In light of the horrific September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S., many feel the only option is to support the U.S.-led attacks against Afghanistan. We address some of these concerns and propose alternatives
MYTH: A MILITARY RESPONSE IS QUICK AND EFFECTIVE
Terrorism is not led by a simple collection of misguidedor insane individuals. It will not vanish when they do. Ittook years for the desperation to build and spread amonglarge supporting populations, and it will take years toeliminate the support that nurtures terror. Military strikesmay (or may not) kill dozens of terrorists but will alien-ate and anger thousands of civilians, creating even morehatred and more terrorists. Terror will never eliminateterrorism. Far more lives are put at risk by a militaryresponse than with nonviolent alternatives.
MYTH: SACRIFICING SOME CIVILLIBERTIES WILL HELP STOP TERRORISM
Our civil liberties are at great risk, especially the freedomsof speech and assembly, the right to dissent, and our physi-cal and online privacy. When freedoms are taken away intime of "emergency," they are rarely returned later. What ofthis society will be left to defend if we are willing to surren-der our freedoms? History is rife with freedoms being cur-tailed and laws being enacted to fight one problem, only tostay on the books to be used against minorities, dissenters,and the dispossessed.
MYTH: YOU’RE WITH THE TERRORISTS
President Bush, NYC Mayor Giuliani, and others say thatif you don’t agree with the military option, then you con-done the terrorists’ violence. But it is possible to be horri-fied by the attacks and still to believe there are effectiveways to end terrorism without deploying the military
MYTH: UNITY IS ESSENTIAL; WE MUST NOT CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT
We are united against terror, united against hate, unitedagainst discrimination, but we are not united for war.The strength of our society is not determined by top-down decisions based on closely held information. Onthe contrary, well-informed, critical, and open discus-sions are essential to a free society.
MYTH: NONVIOLENCE ONLY WORKSAGAINST CIVILIZED OPPONENTS
Nonviolence has been used effectively to topple the mostbrutal regimes, including apartheid in South Africa, Marcosin the Philippines, Pinochet in Chile, and Milosevic in Yu -goslavia. Nonviolent struggle has also triumphed againstviolent repression by "civilized" governments like Britishrule in India, which massacred hundreds at Amritsar, and"Jim Crow" segregation in the U.S. which led to violenceand murder of African-Americans and civil rights activists.In all those cases, well-organized nonviolence overcameviolence to change society.
MYTH: IT’S BETTER TO BOMB THEM THAN DO NOTHING AND APPEAR WEAK
Strength does not reside in the size of our missiles and thenumber of our bombs. Terrorizing foreign populations andkilling innocent civilians will be perceived as a desperate actof a morally bankrupt country. There are many other optionsbesides "bomb ’em" or "do nothing." The other side of thisflyer proposes several.
The U.S. and its allies must stop the bombing. There is no simple or quick way to end terrorism, but over timethese strategies will be effective
ELIMINATE THE ROOTS OF TERRORISM
The United States must change its foreign policy from that ofsupplying military equipment and supporting authoritarian re-gimes to one of investing (without strings) in the basic needsfor food, shelter, health and education of the people of the world.We must begin to lead with compassion and understanding ifwe expect to minimize terrorist attacks on U.S. citizens.
CONSISTENTLY CONDEMN ALL TERRORISM
Terrorism must be universally condemned whether perpetratedby an individual or a state, by U.S. “enemies” or allies. During the 1980s when Osama Bin-Laden used terrorist tacticsagainst the Soviet Union, the CIA gave him support and the U.S. called him a “freedom fighter.
ISOLATE THE CRIMINALS
”Terrorism depends on a supporting population and feeds on secrecy—whether theirs or ours. We need to expose the lies terrorists spread—undercutting their cultlike authority, share all information about their methods, and put them on open and fair trials.We must oppose calls for revenge, even against those who attacked the World Trade Center. Gaining the trust of the supporting populations in other countries will take time.
END THE ARMS TRADE
The United States is the world’s number one arms merchant. Countries that should be investing in development for their people spend precious resources on weapons and end up in a cycle of debt to the United States and other arms merchants. U.S. soldiers often find themselves fighting people armed with weapons stamped "MADE IN THE USA".
PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY & CONSERVATION
Reduce U.S. dependence upon foreign oil. Control of re-sources is at the center of the U.S.’s misguided policies in the Middle East.
STOP STAR WARS MISSILE PROGRAM
Since 1983 $95 billion has been spent on missile defense pro-grams that will not work. Since World War II military spendinghas cost approximately $14 trillion—over 50% of your tax dol-lars each year compared to an average of about .15% for devel-opment aid. Despite its military might, the U.S. could not prevent the horrific attacks of September 11. War doesn’t keep us safe. If we want peace, we must invest in peace.
