Mogadishu Moments

Americans may not be the ones to win the War on Terror.

Paying attention to Somalia?

Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, and the episode known as “Black Hawk Down” was not recognized at the time by the world at large as a turning point in the War on Terror - where terrorists learned how to fight the Mighty United States. This admission came later.

Mogadishu is once again in the news, and may very well represent another turning point in the War on Terror.

Let’s clear something up:
While I do believe that the United States is one of the biggest targets for terror (our only rival for that dubious distinction is probably Israel) we are by no means the ONLY target for terror, and because we are not only separated from the hot spots of the world by massive oceans and tremendous distance but we are actually very effectively protected (I must grudgingly admit) by politicians who have no desire to see us wiped out (they only desire to be in power so they can claim the victory and vision, thus perpetuating their power), we are a very difficult target.

Thus (if you could untangle that paragraph) there are other targets for terrorism worldwide. The fact is that most terrorism uses Islam as one of its rallying cries, but I don’t believe terrorism has anything to do with Islam - it is merely using that religion as many religions (including Judaism and Christianity) have been used to inflame people who would otherwise shrug. Terrorism has to do with political power, oppression, and tyranny.

The United States can be a leader in the War on Terror - but we cannot win it. Why? Because the essential ingredients to winning the War on Terror are the same as were required for the war in Vietnam. Terrorists must be denied a hiding place, and they must be un-made. These two things can be done in America - but only on a limited scale. Why? Because we have only a limited terrorist problem. Oh, we have terrorists right here (blowing up SUV dealers, shooting abortion doctors, causing race riots, etc.) but they are amateurs and peons compared to terrorists who take down office buildings, bomb embassies, cause genocide.

Terror as a concept cannot be defeated by normal, material means - the ultimate elimination of terror ca only be a spiritual struggle. However, the kind of terror we’re talking about when we say the War on Terror can be defeated - but it must be defeated where THAT kind of terrorist can find hiding places and where those terrorists can be un-made.

Such an example is happening before our eyes - Ethiopia (and you had better examine your own stereotypes or assumptions about that country, because I guarantee it is nothing like it was in the 80s) has gone into Somalia and ousted terrorists - or at least is fighting them effectively.

We cannot go into every nook and cranny and root out terrorists. The world must do this. Our efforts may seem the loudest, most controversial, most visible, and may be perceived as the most effective, and we may have to be the (often maligned) leader in this cause, but the fact is that the WAR is going to be won by dozens of countries fighting their own little battles against the forces in their neighborhood. It is going to be won by the people of towns, cities, and villages kicking out or healing the violent in their midst.

If the Viet Cong had found no villages in which to hide, Vietnam would not have gone down the way it did.
The problem is, and I believe it is a natural, big problem, that it takes courage to stand up to the violent. Whether they are violent with weapons, or violent with words, it is not easy to stand against them. The War will be won when enough people find that local courage.