Dead Cant Rant

When fighting a desperate war, the cause is best served when one employs tactics that have been proven effective. Recent developments have shown that at least one side in the current conflict understands this maxim. In recent days, the terrorists in Afghanistan have shown that they acknowledge the need to step up the level of violence in their efforts to topple the nation’s budding democracy. Therefore, they have chosen the most logical path: blackmail and extortion as perfected by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Last week, mimicking the model perfected by Zarqawi, Mullah Sayed Akbar Agha, leader of the Taliban terrorist splinter group Jaish-e-Muslimeen (Army of Islam), orchestrated the kidnapping of three UN aid workers during a daylight raid in Kabul. Of course, the usual pattern is followed: the kidnapping of three non-combatants, threats of execution, and the obligatory ransom demand. The mullah is calling for the withdrawal of all British troops from Afghanistan as well as the release of all Muslim prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Every time a country bows to such ultimatums, the terrorists are emboldened and encouraged to continue to use this strategy of violent intimidation.

In order to fight this type of terror, we must understand that living and working in countries gripped by terror is in and of itself a dangerous, and possibly deadly, proposition. If we have any hope to win this war, we must realize that deaths of civilian workers will occur. It is a tragedy any time a person is murdered, especially in such a savage manner. But it must never be forgotten that whenever a country or government capitulates to terrorists in order to save one life, hundreds if not thousands will pay the ultimate price for their government’s misguided intentions.

In the wake of the Madrid bombings in March, Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero ordered the withdrawal of 1,300 Spanish troops from Iraq. Contrary to popular Spanish opinion, this sign of weakness did not ensure their safety and security; instead, the weakness shown only encouraged the terrorists. Recently, the world was “stunned” to discover that another plot to further erode the authority and strength of the Spanish government was in the works. The casualties from this planned attack are inestimable. But even more disturbing than the casualties resulting from the attack would be the ideological victory achieved by the terrorists, both in Spain and around the world.

In the Philippines, President Arroyo in July ordered the withdrawal of Filipino troops from Iraq and paid a $6 million ransom to secure the release of a single Filipino truck driver from Zarqawi’s clutches. Obviously this strategy did not work. One of the three UN workers kidnapped on Thursday was a Filipino election worker. Diplomats from the Philippines are hard at work trying to secure his release — no word yet on whether or not this will involve another $6 million ransom payment.

Not unlike Israel, the Philippines have experienced terrorist attacks in malls, airports, beauty parlors, and other public places. Hundreds have died at the hands of Muslim extremists, and the government refuses to back down when confronting terrorism within their own borders. Yet, when faced with the death of one person abroad, the entire Philippine government mobilizes in retreat. To call this situation “bizarre” does not do the term justice. Perhaps the Philippine government is taking it’s nuances from a source closer to our own home.

Make no mistake: this kowtowing and giving in to extortion will not end the problems nations and citizens have with Muslim terrorists. Rewarding terrorists or pretending they are nothing more than a “nuisance” has not worked in Spain or the Philippines, and it will not work in any other part of the world. Terrorists understand the psychology of the West perhaps much better than we understand their’s. They are masters of manipulation. They realize it is far easier for us to identify with the death of one person than with the deaths of 3,000 people. By providing us with a face, a name, and a grieving family, they are transferring responsibility for the hostages’ deaths to us. How could we not help someone bleeding along the side of the street?

We must resist the urge to fall prey to this unwarranted guilt. No one ever said this would be an easy fight; in fact, we’ve been repeatedly told this will be a long, hard war, fought with “blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” Everyone who supports victory for the coalition in the War on Terror needs to understand that the terrorists are playing by different rules.

We are all targets now, whether we support the coalition or not. They don’t care what our political beliefs are, or how much money we have, or even what our religious affiliation is. They only care if we are weak — or strong.

Because if we are weak, they can defeat us. But if we are strong, we will prevail.