http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/10/AR2010011002143.html
In his most recent article, "Don't Panic", Newsweek editor Fareed Zakaria suggests that an emotional, heavy-handed reaction to the attempted airline bombing last month may be unwarranted, and may in fact be exactly the sort of response the attack was intended to provoke. Certainly this suggestion runs counter to the impulses of most readers (as well as policymakers) and is therefore an "unacceptable proposition."
He cites the unique nature of terrorism as an instrument of effecting change. The real physical damage of a terrorist attack is not important; what matters is the psychological impact. If it did not trigger fear and anger, it would not be effective. Zakaria suggests that Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the botched attack because, although it failed to claim any lives, it still elicited the desire response.
He interprets the attack as an ill-conceived potshot at the US, that indicates Al-Qaeda's inability to mount more effective, large-scale attacks. He argues that to further stifle air travel with security procedures of dubious efficacy would not make the nation safer, and would only serve to dignify a rather desperate and amateurish attack.
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Hmm.. interesting claim but I can't say I fully agree with him. 'The real physical damage of a terrorist attack is not important." Okay, FALSE! Tell that to the families of terrorist victims. I do believe that the bombing did serve part of its purpose in triggering fear and anger, that is true. However, I don't feel the U.S. is making a bigger deal about it than it is. The bombing was an attack, an offense. It is not okay to go bombing planes with the chance of harming American citizens. America is in war, this is not okay.
ReplyDeleteI should have rephrased; the real physical damage of a terrorist attack is not important *to the terrorists*. Obviously the death and destruction matters, but it isn't the purpose of the attack. More Americans are killed by bee stings and drowning in the bathtub than by terrorist attacks. The point of terrorism is not to physically destroy; it's to psychologically wound, to alter policy.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to respond to terrorist attacks so that they don't happen again; but that response shouldn't be rash and emotional.