A better way to fight terrorism??

[cynatnite]

I just snipped bits and pieces, but the whole article gives you a much better idea. I wonder how come nobody thought of this before :eyes:

http://search.csmonitor.com/2005/0204/p01s04-wome.html?s=t5

"It's only logical to tackle these people through their brains and heart," says Faris Sanabani, a former adviser to President Abdullah Saleh and editor-in-chief of the Yemen Observer, a weekly English-language newspaper. "If you beat these people up they become more stubborn. If you hit them, they will enjoy the pain and find something good in it - it is a part of their ideology. Instead, what we must do is erase what they have been taught and explain to them that terrorism will only harm Yemenis' jobs and prospects. Once they understand this they become fighters for freedom and democracy, and fighters for the true Islam," he says.

"Yemeni goals are long-term political aims whereas the American agenda focuses on short-term prosecution of military or law enforcement objectives," wrote Charles Schmitz, a specialist in Yemeni affairs, in 2004 report for the Jamestown Foundation, an influential US think tank.

As the relative success of Yemen's unusual approach becomes apparent, Hitar has been invited to speak to antiterrorism specialists at London's New Scotland Yard, as well as to French and German police, hoping to defuse growing militancy among Muslim immigrants.

US diplomats have also approached the cleric to see if his methods can be applied in Iraq, says Hitar.

"Before the dialogues began, there was only one way to fight terrorism, and that was through force," he says. "Now there is another way: dialogue."

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. He gets the stating of the obvious award for the century.... obvious to

someone who wants to address the real problems... but shunned by those whose goal it is to expand empire and control resources.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. how about that

What causes terrorism in the first place? Could it be a perception of injustice and hopelessness?

Can dialog help? Let's look at an example from American history of how dialog helped diffuse a tense and potentially dangerous situation:

In 1932, veterans of WWI marched on Washington, demanding an early release of their bonus money. President Hoover sent in troops and guns and used force to scatter the marchers, which only whipped up resentment and didn't stop Bonus Marches from happening. When FDR was elected, they came again. FDR sent his wife, who made sure the marchers had lots of coffee to drink (it was cold weather) and who sat and listened to their grievences. The marchers went back home.

Dialog and sympathetic listening work.

[ck4829]

3. It's sad because the world has to have a reminder this is possible

I am tired of the RW'ers and Worldnutdaily for example basically going around saying "Muslims can only understand force and violence".

I understand love and compassion perhaps to a greater degree than the RW'ers. I don't hate them, I don't go around saying that they can only understand force and violence.

Muslims are just like anyone else except for the fact that they follow a different religion.

[NJCher]

4. R-W'ers often claim Muslims are commanded to attack us

I am mailing this article to people I have heard say this. This article proves that the Koran does not advocate violence against other religions.


Cher