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War on terror has only led to more strikes, deaths
28 Aug 2007, 0057 hrs IST,Subodh Varma,TNN
After 9/11, US President George Bush announced a Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) promising to rid the earth of terrorism. Six years and billions of dollars later, where does it stand? Has it succeeded in controlling international terrorist activity?
GWOT has three components. Operation Enduring Freedom is for conducting operations in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia), trans-Sahara (Libya, Chad, Mauritania, Algeria, Senegal, etc), and the Philippines.
Operation Iraqi Freedom is the name for the war in Iraq, being fought by a coalition of 20 countries at present, but mainly comprising US forces. And, Operation Noble Eagle is the domestic component of GWOT, aimed at securing the safety of citizens within the US. In addition, there is a small component called Georgia Train and Equip, for supporting Georgian troops. Apart from direct military operations, GWOT involves diplomatic interventions, public relations, training, infrastructure building and reconstruction.
A comprehensive database of international terrorist strikes and deaths maintained by RAND Corporation and the National Memorial Institute for Prevention of Terrorism, supported by the US government’s Office of Homeland Security reveals that GWOT has not succeeded in its primary objective. The number of terrorist incidents as well as deaths due to them has actually increased since 9/11. In the 44.5 months immediately preceding the 9/11 attack, there was an average of 106 terrorist incidents per month. Since then, the number has increased to 186 incidents per month, excluding Iraq. If Iraq is included, the average rises to 284 incidents per month.
Similarly, deaths in terrorist attacks increased from an average 109 per month before 9/11 to 195 per month since then, excluding Iraq. Including Iraq increases the toll to 444 per month.
According to the US Government Accountability Offices Report No GAO-07-1056R submitted to the US Congress on July 26 this year, the US Department of Defense has been provided with $542.9 billion between 2001 and April 2007 for GWOT. The amount spent has been increasing every year. Of this, $324.9 billion has been for Operation Iraqi Freedom. About $76.5 billion have been spent on Operation Enduring Freedom and $27.7 billion on Operation Noble Eagle. As of now, however, there is little evidence that it is not money down the drain.
not much consensus, three different articles stating totally opposite views...
How many terrorist attacks has US had on its soil AFTER it launched war on Iraq ?
How many terrorist attacks did India have after it overthrew its Hindu right wing, elected a muslim as its president and publicly asserted that India belongs FIRST and FOREMOST to muslims ?
Inference: US policy is right. India’s weak-kneed policy will only bring further ruin of her own people and economy.
And whats wrong with Israel ? It is under constant threat of terror, but those people are willing to fight terrorism rather than surrender. The price of freedom they pay is extreme, but it is a noble and honorable way to live. India’s official state policy of appeasing terrorists and turning the other cheek to terrorism, will keep devaluing the lives of her own citizens in future.