Terror is an approach that is very effective against a weak
adversary. It is most successful when used against someone
who reacts quickly, without careful thought, and from an
overpowering and immediate desire to be saved from its
ravages: Give the terrorist what he is asking for, and get on
with life. However, it will never end there. Satisfying one
demand of a terrorist will only lead to his making more and
bigger demands.
It is easy to see why if we understand the nature of the
terrorists and the dynamics of their tactics.
One who is willing to stoop to terrorism to get what he
wants, is an undisciplined person with strong passions that
he is willing to release against innocent victims in order to
achieve the goal in question. His goals must seem vastly more
important to him than anything else, since he is willing to
take innocent lives in order to achieve them.
If the objects of his terror give him what he wants, it will
not satisfy him for very long. On the contrary, someone with
such strong passions will almost inevitably soon develop new
desires. Or, he is liable to inspire others with similar
natures to try to satisfy their lusts.
If the use of terror was successful in one instance, it will
encourage the use of terror again. It is natural to turn to
the methods that worked in the past for use in the future.
Therefore the only valid and effective response to terror is
to defeat it. Giving in will not stop terror; it will only
bring on more terror. There is no "good" terror and no "bad"
terror. It must all be wiped out.
To stand up to terror does require a certain amount of
fortitude. A community must be able to withstand the terrible
immediate pain that the terror can inflict, based on its
understanding of the issues that are involved and the need to
stand firm.
The United States has spoken very boldly about the need to
fight terror in the past year, and it has acted as well.
However, the way it reacted to the recent three weeks of
random murders by the serial sniper is not especially
inspiring.
The five million people who lived in the broad area in which
the killing took place were very stressed by the experience.
Schools closed. Many people stayed home. Stores and gas
stations were almost empty. The drama of the sniper and the
police pushed aside all other issues and riveted the
attention of all America.
How would America have reacted if, instead of a single shot
felling a single victim, every few days someone had blown up
a bus full of passengers or a restaurant full of customers?
Perhaps hidden strengths in the American people would have
asserted themselves -- or perhaps there would have been utter
panic and chaos.
It is normal to be afraid of random threats. It is reasonable
to respond with increased caution and to limit nonessential
activities.
But the healthiest response (while taking whatever police and
military action is possible) is to recall that there is a
Judge Who determines everything that happens, and the
suffering of others is not a random result of blind
misfortune but rather it has meaning as a personal wake-up
call to each and every one of us to improve our ways. If we
react and respond as we are meant to, then we are truly the
winners and all the forces of evil will be defeated.
