Adopt Multiple Strategies to Wipe Out Terrorism

LET US THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND ACT


Do we want to get rid of the lingering terrorism once and for all? Then we have to put pressure on the government to adopt multiple strategies as highlighted in the article posted in October 2008. In addition, instead of leaving it to governments alone, each one of us should help the governments to strengthen security arrangements and do our best to extend the "psychological war” in our localities because both are potent weapons for wiping out terrorism, The least one can do is to forward this article and the earlier post to as many persons as possible to create awareness.



Adopt Multiple Strategies to Wipe Out Terrorism

Synopsis

Multiple strategies have to be adopted to wipe out terrorism. No doubt, a fool proof security system has to be built up. But this cannot be wished in with a magic wand. Recruiting and training adequate number of personnel and equipping them with modern weapons and devices and ensuring their instant mobility and coordinated functioning will take time, may be years. Meanwhile, all-round alertness and actions by non-government establishments / organizations and people are also essential. In addition, a “psychological war” should be carried out in a mission mode. This should adopt four strategies viz., (1) demoralize terrorists by making them understand that they have not achieved their aims even after repeated efforts (e.g., for decades in J & K) and it is futile to go on, (2) disillusion them by pointing out that they will be disowned by their sponsors when the latter have to save their skin (e.g., closing their eyes to a proper burial for killed terrorists), (3) carry out an information, education and communication (IEC) campaign in the communities of terrorists to deprive them of even moral support from their own community, and (4) a humanitarian approach to help terrorists to become useful citizens and enjoy peaceful and happy life and also remove the slur on their community. In stead of leaving this important psychological war with tremendous potential to governments alone, people’s organizations in every locality and the media should take active part in an organized manner in order to ensure its speedy success.



1. The Mumbai carnage cannot be easily forgotten. But, instead of sulking and blaming others, we have to jointly move ahead and think and act quickly in a balanced and pragmatic manner to prevent such occurrences in future. For this, it is helpful to re-examine the multiple strategies mentioned in the article posted in October 2008 (referred to hereinafter as the artcle), which was also under circulation in the internet during October ‘08. A copy of the article had also been sent to the central Minister for Home Affairs and the National Security Adviser.

2. The article had clearly shown in para 1 that terrorists have not been able to achieve their aims and warned that “when the terrorists are in the process of getting demoralized by realization of the failure of their aims, one can expect a spurt in violence as desperate acts even after shorter intervals [para 1 (2)].” During earlier attacks, after placing bombs in some places, terrorists had moved away to safe places, leaving no trace for identifying them. This time, they stayed to bomb and kill clearly showing that they were desperate to achieve something bigger. This led to direct identification of the terrorists for the first time and availability of evidence about the planners. Sad to say, the above warning was not taken seriously by the central Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Security Adviser. Even the terrorist attacks in Merriott Hotel in Pakistan did not create any alertness about similar possibilities.

3. In para 5, the article had drawn attention to the fact that because the war on terrorism (even by advanced countries) achieved very little in seven years, the “war” needs to be strengthened by adding a “psychological approach”. It had emphasized that (1) all security agencies ought to do this widely in a subtle manner and (2) the media should, instead of helping terrorists by spreading fear, take pains to chip in systematically in an organized manner with investigative stories which expose the sad plight of terrorists and their supporters, as a part of this psychological approach to demoralize terrorists. These also have been ignored by both the agencies. Since terrorist organizations had used a psychological approach to recruit terrorists, the same approach should be swiftly adopted on a wide penetrating scale to counteract this.

4. The government has set up a National Investigation Agency (NIA). It is well known that most of our failures are in implementation. To be realistic, (1) many hurdles have to be crossed for ensuring coordination between intelligence agencies, state police and coast guards; all of them with conflicting interests, squabbles, prejudices and political diversions, and (2) what can NIA do when intelligence agencies, police and coast guards are facing acute shortage of trained personnel, modern weapons & devices and lack of instant mobility to cover the whole country effectively? As the article had pointed out in para 3, “this involves lot of efforts on recruitment, training, procurement of gadgets of high technology (all three on a large scale) etc. and will take time.” May be years! Meanwhile, terrorists can continue their brutal attacks, because the acute shortages in trained personnel, modern weapons and devices are serious handicaps to effective functioning of security personnel all over our large country and its long coastline. Terrorists can gather this information and select the “weaker” sites – more so if they have local support. Hence the need to immediately start the psychological war mentioned in para 3 above, to neutralize such support.

