MILNET Opinion -

MILNET Opinion
The Other Fight - Killing Terrorism at its Roots, 3/14/2005

"...bringing faith in the almighty Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) and his Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihe Wassallam) is the work of the greatest importance."

- Azhar Academy, London England

A key issue in the war on terror is reducing the number of fielded terrorists. MILNET's approach to looking at this problem is far from the typical leftist appeasement approach. There is a vast difference between understanding the root causes and sympathizing with enemy.

First let's define the problem. The problem is that young men and on occasion a few women are recruited into the ranks of the terrorists. Moreover, the terrorist in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Far East, finds support and shelter amongst the citizenry of the nation. Some have likened this to the cultural dysfunction in the old Wild West, where Jesse James found people happy to put him up and feed him.

However, just like James, terrorists are the worst kinds of criminals. So what is it about a citizenry that gives terrorists aid and comfort and what makes terrorist into terrorists?

The problem is one that you have probably heard of in various news stories over the last five years. The hearts and minds of young muslims are being won over by the forces that support and feed the terrorists. And these minds and hearts are increasingly escalated from aiding and abetting into active participation. That is the problem, the other fight that the world must face and resolve in order to win the war on terrorism.

MILNET has written on this subject numerous times, however, this particular round we will take the time to provide a briefing prior to our launching into the statement of our opinion. We will carefully delineate between the factual analysis and where we being to serve up that opinion.

The Facts

Just as in any country, the young people receive cultural and general education from various sources. Typically these are the home (family values, culture, the sense of right and wrong, etc.), their schools (in the Middle East schools are almost always very religious based educational systems), and the media (various levels of government controlled media).

Thus we must discuss each area and how it could be contributing to the creation of terrorists.

The Home and Workplace ¹

Few Americans have an understanding of the daily life in a home in the Middle East. If we are talking about a home where the bread winner is a devout Muslim, the home life may be a mix between somewhat modern living mixed with a strict cultural and religious day-to-day operation. For instance, in some homes in Iran, the father is similar to a feudal lord. He has absolute control of everything that goes on in the home. If his wife chooses to argue with him, she must do so carefully and usually out of sight of the children. If she angers the father, he may beat her with complete impunity. When the wife leaves the home or guests arrive, she must ensure her body is totally covered with unrevealing cloths and wear, at a minimum, a headscarf, at maximum the full Burkha. Young men are taught that they are the decision makers for society and that women are the domestics. There are exceptions. Some wealthy families may have domestic help, in this case, the young man is taught that he is above the domestics and he does not have to offer any courtesy. However, he is taught to respect his mother as part of the leadership of the household but clearly sees the mother deferring to father on every occasion. There are, of course, exceptions to this behavior, as no family operates 100% by this characterization.

The family visits to their local Mosque are required and every day just before sunset there is a ritual to be observed. In the Mosque, the family prays, in most there are separate areas for men and women to pray. The Mosque usually has a learning area as well, again segregated for boys and girls. The learning area is called the Madrasses (Madrasahs), and we will discuss that later.

Younger Iranian families may practice more westernized activities. For instance, many younger male and female Iranians wear blue jeans, and some younger Iranian women risk beatings or arrest by not wearing the burkha or headscarf. There is a religious police organization, and they are certain to take action if a young woman is observed breaking Islamic law in this respect. There are underground night clubs but there is no alcohol served. Dancing between males and females is forbidden, however, our contacts tell us that there are private clubs where dancing does take place. Otherwise males and females do mix socially but only if a chaperone is present. Typically such occasions do not allow for privacy, however the youngsters can have private conversations if nothing else, as the elders typically do not hover within hearing distance.

One reporter ² has learned that many Iranians play a rather convoluted make-believe at home, while in public try to appear good Iranians. Using high tech toys at home, they view western culture as the wave of the future, yet out in the "street" they dress moderately with dull colors and act "proper". While certainly this is universal in the world, the degree to which the dichotomy exists in many younger Arab homes is extreme.

At home, the Iranian youngster is usually governed by Islamic law. This is taught in school as well, but the practices at home are extremely important. An Iranian child understands the basic precepts of Islam - it is a very good hearted religion, teaching honesty, compassion, and the essentials of "clean living". Certain foods are prohibited, no alcohol of course, and it is wrong to steal, injure or lie. These precepts are reinforced in the home as well as good manners, respect for elders and of course, father.

