The World Must Unite In the Fight against Terrorism
By Hassan Tahsin
16 May 2013
AS many as 40 people were recently killed and hundreds others injured in a twin car bombing in the southern Turkish city of Reyhanli along the border with Syria. The city is a crossing point for Syrian refugees heading to Turkey.
In a related development, Egyptian Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim recently announced at a press conference that a terrorist organization was prevented from carrying out suicide bombings against foreign embassies in Egypt.
The frequency of such news makes me increasingly worried about the spread of international terrorism. Despite the success of the US intelligence forces in identifying and detaining the two brothers responsible for the Boston bombings and the success of the Egyptian police in arresting members of the terrorist cell, international terrorism is still very much alive and is spreading in various guises including what is called “sleeper cells”.
The volatile situation in many countries is proof that international terrorism is still active and is vehemently working. Terrorists often choose the time and place most suitable to them, such as the north of Mali or the south of Yemen, with complete disregard for the security measures being taken by the targeted countries. The measures taken by the US administration to wipe out terrorism, including the destruction of Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq, have not done much. On the contrary the violence is increasing and is only breeding more violence. This is because America is insisting on fighting terrorism unilaterally.
International terrorism was created to threaten the safety and security of peoples and countries as early as the time of the French Revolution. It has since taken various forms and has continued to exist in different shapes. It did not begin with the 9/11 attacks.
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak drew the attention of the world to international terrorism. Speaking before the European parliament in Strasbourg on 28 January 1986, he called for an international conference on terrorism under the sponsorship of the UN to deal with the phenomenon.
The US and its allies rejected the call claiming that what was going on between the Palestinians and the Israelis might weaken any alliance to combat terrorism.
Nobody took the Egyptian warnings seriously. European and other countries said at the time that Egypt had issues with terrorism while they did not. Time proved the validity of the Egyptian advice. Tokyo, Paris and some German cities soon witnessed terrorist operations. The biggest terrorist operation took place in America on 9/11 which was followed by terrorist explosions in Britain, Spain and Germany.
Why does America oppose the idea of an international conference to combat terrorism?
Searching for answers, we can only say that the US administration is eager to fight terrorism unilaterally according to its own definition of terrorism in a manner that would best serve its personal interests.
Secondly, America wants to lead the war on terror under international cover to avenge itself and restore its dignity which was shattered by the 9/11 attacks. An international conference on terrorism with binding decisions might block the door before the US can extract such vengeance.
Thirdly, America’s unilateral moves provide Washington with the opportunity to impose its hegemony on new territories in the world.
Fourthly, the US has used the 9/11 attacks as a pretext to invade Afghanistan. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that previous US administrations have this as an objective more than 17 years ago. The US tried to negotiate with the Taliban but was prevented by a number of sudden world changes and developments. America had always wanted to to have a foothold in Central Asia for the oil of the Caspian Sea.
There is also evidence that the US is determined to remain in Central Asia to look after its interests there. An international conference on terrorism would, therefore, impede American moves and obstruct its ambition to impose its control on the entire world.
An international conference on terrorism would formulate a comprehensive and clear-cut definition of terrorism, its concepts, organizations and funding sources. The conference would distinguish between terrorist actions and the national liberation struggles of the Palestinians and others.
The conference would ask the countries of the world not to accept the presence of terrorist elements on their territory under the name of “political refugees”. These countries would not be allowed to open military training camps for terrorist elements and would be forced to prevent terrorists from moving from one country to another. Violating countries would be subject to international sanctions.
America was hit by terrorists after the death of Bin Laden, but it should realize that there are many other Bin Ladens. The occurrence of terrorist operations on American soil will force Washington to declare a state of emergency which will create constant tension and worry for the American people.
As terrorism has spread and is perpetrated by terrorists of various nationalities, it is imperative that the conference, if it is ever held, should seek to open dialogue with terrorist groups. The diplomacy of negotiation may achieve good results. Countries should resort to the use of force to wipe out terrorism only when this diplomacy fails.
It is the unified international stand against terrorism that provides international legitimacy and makes it imperative for all countries to fight terrorism together. This is a far cry from the American attitude of fighting terrorism unilaterally which has no legitimacy at all.
Hassan Tahsin is an Egyptian writer and political analyst.
Source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130516165902
URL: https://newageislam.com/war-terror/the-world-unite-fight-terrorism/d/11709