Can we fight terrorism constructively? (Rick Steves's misguided thoughts)

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER ^ | Saturday, December 4, 2004 | RICK STEVES

[Andy from Beaverton]

Can we fight terrorism constructively?

By RICK STEVES
SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Editor's note: Filling in for David Horsey this week is Rick Steves, author of the "Europe Through the Back Door" books and host of the popular public television travel program, "Rick Steves' Europe."

On Sept. 11, 2001, the World Trade Center towers collapsed and angry clouds of dust chased U.S. citizens through the streets of New York City. The world was outraged. And the United States was outraged. So much so that -- three long years later -- many Americans still refuse to even dignify the attack by asking, "Why did they do it?"

But we must understand the enemy to combat them. Let me play the role of one of the thousands of Muslim parents who've named their babies Osama in the past year and look at the situation from the point of view of these devout Muslims offended and threatened by the reach of U.S. power.

Who was actually being attacked on that terrible day? The targets chosen were not symbolic of average Americans (say, a shopping mall or sports stadium). They weren't symbols of the freedoms that this country stands for (Statue of Liberty). Rather, the 9/11 hijackers went straight for the institutions of U.S. might in the world: international corporations (the Trade Towers), the U.S. military (the Pentagon) and -- had the fourth plane reached its likely goal -- our commander in chief (the White House).

So, why did they do it? Because "they hate freedom?" Come on -- that's ridiculous.

A billion Muslims throughout the world have three serious concerns: Palestine needs security and self-respect; they want the American military out of Islam; and they want control of their natural resources (to charge whatever they like for their oil). These are three basic foreign policy questions that any U.S. president could address without compromising the security and interests of America or Israel.

The United States' overwhelming global dominance is unprecedented in human history. Many Muslims fear the Americanization of their culture. In addition, the United States declares natural resources (such as oil) in Muslim countries "vital to its national security." And our immense military -- as big as the rest of the world's combined and unfightable by means other than terrorism --defends U.S. access to markets and natural resources throughout the globe.

It's clear that maintaining our dominance by force is costly in civil liberties, our moral standing in the world, tax dollars and human lives. So my Burning Question is:

Could we more effectively fight terrorism by understanding what motivates it and then taking away the source of the anger? Wouldn't it be cheaper and wiser to just face our enemy, ask "Why?" and respond constructively?

[Andy from Beaverton]

I've have a hard time watching his show in the past, now I don't think I'll ever watch it again.

[GianniV]

Oh really, Rick. Guess you have it all figured out. Why don't you have the females in your family go live under an Islamic regime. Let's see "who hates freedom" then.

Hmm - keep western culture out of Islam? Do mean radical feminism, the radical gay rights agenda and abortion as well?

I knew this guy was a total liberal. Such a limpwrist on his TV shows. And he airs his show on PBS.

[jocon307]

"Because "they hate freedom?" Come on -- that's ridiculous."

Oh yeah, Muslims love freedom, they just LOVE it. That's why they won't let their women go out of the house alone, or be seen in public, that's why they murder their daughters if they get out of line, that's why they chop off peoples hands for doing drugs and rip out their tounges for criticizing the gov't, that's why they indcotrinate their children with hatred from the earliest ages and are happy, nay thrilled, to turn those children into literal bombs of hatred.

It's all for their great love of freedom. Right, sure.

This author is an idiot. To borrow a phrase from Dylan: it's a wonder that he still knows how to breathe.

[ScottFromSpokane]

I'm sorry, but this guy is a travel writer, correct? And he's being given precious space in a major newspaper to write on foreign policy...why, exactly?

[tet68]

Why? Ok, now kill them.

[ml1954]

Could we more effectively fight terrorism by understanding what motivates it and then taking away the source of the anger? Wouldn't it be cheaper and wiser to just face our enemy, ask "Why?" and respond constructively?

Dear Mr. Steves, would this have worked for the Jews in Europe in the 1930's? How about all the rest who opposed the Nazis? How about with Imperial Japan? Or with the Russian Bolscheviks? Stick to travelogues, dimwit.

[End Times Sentinel]

Rick Steves is the biggest dork in the world.  I'd really like to get him to stop traveling, creating the impression that we're all back pack totting, hostel staying in, bargain hunting, map toting, socks with sandals wearing, geeks.

Although a mitigating factor is he tends to spend most of his time in europe and canada, and I couldn't give a flying F- what those goofballs think about us.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[edweena]

Can you really blame Steves when there are limp-wristed liberals just like him putting out reports in the Pentagon?

This report pays a lot of lip service to "Presidential leadership" at the begininning, but this part below pretty much denies everything the President has said about Iraq. I don't know why Pentagon officials allowed this report on the internet. Its on their own site for heaven's sake.

Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Strategic Communication

The information campaign — or as some still would have it, “the war of ideas,” or the struggle for “hearts and minds” — is important to every war effort. In this war it is an essential objective, because the larger goals of U.S. strategy depend on separating the vast majority of non-violent Muslims from the radical-militant Islamist-Jihadists. But American efforts have not only failed in this respect: they may also have achieved the opposite of what they intended.

American direct intervention in the Muslim World has paradoxically elevated the stature of and support for radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States to single-digits in some Arab societies.