Dissatisfaction may intrude into this idealic life however. In most Arab nations in the Middle East, it is clear that there are haves and have nots. The have-nots have little to say about their conditions. For instance in Saudi Arabia, the Royal family and their cronies control nearly all of the commerce in the nation. The average employee has few rights and of course there is no minimum wage. If the Saudi employee is not paid enough, he may look for other work, but he must be very careful how that is done and certainly must make sure his new employer and his old employer agree on the switch, or he could wind up permanently unemployed -- blacklisted.

If an employee has technical skills, he may be in demand. In this case, an employer might negotiate with another for this person's skills and in most cases the change in employer would take place without much input from the employee.

The Saudi women may only work from home and in areas that are typically feminine, however there are a few modern exceptions. Overall, however, in most Arab countries in the Middle East, the public workforce is all male. The exceptions are so few, they are not even mathematically significant. Thus the family in these countries depends on the male father figure for all the families income and decisions.

The dissatisfaction comes from other areas too. In many locations in just about every Arab nation, the son must practice the trade that his father teaches him. There are exceptions, however, there are few opportunities for a low income family's son to become an upper class worker such as an engineer or a doctor. Oh the opportunities exist, but for the vast majority they are out of reach. And are there are few in any programs to open up those opportunities the underprivileged which accounts for over 95% of the populations.

There are, of course doctors and the Islamic equivalent of lawyers as well as government officials. These are usually found to be related to or part of the wealthy families who have good contacts with the governing families. Wealth is the measure of status in most Arab countries and there is much deference to those with the cash. Again, opportunities to acquire wealth, education that might lead to employment which would lead to wealth are severely limited to those not already amongst the families of the wealthy. This contributes heavily to a dissatisfaction throughout the Arab world. However, many simply repress that dissatisfaction, at least until someone comes along to incite those feelings out of hiding.

The Media

Into the Arab family intrudes the media. Government run or permitted media stations are the norm, and only those with satellite receivers see outside influences, with Al Jezerra being the most popular Arab Station. Al Jezerra is an extremely pro-Islamic extremist news service that is virulently anti-western. Thus into the Arab home which can afford a satellite dish and receiver, comes both the government sponsored propaganda and that of Al Jerzerra.

Newspapers in most Arab Nations are heavily weighted toward Islamic Extremism. There are a few exceptions, however they are repeatedly the victims of bombings and staff murders, and there are few long lived newspaper outlets who do not agree with the tenants of Islamic extremism.

In some more moderate Arab nations, there is a slightly more balanced media choice. Qatar for instance tends to provide a more balanced look at the world, however the media remains under the watchful eye of the government.

The Street

The so called "Arab Street" is an artifact of a century old culture. Based upon the ancient communication method of "word of mouth" usually found in restaurants, coffee houses and the bazaar or town market, the "street" is where nearly a majority of Arab discourse takes place. In Iran there is a contrast from other nations in the Arab World. In Tehran, there are Internet Cafes, typically populated with young Iranian students. In several other of the major cities in Arab nations, similar modern versions exist -- this is not a throwback, but a natural evolution. Ironically, there are religious fanatics that view the use of computers as a sin, perhaps linking their users to their manufacturers, western companies that represent satan. In any case, for many young Arabs, this is laughable.

Of course, whenever the "street" gets incited by world events and those hoping to create spectacle to support their particular cause, it is the "street" that is shown on television around the world. Just as in any other nation, when the people wish to show their pleasure or displeasure, it happens in the street.

In the Arab nations this is particularly true. However there are some not subtle differences. The Arab street can be widely influenced by extremist causes. The reasons are complex and yet pretty much monopolar. Modern history has been warped by the extremist, using arrogant British caretakers and supposed American imperialism as a basis for nearly every negative aspect for Arab life, despite the fact the Arab world has been ruled by Arab leaders for over half of the 20th century. Many of the inciters will use rhetoric that is very reminiscent of communist rebels throughout Europe and the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s. It is the language of violent dissent and in the street, it is everywhere. Arabs dancing in the streets after learning of the destruction of the two World Trade Center buildings is not an isolated event in the Arab streets.

Unfortunately, the Arab street also hides a large segment of the population which is not so vocal or visible. What the world sees on television as the Arab street is similar to media coverage of a anti-war demonstration in San Francisco, Berkeley or at New York University. While more prevalent and easily incited to support of radical ideas and anti-western vitriol, the Arab street also includes a large segment who, when the others are being provoked, simply go home. This is never reported and the population of the protesters are typically shown to represent the majority of Arab thinking in a particular local. This may be far from the truth, but certainly serves the purpose of the inciters.

