The politics of terrorism is very bad politics
Regional, Analysis, 6/2/2003

In a trend to the serious breaches of due process and respect for civil liberty that are taking place worldwide under the active promotion of the United States of America, many countries are being pushed, willingly and few unwillingly, on such a path in using terrorism to increase government powers to monitor citizens activities and have powers to intimidate and coerce -- in effect destroying the principal that a person is innocent until proven guilty, putting even an innocent citizen in a defensive position, as opposed to having the burdens of such claims on the government.

While governments have legitimate claims for need to be vigilant in protecting citizens from harm, there is no need to having special laws related to terrorism. Terrorism is a crime, and as such, it should be dealt with in the law within this framework. Terrorism, as a political concept, is a different issue. When the politics of this issue begins to interfere with the rights of citizens, it can cause harms to the very citizens, these laws claim to want to help.

Citizens are very likely to support extreme measures, in general they have no understanding of the full ramifications of these laws, or may care less in the heat of the passions that surround tragic events, exceptional events, which also are used by some for political gains.

But exceptional events, and fears should not be used to destroy civil liberties in the war of politics.

The damage has become extreme. On the civil side, with noted personalities such as Phil Donuhue being removed from TV programs, famous personalities that speak out on various issues being demonized and ostracized. This, in a country that prides itself in free speech and its protection. This, from a people, whose passions have been inflamed by politicians to blind them from wanting to hear anything, except, what they want to hear.

Well, what then of liberty in the less developed countries? Who will stand by the innocent, especially, when there are no such concepts as "innocent till proven guilty?"

Looking at the number of people killed from terrorism, or other related costs, there is simply no logical sense to justify the extreme measures being taken to deal with this issue. These measures, economic, civil, and political assets being spent on this issue are beyond reason, unless of course, in our passion, we have lost reason, or we have other objectives behind these measures. A dose of justice to those who are being oppressed and deprived from basic human and civil rights will go a long way towards dealing with this issue, else, we will be fighting oppression with oppression, a negative cycle that only increases the cause that brings people to such extreme acts.

Terrorism has become a stick that is used to beat domestic political opposition with. On the international level, it is being used as a cover to beat some countries with, and to provide other countries with a cover to beat up their domestic political opposition. Domestically and at the international level, these forces that are promoting the politics of terrorism are being joined for the same purpose, and their goals are not more democracy, but more oppression. And this seems to suit the US fine. It is said that a cat that is burned from sitting on a hot stove, will never sit on a cold one either. Having been hurt by the events of September 11, tragic as they maybe, the US, is using a tragic event to cause more tragedy. The politics of terrorism is very bad politics.

By,
Jamil Kazoun

Previous Stories:
  Transparency: foundation for proper government   (5/17/2003)
  The USA decieved the world on Iraq   (5/12/2003)
  The UN is a fundamentally flawed institution   (4/26/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search