Acting like the "Lone Ranger" and making the world a gulag of police states is the only way to stop terrorism completely. However, that is unacceptable, so we need to get working on the helplessness that sends people into the terrorist camp. When people feel oppressed and that they have no opportunities, they can get desperate and consider things that a healthy mind would dismiss out of hand. Our strategy for combating terrorism should substantially decrease the reliance on coercion and the military and dramatically increase economic development and opportunity. Use more carrot and less stick!

The gradual loss of civil liberties and freedom can be compared to live lobsters in a pot being heated on the stove. Tolerance for hardship varies with the individual, but where there is no escape, the cumulative effect is disastrous. By the time a lobster is miserable, it is too late. Humans can feel like they are being "boiled alive", due to repressive conditions. Thus, before there is absolutely no room to maneuver, many people decide to sacrifice themselves for a cause. They join terrorists, wanting to believe it is noble contribution.

This type of situation is not at all new. It's been happening since time immemorial.
Peasant rebellions and popular insurrections have occurred throughout history. When people feel so oppressed that nothing much matters any more, watch out! When isolated hot heads becomes a broad movement, the conditions are ripe for radical change such as in a revolution. In America, we felt repressed in 1776, although we had much in common with our oppressors. Compared to the dire situation today in Iraq or Afghanistan, our forefathers may have had it good, yet it was more than they could accept and they risked everything for change.

If King George III had taken the American colonialist's requests more seriously and tried to respond respectfully to them, America would not have revolted. The same principle is true in the Middle East today. There are specific and general grievances causing many terrorists to take extreme action. If America and our allies would only listen and consider how to relieve some pressure on the people of the Middle East, there could be peaceful change.

The economic and political situation for the Palestinians (and many other Arabs) is simply unreasonable and unacceptable. Their economic life and human rights have continually been held hostage by Zionists or others. America's close relationship

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Key steps to stopping terrorism?
We want to hear your view. Write now!