5. The article had also suggested in para 3: “meanwhile, security agencies have to put in their best efforts with a sense of commitment to gathering intelligence without any distractions. People in every locality should spontaneously come forward and organize themselves to facilitate and support these efforts, instead of shedding crocodile tears and leaving it to government alone. Anti-social tendencies to spread rumours and hoax calls, which divert scarce resources, should be strictly avoided. There should be a sense of fearless alertness all around.” These important practical aspects have not received the priority attention they deserved, particularly from security agencies, establishments visited by large number of people and local people’s organizations. Security agencies ought to take the lead in organizing and guiding others in a mission mode. Regular monitoring is also essential to ensure alertness.

6. The article had pointed out in para 6: “Another potent weapon is to identify and educate the communities or special groups which have been indirectly supporting terrorists.” “It is crucial to inform and motivate these communities to raise their voice against such inhuman killings. This has become easier because some Muslim religious leaders in India have unequivocally spoken out that such killings are forbidden by Islam.” “Such pronouncements and glorious examples of communal harmony deserve high praise and encouragement. All these will scoop earth from under the feet of terrorists and make it difficult for them to continue with their brutal acts.” It deserves to be highlighted that this is one area where further action has been taken by non-government bodies. Indian Muslims have categorically stated that terrorists are not “jihadis” but “fasadis” (a Quranic term for those who murder innocent people) and forbidden burial of the killed “fasadis” in Indian soil. These steps could provoke alarming doubts in minds of terrorists everywhere and dissuade them. As many as 6,000 religious leaders around the country gathered in Hyderabad and distanced themselves from terrorism and called upon their followers to be alert and follow suit in an active manner. Indian Muslims have categorically declared: “terrorism has no place in Islamic doctrine”, “the Mumbai terrorism was a war against both India and Islam” and “People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslims”. These strongly condemning steps are highly commendable because terrorists will then lose even moral support from Muslims in India or even Pakistan to an increasing extent, over a period of time. Sad to say, such steps have not been encouraged, widely publicized and prominently rewarded. Wide spread IEC activities should be urgently carried out not only by governments but also by media and people’s organizations in each locality. The former should take initiative to organize these and provide subtle “propaganda” materials etc. on a wide scale.

7. In para 3, the article had emphasized that “hotels and other lodging places should be very alert to spot any suspicious activities of their clients, without infringing on their privacy.” What happened in Mumbai showed phenomenal laxity on the part of rich hotels which could afford to arrange fool proof security at the expense of their rich customers. After the terrorist attacks in Merriott Hotel in Pakistan, it is unimaginable that terrorists could walk in and out of the Mumbai hotels repeatedly for any number of days with AK 47 rifles, bombs, grenades etc.! Surprisingly no questions have been asked.

