"? Did he figure out and punish the criminals? Does he care how many people may hate us?
Besides, liberals do not agree to identify recent Republican administrations as exactly "America". For the last 25 years, Republican administrations were very active in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, sometimes in opposite ways within the same country. The current problems with this region are broadly influenced by what Bushes, Rumsfelds and Cheneys did there.
It is not possible to revert the traumas of terrorism and wrongly done wars. Terrorist criminals should be found and punished. But when America has to inflict distress to other nations, its government should know well what it is doing.
What should be the general attitude towards the terrorist menace? Let us recall Jesus:
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:38:45 RSV)
It is surely an old discussion how literally we should take "turn the other cheek". A reasonable interpretation is that Jesus did not mean to react this way to incident crimes. It is rather an advice to deal with religious persecution, and perhaps more generally, with ongoing antagonism of any kind.
So perhaps we have to distinguish actual criminals who plan and accomplish terrorist acts, and people who just cannot like what we are doing. We have to be firm and smart to punish the criminals. But we ought to have some understanding of people who hate us. Otherwise they might go a step further and join the pool of criminal terrorists. Individual terrorists will lose, but terrorism may thrive.
[ Largely, I repost here my comment in
this discussion. I try to put my thoughts better. ]