Unfortunately for those living in the Middle East, the basis for what goes on in the Arab street is not from reality based education, and that is where the next section begins.

The Mosque and the Madrasah

The religion of Islam is one of the most beautiful, caring religions on our planet. However, just like any other, there are extremists who interpret the texts of the religion with an extreme point of view and thus subvert that beautiful religion into something horrible and ugly.

Part of most every Mosque in the Arab world and indeed all over the world, is the educational center called the Madrasah ³. Christians might equate this to Bible School or Catechism. The idea is similar, a good Muslim is well versed in the tenets of their religion and that training must begin early for children. Thus the importance of the Madrasah is well established. It is here children and teenagers study the Koran and become expert in their religion.

Unfortunately, some sects of the Muslim religion teach the extremist interpretation of the Koran. Chief amongst those who subvert the language is the Wahhabist sect. Wahhabism ⁴ has proven to be the most anti-western, pro Islamic law culture based ideology of the various Muslim sects. For decades the Wahhabist vitriol has condemned western ideals, castigated the Jew and preached destruction of the unclean or Infidels -- the non-believers.

This not too subtle indoctrination, taught in the Arab world for so many years, has reaped a harvest that has increasingly become one of the world's major ideological problems. Young people who have been placed under the influence of Wahhabism have graduated from hatred to action and are the fuel for the terrorism engine today.

While Wahhabist indoctrination is not the only tool used to prepare young people to become terrorists, it is one of the top factors.

Children are taught young of the evils of western influence, how westerners and jews are nothing less that tools of satan, and deserve an awful death. There are no innocents in this ideology and one of the great aspirations for any good Muslim is to die a martyr while killing thousands of these infidels. It almost seems a cliché today, but the fact remains that this is the culture that has infested the Arab world.

Granted, it is quite likely that the majority of Muslims in the Arab Nations do not subscribe to the extremist ideals, however, the Wahhabist indoctrination has bled over into the others such that Muslims who do not subscribe to the notions of a worldwide jihad, today, will never-the-less, stand to protect, house, and feed the extremists, perhaps feeling it is better to do so then aid westerners and Jews. It is this rationalization that feeds the terrorist engine. Young people are increasingly ready to receive the terrorist message and increasingly won over to the extremist cause.

We should also point out that it is not only the Wahhabist Madrasah that educates in the virulent manner, it is just that the Wahhabist is the most virulent and nearly uniformly teaching in this manner. And as several authors have pointed out, the Wahhabist Madrasah is not limited to this kind of teaching in the Middle East, there are many in major western cities as well. It is this export of radical and virulent teachings that have angered many at Saudi Arabia, the seeming epicenter of the religious sect.

The sad fact is that few of those converted from inactive to active support of the extremism have ever met a westerner. They are not effected in the least by western political policies nor have they been wronged. The vitriol ensures the sins are well known and the rationale for the destruction of infidels is a god given task. Having been taught the role of conforming to religious edicts for most of their life, the new calling becomes a religious edict as well and cannot be questioned.

Thus for those converted to the extreme view, the Jihad becomes a life calling. Those who have converted, in the vast majority, are lost to the civilized world. To renounce the violence is to renounce God, and only a handful out of thousands are willing to even consider the idea let alone convert back to the non violent interpretations. Thus we reemphasize, they are lost. The military can be left to deal with those, and we must look elsewhere -- to the unconverted -- if we are to make any headway in cutting off the recruitment cycle.

Factor Summary

We've looked at the home, the media, the street and the school. Of the four major factors in the Arab concept of the world, the factors that tend to influence Arabs into violence are the media, street and the school. Certainly conditions at home might add to a prevalence to violence as a tool to solve problems, however, most analysts are willing to assume that for the majority of Muslims in the Arab nations, the home does not breed violence.

The religious tenets of Islam itself would seem to counter the violence, however the extremist influence is everywhere once the young Arab leaves his home. And of course, if the young Arab's father is active in extremism, then there is hardly any force strong enough to counter that indoctrination.

Opinion: How to End the Extremist Influence

Once a young Arab has taken the step to become an active member of one of the prevalent terrorist group in his local area, they are pretty much lost. Little can be done to counter their psychological state except to meet violence with violence.