8. On the other hand, what have terrorists achieved by brutal killing of innocent people and destruction of property in Mumbai? These hotels have started functioning again and life is back to normal in Mumbai. Security efforts are more unified and strengthened. India did not fall into their intended trap and start a war to punish the terrorists despite enormous political and emotional pressures. The only gain was creating a fear psychosis, with un-intentioned help from reckless TV coverage and over reactions by other media blindly going in for news value alone. Probably, Pakistan army gained. But, this gain was against democracy and may create future problems there. This will not destabilize India. Moreover, how can terrorists be satisfied when they had killed 33 Muslims who formed about one-fifth of the total innocent people killed in Mumbai? Whereas terrorists wanted to stir up divisive forces in India, the country has become more united in condemning them. The terrorists and their supporters are facing problems in the country of their origin which are likely to be magnified because of persistent global pressures. Killed terrorists were called “fasadis” and denied proper burial. Those who incited them to become terrorists have cheated them by disowning them e.g., by showing scant regard for the bodies of killed terrorists from their own country lying unburied in hospital morgue since 29 November, 2008. Religious leaders dealt another serious blow by emphatically proclaiming once again that Islam does not justify killings of innocent people. Terrorist activities in Jammu & Kashmir had continued for many decades without any real success. The unequivocal election result by a large percentage of voters, despite poll boycott, is yet another demoralizing blow. All these pose serious problems for terrorists. This may make them more desperate or lull them for some time. It is better to be prepared for desperate acts of violence by terrorists. For this, there should be a sense of fearless alertness all around, more so by establishments which attract large crowds, local organizations of people, and media which can play a serious helpful role (see para 3 above). These are essential because having a well coordinated and effective army of security personnel with modern weapons and devices for quick action all over the country will take time, may be years.
9. The article had pointed out some imbalances in our approach. “Loss of life due to terrorist attacks has been followed by a much larger hue and cry than even much bigger losses due to calamities such as floods, earthquake, hurricanes, road accidents, collapsing of structures etc.” [para 1(2)]. Times of India, Bangalore (8 Dec.’08) reported (page11) that figures provided by National Crimes Records Bureau show that in 2007, about 2,800 people were killed by lightning while only 723 (one-fourth) were lost in insurgency-related incidents (of which deaths from terrorism is only a part). In other comparisons, 2,100 people (about 3 times) died due to accidents involving fire arms. Road accidents claimed 314 every day (i.e., about 1,15,000 in 2007). It is worth reflecting serously that road accidents claimed 157 times more deaths than deaths due to terrorism. Yet, there was no hue and cry about it. Though figures for deaths from floods and collapse of structures leading to mass stampedes etc. have not been reported by TOI, these also are likely to be much more than deaths due to terrorism. Thus deaths due to many causes (which could be tackled) are much more alarming than those due to terrorism. Yet, media and people behaved as though deaths due to terrorism were more alarming (just opposite)! Attaching such extreme differences to value of life is questionable. Evidently, there has been a great imbalance in splashing news about deaths due to terrorism and creating fear psychosis and anger among people, which help terrorists and have strong negative influences on peace. Further, while sufferings of comparatively much fewer people who are victims of terrorism are splashed in headlines all over media, sufferings of much larger numbers, who are innocent victims of suspicion subjected to rigorous interrogation and even jailed without trial by security agencies, are clouded in secrecy (para 4 of the article). Out of sight out of mind!

10. Creating awareness among the entangled human tools of terrorists will help them to become useful citizens and enjoy peaceful and happy life and also remove the slur on their community. Let us not forget the repeated lessons that force alone cannot provide lasting solutions. History has innumerable examples in which brute force could not crush human spirit for long. Current glaring examples are the protracted killings and destructions for years together in Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Jammu & Kashmir which could not solve the problems but have resulted in constant fear psychosis among the people living in these areas and huge wastage of money. Peace can never be won by use of guns and punishments. Lasting peace calls for persistent efforts with vision, magnanimity, forgiveness, strength of mind and patience. Real success in the war against terrorists requires a humanitarian approach also, which has only winners – no losers - an important requirement for all round peace. Using this and other potent strategies mentioned earlier to wipe out terrorism have not received the priority attention these deserved.

Terrorism has failed!!!

FORWARDING NOTE

The attached article states that terrorism has failed. If you doubt this, please read it.

Para 1 shows that none of the possible aims of terrorists have been achieved.

The article also raises some other important points and suggests a multi-pronged strategy to wipe out terrorism, with emphasis on human approach for all round peace.

1. The aim of terrorists to create fear psychosis among people was a partial success only. Even in this, they were helped by the imbalanced publicity which unwittingly attached higher value to the comparatively fewer lives lost from terrorist attack as against the much larger numbers lost because of floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, road accidents, collapsing structures etc. We have only to get rid of fear to put the final nail on the coffin of terrorism. Meanwhile, one can expect spurts in violence due to desperate acts when facts about their failures dawn upon the terrorists. [Para 1 (2) on page 2]

2. Ironically, the terrorists suffer more than their targets. While the terrorists have to hide or run for life, their supporters and the entire community to which they belong are under the needle of suspicion and face discrimination and many other problems every day, besides feeling constantly insecure. [Para 1(5) on page 3]

3. One approach is to improve intelligence by augmenting and overhauling the security agencies and organizing people to facilitate and support their efforts. [Para 3 on page 3]

4. While sufferings of the comparatively much fewer people who are victims of terrorism are splashed all over the media, sufferings of much larger numbers who are victims of suspicion are clouded in secrecy. This is an apt case of cure being grossly worse than the disease. [Para 4 on page 4]

5. The present war against terrorism by even advanced countries has failed. Multi-pronged approaches, including a psychological "war", are needed to wipe out terrorism. [Paras 4 & 5 on page 4] Only a humanitarian approach can permanently banish terrorism and ensure all round peace. It has only winners – no losers - an important requirement for all round peace. [Para 2 on page 3]

6. A peace mission is necessary to counteract misinformation among aggrieved groups so that they withdraw their misguided support to terrorists. Fortunately, there are signs that communities are already waking up and reacting against terrorism. [Para 6 on page 5]

7. United Nations ought to declare an ANTI-TERRORISM DAY? [Para 7 on page 5]
For UN to declare an ANTI-TERRORISM DAY, lot of people have to lobby for it. You can help by forwarding copies of this note and the article to world leaders and all your contacts. This will also help to overcome the fear psychosis which serves no purpose at all.

