Terrorism–Why do they hate? Series Introduction
To design effective counter-terrorism policies, we have to understand why terrorist target the United States. If we can understand the why, then we should be able to solve or mitigate the problem. I think this debate has been largely absent from the national discourse, in part because of the actual situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also because it is a question that requires a lot of self-reflection and study. In the future, though, if we want to move towards a sane, rational, and sustainable counter-terrorism policies, we’ve got to answer the fundamental question.
So, over the next few days, I’m going to examine a few of the most common answers to the question, “why do the terrorists* hate us?” The answers I’ll examine are listed below:
- They hate us for our freedoms.
- Islam is an inherently violent religion.
- Islam is a failing religion.
- Bin Laden is an apocalyptic crazy man.
- Poverty breeds terrorism.
- American policies create terrorism.
- Hybrid causes/conclusion.
Each day I’ll offer the proponents, the rationale, the plausibility, and the counter-terrorism policies that can be designed around each theory. I’ll conclude with my own opinion on each answer.
If I’ve missed one, add it to the comments and I’ll attempt to analyze it.
I would also include a lack of education.
Nicole
December 22, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I am going to add education into the poverty discussion. Thanks for your input.
catch18
December 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm
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Terrorism-Why do they hate? Day 1: They hate our freedom. « The Catch-22 of American Foreign Policy
December 23, 2009 at 7:52 pm
A leader or movement’s maintenance of power
Several of the other answers you mention are assumed in this answer. A lack of education, poverty, a dying version of a religion or way of life, and this may be an example of a hybrid cause you mention in #7.
Hate is a powerful human emotion, leaders throughout history utilized hate of other groups as a means to their ends or simply as a distraction to maintain their stronghold in the group. Every human being on the planet yearns to be apart of a group, cause, or idea. A struggling culture or group (morally, financially, emotionally, educationally) will eventually question those in power. With this vulnerability at hand those in power create a cause, an external enemy, that explains the groups plight. The do not hate our freedom per se, they hate for the movement, for the idea’s existence. The common enemy and hate empowers the group, gives them significance where they previously had none, and creates an unquestioned belief in the morality of the group (causing the group to ignore the consequences or morality of any of their actions). As long as the enemy remains, perceived grievances persist, and the clan feels significant, the powerful remain and the group continues its suffering. Perhaps, the hate is nothing more than a tool to rationalize the ideas of the powerful.
Sorry if that was disjointed or didn’t make sense, just an idea in my head as I read the post
Bear
December 24, 2009 at 6:23 am