Bomb them with butter, bribe them with hope
A military response, particularly an attack on Afghanistan, is exactly what
the terrorists want. It will strengthen and swell their small but
fanatical ranks.
Instead, bomb Afghanistan with butter, with rice, bread, clothing and
medicine. It will cost less than conventional arms, poses no threat of US
casualties and just might get the populace thinking that maybe the Taliban
don't have the answers. After three years of drought and with starvation
looming, let's offer the Afghani people the vision of a new future. One
that includes full stomachs.
Bomb them with information. Video players and cassettes of world, leaders,
particularly Islamic leaders, condemning terrorism. Carpet the country
with magazines and newspapers showing the horror of terrorism committed by
their "guest". Blitz them with laptop computers and DVD players filled
with a perspective that is denied them by their government. Saturation
bombing with hope will mean that some of it gets through. Send so much
that the Taliban can't collect and hide it all.
The Taliban are telling their people to prepare for Jihad. Instead, let's
give the Afghani people their first good meal in years. Seeing your family
fully fed and the prospect of stability in terms of food and a future is a
powerful deterrent to martyrdom. All we ask in return is that they, as a
people, agree to enter the civilized world. That includes handing over
terrorists in their midst.
In responding to terrorism we need to do something different. Something
unexpected..something that addresses the root of the problem. We need to
take away the well of despair, ignorance and brutality from which the Osama
bin Laden's of the world water their gardens of terror.
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Please pass this along.
It is important that we learn to think in NEW ways. If we continue
attacking in the old ways we will get the same old results. Look at what
has been happening the middle east for thousands of years to see what we
can expect if we attack with bombs and military force.
Do we want to live a life of fear as people in the middle east do?
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