Nov 272008
The holiday season is beginning to shape up on more than just a yuletide caroling or thankful note. The beginning of the popular holiday season surrounding Thanksgiving on in to New Years has begun with heightened awareness that terrorism is alive and thriving in the world.
It seemed a wonderful, concrete goal when Bush announced his War on Terrorism back in 2001. However, it seems my skepticisms are being proven correct, as the heightened vigilance toward countering terrorism has not eliminated it from the globe. Warring against a state of mind is dangerous – the acts that we commonly label as terrorist acts are not ever defined by the act alone but also by the state of mind, beliefs, or larger mission of an organization; guns and bombs do little to erode these ideologies..
Al-Qaeda is still in the picture, and due to reports about their motives, the New York & DC subway system was alive with security as expectations of a potential terrorist attack during the Thanksgiving season pervad
ed news reels.
Deccan Mujahideen is claiming responsibility for the events transpiring in Mumbai, India today. If their clai
ms are true, how could such a relatively unknown Islamic terrorist group fly under the radar th
is long with the capabilities that they have demonstrated in this day alone? They have taken hostages, killed over100 people so far, and are holding out against commandos that have come in to remove them from the two hotels they have taken over.
These two stories give us all around the globe a reason to be a little less warm this holiday season. The targeted hotels in Mumbai were considered popular destinations by tourists and businesspeople, and they were able to take these over and have maintained control while taking hostages. These attacks are demonstrating that terrorists can still reach us – even in the most ritz-y, comfortable of places.
It also shows us that we have a long way to go in this “war on terror”. It is not a fight that can be won simply militarily, but we must begin atacking the ideology that fuels followers to devote themselves to a terrorism group. For America in particular, this will involve reshaping the image of the nation.
These are uncertain and unpredictable times, and the news of events such as the heightened caution in NY and the seige of Mumbai add a stark contrast to the underlying goodwill and peace that characterize the spirit of these coming days. These events are cause for us to examine exactly how well the world is dealing with terrorism in the 21st century. The United States State Dept has already spoken out against these attacks, and the Indian government is looking at this as an act of war, and plans to treat it as such. Securing the hostages and subduing the terrorists in Mumbai are primary objective. Understanding who this “new group” is and whether their claims are valid is secondary.
My heart goes out to the people in Mumbai but also worldwide caugh
t up in the uncertainty and unpredictable nature of terrorism. The Thanksgiving holidays take on a different meaning with something so critical developing simultaneously.
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Sphere: Related Content
Related Ways to Take Action:
- No War Near Or Far
- Plea to ensure a proper plan of action and combat facilities for Indian protection forces
- Petition for Peace in South Asia
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Young Writer's Block