Are we creating enemies?

Four weeks reading the internationally oriented, Taipei-based China Post while visiting family in Taiwan rekindled musings on the fundamental question of whether U.S. Middle East military action creates more terrorists than it eliminates, particularly considering the empowered terrorist recruitment inevitable when innocent civilians and children are killed.

Dismissing this question, the Bush administration attacked Iraq and attempted nation-building despite no initial internal revolt, a big failure as evidenced by the recent Iraqi military collapse when facing ISIL assaults. Even the more cautious military campaigns by President Obama, such as assisting Libyans who were in revolt, are of unknown long-term success.

A China Post commentary suggested there was a “tipping point” during Bush’s unilateral actions, after which U.S. military forays have been largely counterproductive, especially considering collateral damage of civilians.

In the China Post, Iranian 2003 Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, exiled to the United States after becoming her country’s foremost rights campaigner, gave one answer to the fundamental question. She contends bombs only solidify terrorists’ ideologies rooted in illiteracy and lack of social justice. Thereby, more books and schools are needed.

A related question: Close down Guantanamo, as Obama advocates, or continue to hold untried prisoners, thereby empowering terrorists’ recruitment?

Norm Luther

Spokane