{"id":48728,"date":"2014-10-20T12:00:59","date_gmt":"2014-10-20T11:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=48728"},"modified":"2015-05-05T21:29:37","modified_gmt":"2015-05-05T20:29:37","slug":"the-paradoxical-consequences-of-usa-counter-terrorism-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2014\/10\/the-paradoxical-consequences-of-usa-counter-terrorism-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Paradoxical Consequences of USA Counter-Terrorism Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jihadist Terrorist Perceived Motives and Successes<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile nothing is easier than to denounce the evil doer, nothing is harder than to understand him.\u201d<\/em>
\nFyodor Mihailovich Dostoevsky, The Possessed<\/em>, 1872<\/p>\n

A Failure to Understand . . . <\/strong><\/p>\n

As the United States of America counter terrorism programs continue to expand their \u201cwar\u201d against national and international terrorism, it is clear they are \u201cfailing\u201d to understand the problematic consequences of their policies and actions. What is being promoted as essential and effective policies and actions to contain and defeat extremist Jihadist terrorism, is. Paradoxically, resulting in the further growth and development of Jihadist terrorism, and increased criticism and distrust of the United States of America among Islamic and Non-Islamic nations.<\/p>\n

It is clear \u201cAl-Qaeda,\u201d long considered to be the organized source of Jihadist Terrorism, has become a vision, impulse, ideology and radical social movement. Because of this, Jihadist Terrorism can no longer be \u201cdefeated\u201d using policies and actions unsuited to a global era. This is the challenge to before the government and citizens of the United States of America. The continued disrespect, humiliation, and vilification of Islam, implicit and explicit, in USA foreign policies and actions, especially existing counter-terrorism approaches, sustain and nurture anger, resentment, and revenge. USA approaches have failed politically, economically, culturally, and morally. These approaches are in need of major evaluation and reconsideration.<\/p>\n

Terrrorism is as Terrorism Does . . . <\/strong><\/p>\n

Terrorism is not new. It has existed for millennia, arising whenever individuals or groups feel their freedoms and liberties are suppressed by dominating powers. Was this not the case for the American Revolution? All that changes over time and situation are the individuals or groups designated as terrorists, the individuals and groups struggling to resist and defeat them, and the methods used to bring change? Was Moses a terrorist? Was Gandhi a terrorist? Was Martin Luther King, Jr. a terrorist? Was Nelson Mandela a terrorist? Is the Dalai Lama a terrorist? If there is support for terrorism, the question must then be asked why, who, and how? <\/em>In the view of many Islamic people and other world citizens — even if unstated — Jihadist terrorists are often considered \u201cfreedom fighters,\u201d \u201cvengeful angels,\u201d and \u201cprotectors\u201d of Islam and Umah <\/em>(Global Islamic community). Cui bono?<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, massive national and international counter-terrorism programs and alliances rely on surveillance, monitoring, and archiving technology of world populations, reflexive military interventions using special operations and drones, and biased media and entertainment propaganda programs. These approaches have become threats to national security and a peaceful world order, rather than sources of security.<\/p>\n

Jihadist terrorists policies and actions committed to beheadings, massacres, abductions, and suicide bombers are violent and repugnant. For Jihadist terrorists, however, perceptions of the USA and its allies as seeking to destroy Islamic nations and Islam, results in a justifiable \u201cequality\u201d or \u201creciprocity\u201d of intent, means, and consequence. The Jihadist terrorist point to: (1) overthrows of elected Islamic state governments; (2) installation and imposition of foreign-dominated corrupt government leaders; (3) support of nefarious pro-western paramilitary groups; (4) unwarranted and unjustified invasions [e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria]; (5) corruption of Islamic national and cultural traditions; (6) media distortions, misrepresentations, and condemnations of Islam and Islamic states; (7) promotion of USA political<\/em> (i.e., regime control) and economic <\/em>(i.e., corporate, financial) interests.<\/p>\n

Are we reaping what we have sown? There appears to be a vast misunderstanding of Arabic and Islamic history, culture, and ways-of-being among USA policy makers in our Department of State, Defense, and Homeland Security sectors. This failed history of USA foreign policies has resulted in failed efforts to heal and resolve crises by resorting to a perpetuation of approaches devoid of understanding the cultural history, philosophy, religion, and ways-of-knowing-the-world and ways-being-in-the-world of Islamic nations and cultures. We have relied upon \u201cexperts\u201d whose personal interests and loyalties have led us into a vortex of domestic and international problems and tragedies. Cui bono? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The question must be asked: Are failed foreign policies and counter-terrorism programs supporting increased radicalization, fundamentalism, fractionalization, and fascism across the world? Are they decreasing national security? It can no longer be denied people and nations across the world are finding the \u201cmoral\u201d consequences of all sides to be intolerable and reprehensible. A Biblical adage is appropriate here: \u201cFor what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul\u201d <\/strong><\/em>(Mark, 8, 38.).<\/p>\n

Terrorism arises when individuals and groups feel powerlessness to influence, change and to control conditions of oppression, abuse, injustice, corruption, and\/or the special privileging of individuals or groups at the costs of the \u201cjustice.\u201d This is not a complex insight! As I described in a detailed historical chronology of terrorism, acts of terrorism began more than 2000 years ago, as protests against injustice and abuses of power. \u201cTerrorists\u201d become one group\u2019s \u201cfreedom fighters,\u201d and another group\u2019s vicious \u201cenemies\u201d attempting to destroy an existing social order (see Marsella, 2002). USA and its Allies claims of good intentions have lost their validity. For many throughout the world, the response to the USA is profound and tragic: trust has been is lost, myths have been broken, loyalties questioned, faith in ideals and ideologies shattered, and military solutions condemned.<\/p>\n

Amidst the chaos and confusion, identity politics emerge. Identity is an essential human need. When social upheaval occurs, and when uncertainty and unpredictability reign, individuals and groups seek an identity apart from larger national and international groups as anchors for defining their existence and survival. Is this not the case in the United States as we witness various ethnic and racial minority groups pursue historic ties? Is this not the case for State and global regions? Is this not the case for the Middle East where endless civil wars, nation collapse, and foreign interventions have encouraged identities quests rooted in racial, tribal, and religious affiliations. There is a renewed consciousness across the world of the pernicious consequences of commitment to power invested in serving limited and selfish interests. It is a question of justice, equality, and opportunity! Unfortunately, these have become rare options.<\/p>\n

Jihadist<\/strong> Terrorism Perceptions<\/strong><\/p>\n

I collected and collated Jihadist terrorism perceptions of the USA\u2019s policies and actions regarding Islam, Muslims, and extremist Muslims, from various media sources. Denials of these perceptions, or claims they are inaccurate and<\/p>\n

unwarranted, does not resolve the issue. In fact, they may increase problems. The perceptions include:<\/p>\n