Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 15:29:48 -0500 From: "Karna, Jim T" Subject: Reflections on a U.S. Response to the Attacks Thanks for the thoughts Aurelio. Here are some of my reflections on a possible U.S. response to the Sept. 11 attack on the WTC and Pentagon. Q. How can a nation go to war, until it has defined its enemy? The answer is obvious. A nation cannot go to war until it has defined its enemy. Q. How can we define an enemy that lives in the shadows and doesn't show its face? The enemy must first be moved into the light. We either need to cast a light into the shadows or draw the enemy out into the light. This could take time and test our patience. Q. Once the enemy is defined, is violence the proper response? The danger of responding with violence is the likelihood that it will create new victims and spawn a renewed cycle of violence. Wipe out one terrorist organization, and watch 15 others spring up. History is replete with examples of nations overreacting to violence in ways that have only spawned new threats to their security. To eradicate terrorism and violence, the root causes must be addressed. Q. Does this mean society doesn't have the right to use violence to protect itself from violence? Society has the right to protect itself from violence and this may require a violent response. However, society's response must be carefully measured to ensure that innocent lives are protected. Justice demands that only the guilty suffer the consequences of their actions. If a society's response to terrorism increases the number of innocent victims, then it will have failed to achieve justice. To truly protect itself from terrorism and violence, society must address its root causes. Q. What are the 'root causes' of terrorism and violence? Probably fear and ignorance. Most bad actions stem from fear and ignorance just as most good actions arise from love and wisdom. Q. How did 'fear and ignorance' play a part in these attacks? The perpetrators are likely to be part of a group that believes the United States is a mortal enemy of their cause. They probably believe that U.S. Middle East policies are the cause of distress and misery to their relatives, friends and allies. For example, they see United States dollars being sent to Israel, Israel using such dollars to purchase weapons, and then using such weapons to kill innocent Palestinian women and children. They probably fear that if the U.S. and its allies are not stopped, their group's religion, society and way of life will be eradicated. Q. If all of the foregoing is true, then how should the U.S. respond to these attacks? In the short term, those who aided, abetted or incited these attacks must be hunted down and brought to justice. In the long term, however, the U.S. must address the root causes of this terrorism and violence--fear and ignorance. This will not be easy and may require a reevaluation and adjustment of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. It may require affirmative steps to demonstrate to the world that the United States is not a part of the problem in the Middle East, but part of the solution--a force on the side of peace and justice. It may require education. It will require time and may test our patience. My heart goes out to all the victims of these attacks and their families. I pray for peace. Best Regards, Jim Karna Aramco Services Company Law Dept. Houston, TX. Tel. 713-432-5924 Fax. 713-432-5913