In order to reduce or eliminate the terrorist fuel of human beings, one must first remove the influences that prepare them to receive and be indoctrinated by the terrorist message. The task is difficult to say the least. For as we have discussed, the influences are everywhere. Every Muslim is most likely familiar with the term Jihad, and aware of the battle between Jew and Arab Palestinians.

It is also clear that part of the problems in the Middle East are the governments themselves. Thus the U.S. President's focus on bringing democracy to the governments of the Middle East. With the freedoms inherent in democracy, comes the opportunity -- not a guarantee -- but at least the opportunity for anyone to improve their standard of living. And of course, this usually makes a vast difference for women.

Moreover, national economies will improve as well, making the overall national standard of living improve, since suddenly there will begin a process of education and insertion of woman into the working society. This adds nearly 50% of a new workforce. Naturally, there needs to be work for these new workers, so there are obvious hurdles to be overcome -- developing an economy that make use of these new workers can be critical.

One of the dilemmas of creating a democracy is the creation of an environment for free speech. Free speech would seem to guarantee the right for the Wahhabist or any other extremist religious viewpoint to preach its virulence. However, free societies already limit the rights to free speech. For instance in the older democracies (Europe and North America) free speech does not allow defamation, inciting violence or sedition which seeks to overturn the government through violent means. Treason is also not allowed -- a scientist can use the excuse of free speech to present a national secret to another nation. All these limits have been tested and proven in legal systems all around the world.

Thus when any religious zealot goes so far as to preach violence, society has not only the right to prevent that speech, but an obligation to jail the speaker. When Osama bin Laden preaches the Jihad, and targets civilians, he makes himself a criminal in every free nation on the planet. It matters not whether his cause is just or not.

The Cause

Thus we add another factor to our discussion of how to fight the other war. When the young Muslim "signs on" and converts to the extremist viewpoint, he (or increasingly she) joins the cause. All terrorists have a cause. In the 1970s, it was a communist/socialist inspired attack on the foundations of free society, later joined by eco-terrorists seeking to right their perception of wrongs against nature. They all believe their is greater good in their actions than any laws and society proscribes.

This lawlessness is more heinous then just civil disobedience. The definition of a terrorist separates protest from violent actions. A band of protesters only become terrorists when they resort to violence -- at that point they are seeking to coerce, using violence to coerce others in their political goals. That is distinguished from a military action. Some might interpret military campaigns that drop bombs on civilian populated cities as terrorism and for some it is hard to distinguish between the two.

In any case, our civilization operates under the rule of law. In World War II, using chemical weapons was prohibited by warring nations. There was no international law concerning bombing of cities, no prohibition against biological weapons, nor any limits on the size and destructive power of a bomb.   Despite that, there is nothing to prevent a terrorist for seizing on any military activity and claiming injury.

Terrorist causes are also usually rooted in the past. Typically they focus on perceived injustices that have occurred, some of which go back centuries. The modern day Arab Palestinian protester claims Israel has injured them by occupying their land. A notion that defies logic and evidence, yet the Israeli government is nearing the point of capitulation hoping to appease the terrorists. In that case, the terrorists have clearly won their cause.

The New Cause

Question: If the Arab Palestinians get their State and the battle between them and Israelis stabilizes into non-violence, what will be the next Arab cause? That cause is already driving violence in Iraq. Nothing less than the elimination of all governments and peoples who do not subscribe to the extremist Islamic state -- governed by the extremist's interpretation of Islamic law.

In Iraq, Musab al-Zarqawi and his followers wish for a return of Iraq to a secular nation ruled under the extremist interpretations of Islamic Law. It is no coincidence that the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq find support and shelter in the Sunni Triangle.

If one were to simply give in to that demand, allow the purists to rule the day in Iraq or elsewhere, might it not be possible to end the violence and simply coexist with these extremists?

The answer is a definite no. One only has to listen to the rhetoric, read the Quran, or the many Fatwas that inspire and spur on the terrorists. Bin Laden has said it many times. There will be no rest until the rule of Islam is the rule of the world. While he himself may not want to rule the world, he certainly wishes his religious notions to rule the world.

Let us make this perfectly clear. The terrorists we face today -- the extremist Islamic terrorist -- will not be satisfied until the world is under the extremist version of the Islamic Law. They may accept a smaller chunk of the world temporarily, but it is clear that there is no co-existence. Thus the warning cry fropm many Islamologists -- it is a new World War, and it is a clash of civilizations that can end in only one way -- the total annihilation of the other. No Surrender.

