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Fighting Terrorism

Same topic, different views

By Tim Baldwin & Joe Carbonari

By Tim Baldwin

How do you fight terrorism? The underlying principle: self-defense. But how it is executed is the question. Experience is a tremendous teacher. Since 9/11, America has launched and sustained military action around the world. Terrorism seems only to be growing. Is a different approach needed now?

If other nations are aiding terrorism against us and our allies, Congress has the power (and duty) to declare war and pass acts of Marque and Reprisal against them. The goal should be finite and conclusive to avoid a prolonged war.

Other nations should take more responsibility for fighting terrorism in and close to their borders. Encourage them in this effort. Policing shadowy targets around the world is not America’s obligation.

America should reconsider spreading its interest around the world. Produce energy, manufacture products, and foster ingenuity here.

Secure our borders so we know who is here, why and where.

America should foster peace around the world by policing our citizens within the law and decency. Do not encourage lawlessness in foreign nations by violating Americans’ rights.

People must have the arms and means to protect themselves individually and locally.

Take power out of the hands of political and economic imperialists and elites and give it to the people, showing the world what a democratic republic is supposed to be.


 

By Joe Carbonari

The threat posed by violent Islamic extremists is large and growing. Between the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, active Islamic militants number in the tens of thousands. This is serious. We must tighten security and trade some privacy for safety.

Sufficiently reducing the threat from the Islamic State alone will entail more military engagement on our part. We will kill some Jihadists, and make some more. It is inevitable and necessary. We should regret, however, not celebrate it. Human decency includes all peoples and places.

The end we seek is safety. We want to be able to move around, at home and in the world, feeling relatively secure from physical attack. Now, violent Jihadists are making the world unacceptably unsafe.

Their line of thinking calls for the defeat of non-believers, violently if required, and reversion to Sharia Law, which was rooted in the harshness of centuries-old desert life. It is not suited for today.

It does, however, suit many disaffected and angry youth, especially Muslim youth. It can provide a vehicle for the improvement of their sense of self.

This must change. What they do is not good. It must be shamed by Islamists, their peers – clearly and consistently.

This fight is about a line of thinking. We can’t just kill people. We must meet, and defeat, the thought.