War confounds me! The simple theory that mass destruction, mass murder, and mass hysteria brings peace, harmony and justice. This paradox gained more reality throughout the course of the past two weeks due to the terrorist acts we experienced. Extremists attack our nation; the people grow outraged; the president feeds on emotionalism and charges his citizens for war. Events, such as the terrorist attacks, require an educated review and assessment not an emotionally charged battle cry. I fault the United States dealing with the attacks because war will not prevent future attacks; this war is an attempt at an Eastern battle with a Western mindset and the hypocrisy of returning violence for violence.

War cannot prevent future terrorist attacks. During World War II our nations soldiers fought in Europe against a demented dictator. Wiping out Nazi Germany did not rid the world of evil dictators. Castro soon rose to power in Cuba and more recently Hussein took power in Iraq. Terrorist groups run on abstract principles impervious to bombs or special operation forces just as dictators’ feed on the abstract principle of world domination. It seems to me that as long as the principles exist the acts will follow.

These abstract principles stem from an extreme form of Islam, a subject many Americans are oblivious to. An attack on Afghanistan represents an attack on Islam. Attacking Islam results in a jihad. Western civilizations recognize certain shared values. When a coalition enforces these values by might they become the standard, not so in the East. Extreme Muslims stand firm on their beliefs. They realize inevitable opposition threatens their survival and believe that the award of Allah awaits them if they die protecting the sacredness of their faith. Such devotion creates a stubborn warrior unyielding to reason. Resolution depends on reason. Thus, attacking Afghan people unleashes a vicious cycle of incessant violence.

The hypocrisy associated with violence returned for violence bewilders me. Attacking Afghanistan accomplishes nothing except the destruction of innocent lives. Terrorism is defined as “the calculated use of violence to obtain political goals through instilling fear, intimidation, or coercion.” An Untied States attempt to overthrow the Taliban and annihilate the terrorist groups, through force and fear, is by definition terrorism. Consequently, each bomb we drop, each soldier killed represents a terrorist act condoned by our government.

America faces a quandary. The realization of our vulnerability unleashes an outpouring of fervent emotions. Acting on these emotions, instead of analyzing the facts and formulating a diplomatic resolution, lacks logic. The Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s exemplifies this philosophy. Dr. Martin Luther King’s rhetoric moved this nation towards looking past the color of one’s skin. Similarly, Gandhi’s firm stand against the British government resulted in India’s independence. When Americans stand united, helping each other in times of need, we defy the intentions of these terrorists.

I fault the United States dealing with the attacks because war will not prevent future attacks; this war is an attempt at an Eastern battle with a Western mindset and the hypocrisy of returning violence for violence. Violence accomplishes nothing but ruin. Peace and love preserve liberty and freedom.