A War of Survival

With such high stakes, it is quite understandable that some visionaries view the War on Terror as not only a primacy goal for any nation's National Security, but a life quest. It is not politics, it is demagoguery, it is survival.

Anyone who supports the cause, even in the smallest way, is to be considered an enemy. Preaching sympathetic understanding of the terrorists is aiding and abetting their violence. The liberal mindset cannot understand that concept. Having spent decades attempting to pull our hearts toward sympathy for devils of many sorts, that effort today is so much more insidious. If one wishes to sympathize with Osama bin Laden and his followers, they should wait until he and them are dead and buried. Cries of treating the symptoms (attacking the terrorists) instead of curing the illness (eliminating the root causes of terrorism) are suicidal. If the symptoms kill you, any treatment of the illness that ignores treating those symptoms is just plain stupid.

Thus the attack plan in the War on Terror must first begin with engagement of the terrorists. Reduce or eliminate the symptoms of the disease so that you can then safely focus on the root cause.

Who Do The Terrorists Want to Really Kill?

For many Americans, the War on Terror can be described quite easily in terms that cannot be misunderstood. If you occasionally like to sit down with a glass of beer to watch the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders before the big game or a NASCAR event or enjoy dancing with your wife or girlfriend in a night spot to return to your drink on the table, you are the mortal enemy of the new Terrorist.

It has nothing to do with Israel, it has nothing to do with support for Israel by the American government.

If you are a 23 year pre-med student who happens to be female, or a female lawyer, truck driver, or soldier, you are the enemy and will eventually be killed. It has nothing to do with the Saudis, the new Iraqi government or their elections.

It is you who are the problem and you will be removed.

Ladies, if you are out in the street with a pair of tight fitting blue jeans or a dress, and without covering your head and quite possibly your face, you will be beaten. If you disobey your husband, he may beat you with impunity. Show a little leg or heaven forbid a little bust line, and surely it will be a death sentence. Flirt in a night spot and you could be arrested and dragged off. And forget appeals, they don't exist.

That is the world for which the terrorists are fighting, that is their cause. It is not politics, it is not elections, it is not the guy in the White House. It is you and what you believe in and what you believe are acceptable behavior. It is what some of us might call fun. This IS a clash of civilizations, and this IS a war for our very survival.

Killing Terrorism at Its Roots

Democracy is a great way to begin striking back at the terrorists -- hitting them where it hurts. As we said earlier, and indeed as the U.S. President has said, democracy removes many of the rationalizations for the Arab terrorist. Of course, nothing short of the U.S. government throwing out our constitution and adopting al-Zarqawi's interpretation of Islamic Law will satisfy the terrorists.

In order to kill terrorism in the roots, we have to go far beyond simply helping democracy take root. We need to take active measures.   We must tell nations that allow virulent speech to squash it. Safeguards can be put in place to prevent abuse of that power. Again rule of law and democracy can help in that respect.

We must eliminate support for terrorists. Both financially and by shelter. Any nation that continues to support terrorists in 2005 has clearly chosen to join the new cause.   As a result, they have painted a big red bulls eye on themselves. Let's be very clear.

The governments of Iran and Syria clearly support the terrorists and not surprisingly, the terrorists are willing to go out in the streets and support those governments. This partnership is a clear and present danger to the world, not just the United States. All other countries must band together and make the message clear.   Supporting and indeed inspiring and inciting the terrorists will not be accepted. Cease and desist.

We should set a timetable in weeks, not months or years. If the national support is not removed, then a short fuse is lit toward heavy violence against those nations, since obviously diplomacy has failed. The chaos of regime change is certainly difficult, but far less dangerous to the world than the alternative, allowing nations to continue to offer terrorists refuge.

That is the way to win the other fight, and we must begin NOW, not later.

Sources/Further Reading:

Muslim Schools, Education and Family Life, Islam for Today, undated.
Playing Make-believe in Iran, Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, 2/14/2005
Islamic Religious Schools: Madrasses Background, Christopher Blanchard, CRS, 2/10/2005
The Islamic Traditions of Wahhabism and Salifyya, Christopher Blanchard and Febe Armanios, CRS, 2/10/2005
Combatting Terrorism, U.S. Army Command and Staff College Paper, found at the Terrorism Research Center,
From Counterterrorism.ORG, causes of 9/11

U.S. Army Form 3-21-31, Stability Operations, U.S. Army, found on GlobalSecurity.com