-- Muslims do not “hate our freedom,” but rather, they hate our policies. The overwhelming majority voice their objections to what they see as one-sided support in favor of Israel and against Palestinian rights, and the longstanding, even increasing support for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, and the Gulf states.

--Thus when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy. Moreover, saying that “freedom is the future of the Middle East” is seen as patronizing, suggesting that Arabs are like the enslaved peoples of the old Communist World — but Muslims do not feel this way: they feel oppressed, but not enslaved.

--Furthermore, in the eyes of Muslims, American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering. U.S. actions appear in contrast to be motivated by ulterior motives, and deliberately controlled in order to best serve American national interests at the expense of truly Muslim self determination.

--Therefore, the dramatic narrative since 9/11 has essentially borne out the entire radical Islamist bill of particulars. American actions and the flow of events have elevated the authority of the Jihadi insurgents and tended to ratify their legitimacy among Muslims. Fighting groups portray themselves as the true defenders of an Ummah (the entire Muslim community) invaded and under attack — to broad public support.

--What was a marginal network is now an Ummah-wide movement of fighting groups. Not only has there been a proliferation of “terrorist” groups: the unifying context of a shared cause creates a sense of affiliation across the many cultural and sectarian boundaries that divide Islam.

[Westerby]

Steves' mind is as rumpled as his clothes.

There is a more fundamental question: why does he accept terrorist organizations as the legitimate representatives of Arab nations?

There are a few others. "Why did they do it"? Who exactly are "they" Mr. Steves? Who appointed them as the spokespeople for "one billion Muslims"?

If I take up arms, Mr Steves, and am willing to maim and kill for a cause I believe in (let's say removing all Muslims from American soil) - does that legitimize my cause? does that make me a leader and spokesperson of all other Americans, including you?

Can you think rationally? Logically? Or do you simply cower in the face of threats and danger? Or is the reluctance of Americans to spend their vacation dollars in Europe having an effect on your travel tour business?

[cfhBAMA]

They hate us because we are the only friend Israel has. And they would like to kill every person in Israel. But they know, they would be facing the United States. If they carried out their life's only dream!

[MNJohnnie]

Why did they do it?"


One has to wonder if this twit asks the same questions about the Nazi Death Camps. As a willing propagandist for mass murdering thugs, this guy is scum.

[hosepipe]

Ah!.. some "love" from Seattle... no wonder..

[Ex-Dem]

This, coming from a glorified tour guide/travel agent? I'm not impressed.

[Westerby]

This report does exactly what Steves has done - it lumps all "Muslims" together, assumes the United States is always wrong and, therefore, the violent actions of some, is the justifiable reaction of the entire Arab world.

It ignores the fact that the "arab voice" is largely that of extreme right wing christian fundamentalists, sorry, excuse me.........extreme Islamic fundamentalists whose idea of political dissent is death and destruction.

Of course it might be a good idea after all. It seems to influence some people.

[Gritty]

So, why did they do it? Because "they hate freedom?" Come on -- that's ridiculous.

No it isn't. Islamics hate the freedom of others to do whatever isn't written in their own little Book Of Hate, the Koran. They have been gunning against everyone else for 14 centuries.

Why numbskulls like Rick Steves thinks it's about Palestinian security, US military presence or control of their own resources (oil, mostly) is historically silly and shallow. Those excuses go back, at the most, six decades. That leaves out the other excuses for a lot of centuries!

Islam is in a war to change the entire planet into the House Of Islam. It's that simple. And that chilling.

Steves has been looking at beautiful but superficial scenery for so long he can't see what the malignancy going on behind the scenes. He is better off sticking to something he knows best - the cheapest deals on European hostels!

[7.62 x 51mm]

"Why did they do it?"

"Islam is, Khataw preaches, a peaceful religion that is focused on charity and goodwill toward others."

No, it's not. I won't go into *what it is*, as I'd probably get in trouble... aw, what the heck:

Islam, The Cult of Murder™.

Islam, The Cult of Terror™.

Islam, The Cult of Boy-Buggering™.

Islam, The Cult of Women-Chattelling™.

Islam, The Cult of Horror™.

Islam, The Cult of Rape™.

Islam, The Cult of Killing™.

Islam, The Cult of Subhumans™.

Islam, The Cult of Beheading™.

Islam, The Cult of Pigsh!t™.

Islam, The Cult of Deviants™.

Islam, The Cult of Degenerates™.

Islam, The Cult of Female Mutilation™.

Islam, The Cult of Death™.

Islam, The Cult of Christian & Jew Killing™.

Islam, The Cult of Infidel Murder™.

Islam, The Cult of Garbage™.

Islam, The Cult of A$$holes™.

Islam, The Cult of Trash™.

Islam, The Cult of Filth™.

Islam, The Cult of The Mentally-Ill™.

Islam the Cult of Evil™.

[rockrr]

Hey Rick: Take a walk....

[buckeye71]

This guy needs to stick with tourism and let the better qualified deal with terrorism.

[MaryJaneNC]

NO...because you cannot fight terrorism with reason.

[dzzrtrock]

(quoting rick steves)"Could we more effectively fight terrorism by understanding what motivates it and then taking away the source of the anger?"

That would involve a small nuke and a town called "Mecca" wouldn't it?

It is obvious that this person has ZERO grasp of Islam and their 1340 year war for world domination, or of the koranic teachings or of world history. HOWINHELL do these people get to the age of majority and know so little?