| Antoon |
12 april 2007 19:16 |
Globale terreurstatus daalt sinds Bin Laden's mislukte gok van 9/11.
De tekst is in het Engels, waarvoor excuses, maar o zo pertinent!
Citaat:
Rationality of the insane
Global terror's status declining since Bin Laden's misguided 9/11 gamble Published: 04.12.07, 19:38 / ynet/ opinion
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not release the 15 British soldiers out of the goodness of his heart, nor out of fear. Namely: It was out of fear, but a type of fear that has become rational. It is a fear that has aged like meat and wine, and which has been injected into the veins of Arab state leaders who have built themselves a system of laws and regulations.
It is a fear that over the years has changed pan-Islamic, anti-American dynamics from within. Ironically, it is fear of terror, because the definition of "terror" is terrible, monstrous fear.
Fear of terror is fear of its use; an executive fear pertaining to decision making. The rationale that guides it is economical, monetary - a rationale of leniency. It is fear of choosing the path of terror that doesn't stem from humanitarian motives or public opinion, but rather, from the futility of the measure, because in recent years it has become more detrimental than beneficial. Instilling rationale in fanatic terror cells lacking any human character constitutes the West's true victory.
Terror began as a wonderful start-up, the radicals of the world who had tired of the futility of protests and who lost hope in bringing about change through democratic means - and who had lost hope itself – turned to violence and bloodshed, and to harming innocent people - to the grandiose plasticity of killing. They realized that this was the only way they could achieve their objectives, or shift public opinion in their favor, and draw attention to their plights and just struggle, more or less. And it worked. They were termed "freedom fighters."
Terror became an affective tool in the hands of users who achieved cross-border support and occasionally also international intervention. Terror proved that there was a power greater than the power of the State to impose law and order on its citizens: It was the power to instill fear in their hearts.
History's greatest gamble
Yet the world became accustomed to the situation. Over the years terror became bearable and even reasonable. To their surprise, leaders discovered that once rage had subsided, terror became beneficial image-wise, tactically, strategically and economically. The world became accustomed to the new situation. Not only Israel became accustomed to buses exploding, cafes being blown sky high, dead babies and children with amputated limbs.
And then Bin Laden came along, and he didn't give a damn. And to this the world (namely America) wasn't accustomed. It didn't expect such a severe blow to two of its most prominent symbols (the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.)
The events of September 11 can be described in mini-dramatic terms, but more than anything they were a gamble. History's greatest gamble. Bin Laden went for the entire kitty (Allah only knows what he thought he would gain.)
This gamble failed, and the outcome of the failure directly impacted the way terror is perceived today. It is no longer a legitimate tool, not a predicament we must learn to live (and die) with for the sake of human rights, or so that gas would continue to flow into the Ford in Connecticut, or so that dubious defense institutions would approve outrageous budgets.
The events of 9/11 led to the depreciation of the terror coin. Now it barely has any value. In fiscal terms: The number of virgins available to a suicide bomber has dropped from 72 to 7.2.
This is why Ahmadinejad released the captives: Because it wouldn't have been worth his while. And that's why it has been quiet here in recent years. Relatively quiet.
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Ik had het niet beter kunnen formuleren. |