THE ARTICLE

TERRORISM HAS FAILED

HORIZON IS STILL BRIGHT EVERYWHERE!

GET RID OF FEAR:

TO PUT THE FINAL NAIL ON THE COFFIN OF TERRORISM


Terrorists have been active all around the world for years. WHAT HAVE THEY ACHIEVED AFTER SO MANY YEARS? PRACTICALLY NOTHING! They are still struggling to achieve their aims, if they have any clear aims.

1. An objective analysis shows that the net results from any type of terrorism are:

(1) In all the affected places, without a single exception, life became normal after a brief temporary set back. These acts of violence have not at all prevented people from carrying out their normal activities. They continue to enjoy life, as usual. Moreover, such acts have not affected economic growth or destabilized governments.

(2) Another aim of terrorists was to create a fear psychosis among people. They have achieved temporary success in this because loss of life due to terrorist attacks had been followed by a much larger hue and cry than even much bigger losses due to calamities such as floods, earthquake, hurricanes, road accidents, collapsing of structures etc. Those attaching such differences to value of life have only unwittingly helped the terrorists in their aim to create fear. However, a closer look reveals that while terrorist attacks have only temporarily inflicted fear in the minds of people despite the imbalanced publicity, they have inflicted more prolonged fear among those dear to the terrorists themselves and even entire communities to which they belong. Unlike the latter which persists, fear in the public mind has invariably faded with time. Moreover, repeated inflictions of fear harden people and develop courage in them. For example, people who live in areas subjected to frequent wars or calamities have become mentally strong. They have realized that fear has not helped to solve the problem but has only worsened it. People have only to get rid of their fear to put the final nail on the coffin of terrorism. Meanwhile, when the terrorists are in the process of getting demoralized by realization of the failure of their aims, one can expect a spurt in violence as desperate acts even after shorter intervals.

(3) Neither have these attacks helped the poor or underprivileged people in whose name these were supposed to have been carried out or the estranged communities which suffer from constant insecurity.

(4) Mostly, only innocent people have died or suffered.

(5) The terrorists have only forced themselves to run for life or hide, away from their dear family and friends! WHAT A LIFE? Their morbid minds have become more morbid, angry and frustrated. Thus, it is an irony of fate that the terrorists themselves are indirect victims of their terrorist acts - not only those who are direct victims of such acts. Moreover, because of the few deranged persons involved in terrorism, entire communities to which they belong have come under the needle of suspicion and have to face discrimination and many other problems every day, besides constant feeling of insecurity. Yet, they are blind to all these realities because of hatred indoctrinated in them by vested interests that have only made use of them as pliable tools to suit their whims. Can these people with hatred and violence in their mind ever find happiness and peace? DEFINITELY NOT not! If these persons wake up and ask their leaders whether they can assure happiness and peace for them and their families, they will realize how badly they have been hoodwinked.

(6) DO NOT ALL THESE DEMONSTRATE A TOTAL FAILURE OF TERRORISM?

2. We have to repeatedly splash all these facts all over the world to overcome the fear sychosis among people in general and also to help the unhappy and misguided terrorists and their supporters to come out of the rut they have placed themselves in and join the main stream which continues to enjoy peaceful life. Creating awareness of this among these entangled human tools of terrorists will help them to become useful citizens and enjoy peaceful and happy life and also remove the slur on their community. This humanitarian approach to terrorists has only winners – no losers - an important requirement for all round peace.

