Two Suggested Fast-Acting Terror Stoppers

Submitted by Jos Weber (United States), Dec 6, 2006 at 11:17

This is not an effort to detract from Dr. Pipes' analysis. It's aim is to communicate two very important sets of circumstances which, if they could be implemented, I feel offer the nearest term potential of stopping terrorist attacks, before having to modify their motivating ideology.

The motivating ideology wants the terrorist attacks for publicity--a prime tactic in support of the overall stragegy Dr. Pipes so elequently presents. The attacks are designed in all respects to serve this objective. If we can find a way to deny terrorists publication of their desired photographs and "dry out" their propaganda "news" articles, terrorism does not accomplish anything for the perpetrators. As difficult as this may be to accomplish, may I foresee such a denial of service to be very potent and fast acting.

A second and perhaps more achievable anti-terrorist tactic is to make it completely clear, and absolutely without any self-doubt or guilt, that "human shields" will not be respected. These are the terrorists' responsibility. Terrorists use human shields for the publicity (again) and also because we might not pursue terrorists through the shields. The shields should be inviisible. After a very small number of cases of truly appalling carnage, provided there is no doubt that the policy of human shield invisibility will continue, I believe the practice of taking them is very likely to stop.

With kind regards,

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