by Samuel Jones

Created on: May 02, 2008

The pros and cons of using military force to combat perceived terrorism vary according to one's point of view.

From the perspective of nation states and governments, military force is the overwhelmingly popular choice for dealing with enemies both foreign and domestic. The advantages of force include expediency, effectiveness and profitability, for it is a certain fact that the victor in war should naturally seize assets and resources to offset his own expenses in lives and munitions.

The cons for military force in these circumstances are born largely by the foreign nation hosting the conflict; rising death tolls, destruction of industry and infrastructure, destabilization of government, and a rise in extremism often leading to insurrection and a prolonged military presence on city streets.

From the perspective of the host nation, those who are accused of harboring evil terrorists within their midst, the use of military force by a foreign power engaged in a border-less 'war on terror', the cons far out weight the pros in terms of defending freedom and democracy.

For insight into the perspective of a terrorist, I will paraphrase Nicolo Machiavelli and say that leaders of nations need have no fear of plots and conspirators, for they are very few and face the entire machinery of the state arrayed against them. The use of military force against such groups launches them into celebrity, winning converts to their cause when 'collateral damage' from military strikes destroys on civilian homes. Genuine
terrorists are emboldened by a military response, gaining a massive pro in the form of morale and credibility.

The final viewpoint we will assess is that of the people of a nation engaged in a 'war on terror'. First and foremost, when the enemy is neither a normal criminal or a legitimate combatant, the necessary redefinition of laws to combat the perceived threat causes a "narrowing of civil liberties" for the population. This is a con. Second, to combat the international nature of terrorism, those who fight them must band together, forming alliances and treaties to make their war a worldwide campaign. These alliances have two definite pros; first, they allow countries to deploy their troops in distant lands, pursuing the War on Terror to the far side of the world. Second, these alliances permit nations to send troops into allied countries that may need assistance while their own forces are abroad.

For the citizens of these allied countries, these alliance are a con; very few people welcome foreign troops patrolling the streets, since anyone who protests at such a time would inevitably be labeled a terrorist.

From the citizen's perspective, therefore, the use of military force to combat terrorism is not supported by the potential cost and prevailing dangers.

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