Monday, a team of terrorists believed to be connected to
al-Qaeda, reminded us once again of the frightening world we live
in ““Â one repeatedly defined by violence, intolerance,
and a failure to recognize common humanity or dignity for
individual life.
The terrorists attacked three foreign compounds in Saudi
Arabia’s capital, setting off simultaneous car bombs that
killed at least 29 people, including seven Americans, and left
nearly 200 more wounded.
It was no accident that Americans and other
“westerners” were targeted. Their lives in the Saudi
Arabian compounds contrast greatly to the surrounding population
strictly adhered to Muslim tradition ““ the westerners
celebrate Western holidays and do not make women wear burqas, for
example. Foreigners living in these communities stick out to
fundamentalist and anti-western terrorist groups, who despise them
to such an extent that they’re willing to kill themselves to
preserve the status quo.
That Americans were targeted during Monday’s attack does
not make it solely an American problem. The number of nationalities
the victims represent prove terrorism is a world problem and must
be treated as such. Monday’s attacks killed Americans,
Saudis, Jordanians, Philipinos, one Lebanese and one Swiss,
according to a Saudi official.
This is a pattern, not a novelty. Attacks on American soil on
Sept. 11, 2001, were also attacks against the entire world
community. That day, innocent citizens of Mexico, Canada, the
United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Australia, China,
Israel, El Salvador and Japan were all murdered. The next year, a
terrorist blast in Bali, an island that is part of Indonesia,
killed Australians, French, British, Germans and Americans.
Al-Qaeda’s terrorist attacks of the late 1990s and early
21st century are indicative of a new brand of terrorism. The
attacks do not target specific individuals or small groups
responsible for certain policies or actions. Rather, these attacks
are a violent lashing out at a world seen as oppressive and
invasive ““Â anyone, not just Americans, can be caught in
the cross-fire.
True, the United States is Osama bin Laden’s “Great
Satan” and is al-Qaeda’s principle target. But it
isn’t the only country affected by terrorism and certainly
not the only country responsible for it. Therefore, the approach to
end terrorism cannot be unilateral. Terrorism is a complex,
international problem, which is why it is frustrating that
President Bush offered “American justice” for those
responsible for Monday’s attack. “American
justice” ““ which, since Sept. 11, 2001 has included
invading Iraq, suspending civil liberties, and holding suspects in
prison with no due process ““Â has not worked yet. More
importantly, it is desperate people’s perception of
“American justice” that leads them to terrorism.
“American justice” is not the answer. World justice
is.
A true war on terrorism must involve a great bulk of the
international community ““Â even if they are not
completely anxious to cooperate with every move the United States
makes at first. The world community must focus not only on military
efforts, but also on diplomacy, shared intelligence, economic
development and education.
For now, terrorism is a terrible reality, and it won’t be
solved by shock and awe bombing campaigns. Only a nuanced,
cooperative approach has a chance of making the world a safer place
to live.