3. This does not mean that we do not have to take precautions. THET ARE A MUST. All intelligence agencies have to be overhauled in both quality and quantity. This involves lot of efforts on recruitment, training, procurement of gadgets of high technology (all three on a large scale) etc. and will take time. Meanwhile, they have to put in their best efforts with a sense of commitment to gathering intelligence. People in every locality should spontaneously come forward and organize themselves to facilitate and support their efforts, instead of shedding crocodile tears and leaving it to government alone. Tendency to spread rumours and hoax calls should be strictly avoided. There should be a sense of fearless alertness all around. Special intelligence agencies have to continuously seek help from the normal police and people after guiding them to be effective supporters, facilitators and baseline scanners so that the former can concentrate their attention on the more likely suspects. New comers to any locality should be watched by the local police and people as well as by the special security agencies (when needed), without infringing on their privacy. Anyone finding any suspicious looking articles lying around in public places should immediately report to the police. Hotels and other lodging places should be very alert to spot any suspicious activities of their clients, without infringing on their privacy.

4. A sad fact and a word of caution. Following 9/11, some countries had detained and interrogated thousands of suspects and even kept many of them in prison without trial. Definitely, real culprits formed only a negligible part and vast majorities of them were innocent and had suffered. They and their families had also faced humiliation. What is worse, while sufferings of comparatively much fewer people who are victims of terrorism are splashed in headlines all over the media, sufferings of much larger numbers who are victims of suspicion are clouded in secrecy. This situation is an apt case of cure being grossly worse than the disease. Abundant caution with a humanitarian approach alone can save this unhappy situation.

5. Some powerful developed countries with easy access to high technology had declared a war on terrorism about seven years back. What have they achieved in seven years? VERY LITTLE! Terrorism continues unabated or has become even worse. Writing on the wall is loud and clear. This “war” needs to be strengthened by using other strategies also. A “psychological war” has the potential to defeat (or at least seriously curb) terrorism which grows mainly on indoctrination of innocent susceptible people. SPREADING THE FACTS HIGHLIGHTED ABOVE CAN BE OUR MOST POTENT WEAPON AGAINST TERRORISM. All security agencies ought to do this widely in a subtle manner. The media should take pains to chip in systematically in an organized manner with investigative stories which expose the sad plight of terrorists and their supporters. These efforts will help in gathering intelligence also because more people are likely to become co-operative. The resulting demoralization among active supporters and their indirect support base among people will make it easier to tackle the remaining isolated hard core terrorists.

6. Another potent weapon is to identify and educate the communities or special groups which have been indirectly supporting terrorists because the latter have successfully misinformed the former that they are sacrificing their lives for a cause near to the hearts of these “groups” also. These “groups” generally feel that they have been marginalized in their own country and terrorists cash in on this situation to successfully distort facts and mislead them to gain logistic support. For example, Muslim terrorists are distorting facts among the aggrieved Muslim communities and getting their support for killing people in the name of Allah. It is crucial to inform and motivate these communities to raise their voice against such anti-Islamic killings. This has become easier because some Muslim religious leaders in India have unequivocally spoken out that such killings are forbidden by Islam. A Dargah Committee with 30 mosques under its jurisdiction covering a vast area in Ullal (South India) has asked Muslims and mosque officials to report details of all newcomers and any suspicious activity in the area to the police. There are also places where both Hindus and Muslims worship side by side or even co-operate in their mutual rituals and help each other. Such pronouncements as well as glorious examples of communal harmony deserve high praise and encouragement on a global scale. All these will scoop the earth from under the feet of terrorists and make it difficult for them to continue with their dastardly acts. Similar actions have to be taken to counteract misinformation among other aggrieved “groups” also in order to dissuade them from supporting terrorism of any kind.

7. United Nations ought to declare an ANTI-TERRORISM DAY. Messages like those given above ought to be splashed all over the world in headlines of all media on that day. Flags with “TERRORISM HAS FAILED” should be displayed all over and people with such flags ought to join in processions, meetings etc. Street plays which carry messages can also be organized. While all such activities on this day should aim at removing fear from the public and to demoralizing the terrorists, these should strictly anavoid creating any feeling of animosity to or victimization of any groups. On the other hand, all these should convey an appeal with a humanitarian message of brotherly feeling and help to the misguided and unhappy persons who have been unfortunately dragged into inhuman activities. It is pertinent that most of them may be waiting to come out if forgiven and assured protection from their revengeful top leaders. Those who come out of this rut should be heartily welcomed to join the global families living in peace and harmony, as one of them. Such acts of WISDOM and MERCY will help all of us to lead a peaceful life.

An ordinary man with human spirit
who wishes lasting happiness and peace for all