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| Reference Material |
| A Real Way Out: Fighting Despair, not War By John-Edouard Silva Israel, currently hitting Hezbollah�s military infrastructures, attempts to eradicate their military power. But this is the wrong move. This method will bring no lasting solution, but, rather, a dangerous short-term one. Israel will never get rid of Hezbollah or Hamas or whatever form any of these extremist groups take in the future by fighting the wrong enemy. Israel has been here before. Their enemies have just come back stronger. Not to mention, were it not for President Bush�s (voter-friendly) decision to support Israel in these attacks, then Israel would have the entire International community on their back. Once this military campaign is over, when Hamas or Hezbollah or any other group might actually be physically destroyed, a new one will form a few years after. Probably stronger and definitely more violent then the ones before it. Israel cannot keep launching these military offensives every few years. This does nothing but stimulate the perpetual cycle of violence. It brings no lasting peace and no real solution. Hezbollah itself is not �the root cause of the problem� as President Bush tells us. They must face the real way out to the problem, by attacking the real power these groups prosper with: despair. This region doesn�t need another photo-friendly Middle East Peace Plan, they need a Middle East Economic Plan. There is much talk today of a peacekeeping mission for the region. This would be a temporary solution to a deeper problem. Why is there no talk of a Middle-East Development Committee? That is how to beat despair. Instead of dropping bombs on these people, drop aide. Put an end to the misery and despair terrorist groups thrive on every day. There has to be more of an emphasis on developing these countries rather then destroying them. Would anyone in their right mind, who had stable living conditions, dedicate his life (and possibly give it away) to the destruction of another country? The men who follow these groups are not especially evil. Their religion does not preach any form of violence and their culture certainly doesn�t promote it. These people simply have nothing left to do with their lives. Had they the choice between terrorism and a job, they would surely choose the latter. The problem is: they just haven�t been given that option. Give any people the choice between war and despair or peace and security, they will always choose peace. That should be Israel�s definite weapon of choice. In a land where all hope is lost, any radical can take control; in a land where hope can bloom, hatred is forgotten. The moment Arabs actually believe that tomorrow just might be better then today, is the moment groups like Hezbollah and Hamas will begin to truly disappear. Put simply: you are not going to blow yourself up today, if you believe you can get a job tomorrow. Nor will you accept to go to war. Israel should do exactly that which terrorist groups cannot: help build a stable, peace-loving and developed country. Help them build schools and roads rather then bombing them. That�s a power Hezbollah or Hamas at their prime could never fight against. Hitting at the surface of things will lead to nothing. Solving the core of the problem is the only lasting way out. Give the Arab people a real choice and you will begin to see a considerable drop in extremist followers. You will see a real uprising against these radical groups as they get in the way of these people�s dreams. A dream that can be made reachable, through economic development. Give them hope and they will fight for it, instead of fighting against an enemy. The World will get rid of more terrorists by economically developing these countries rather then bombing them. What is a leader with no followers? What is Hamas or Hezbollah without their followers? These groups tap into the misery of the land to recruit followers. Can you imagine what it must feel like for a father to not be able to support his own family? For a 14 year old to not be able to dream or hope? This is the embarrassment and despair that Hezbollah and Hamas count on. They offer a way out to these people. These groups not only give them an explication for their dire situation (�blame Israel�) but they also offer solutions. After visiting the ruins of Baalbek in the south of Lebanon you are approached by little children selling you t-shirts and hats imprinted with the logos of Hezbollah. They sell these like other kids would in any other country selling sports jerseys or baseball caps. In the south of Lebanon, there are explicit effigies put up in �honor� of past martyrs. Flags stand up brandishing the Hezbollah colors. In the Palestinian territories, how does Hamas recruit martyrs? By giving them a goal in life. What seems as an immoral and radical act to many seems like a welcome relief to others. This is what these groups propose to these people, that they don�t have. They offer an easy way out of their misery. They relieve the embarrassment and despair of their lives, by offering them the �honor� of martyrdom and the respect of having your family taken care of. These terrorist groups will exist as long as they are able to satisfy the needs and responsibilities of the people. Something a weak State cannot offer. The critical error Israel has made is undermining the states role in the respective countries it is currently at war with. That is how these terrorist groups have been able to take so much control and that is how they have infiltrated the respective governments. If Israel had spent less money on its army and more on supporting governments in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, then groups like Hezbollah or Hamas could never have taken the power they have today. Not because the governments could have kept better control over its territories, but because the governments could have offered the same things to the people Hezbollah and Hamas do. Israel has an absolute right to defend herself against all its enemies. They do not have a right to undermine a sovereign State�s authority over its own territory. Instead of destroying the little power and stability the Lebanese government had, Israel should have worked with them. Together, they could have pushed out Hezbollah. Together they could have helped build a better Lebanon. One in which these groups would have no despair to thrive on, no hole to fill. Israel and the World should be implementing hope in these countries, not increasing further hatred. The best way to combat terrorism is to defeat it at its core. Fight the real problem: fight the despair. On that day, lasting peace will come. John-Edouard Silva (212) 702-4936 [email protected] http://web.mac.com/j.e.silva |