Dealing with terrorist

Brian Bresnahan:

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Arab culture respects courage, aggressiveness, and strength. It respects boldness in the face of one's enemies. Conversely, it shuns those who do not demonstrate these characteristics, who are weak, don't exhibit personal courage, are not tough. Those qualities determine the honor and dignity of a man, especially at the age when most decide to take the "terrorist" career path. Men who do not exhibit these attributes at that age are seen as being of less value, as weak, or worse yet, without honor. They are subject to ridicule, exploitation, and sometimes even death if they dishonor the family.

Al Qaeda and most other Islamic terrorist groups originate from that culture. They are led by individuals and derive their operational mentality from that culture. We therefore face an enemy which has been brought up, from day one, to respect only these attributes.

They have no respect or desire for nuanced negotiations with those they see as weak, especially anyone they have a deep hatred for. They have no intention of quitting until those weaker and unworthy are either destroyed or bowing before Allah. They do not respect or fear an enemy who has not shown them a reason to be afraid.

Our enemy only respects those who have and are willing to use superior strength against him; those who give him a reason to be afraid; "the toughest kid on the block."

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The basic questions of national security, preservation of one's nation, and strength in the face of the enemy are lessons learned and recorded long ago. Bevin Alexander summarizes an aspect of Machiavelli's philosophy on the subject this way: there are "two ways to deal with an enemy: destroy him altogether, or treat him so generously that he will become your friend." Our only choice with regard to Islamic terrorists is their complete destruction. They see us as infidels and want us to die or convert, not become friends. Treating them generously would be seen as a weakness. It would be a reason for them to attack us, not befriend us.

Jimmy Carter's failure to show American strength in the face of Iranian terrorists emboldened other terrorist groups to act against us, they saw us as weak. Many agree that we are still paying for his weak national security policy today.

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There is more. We are still suffering the consequences of Carter's misjudgement. Iran is still fighting a covert war against the US, but the chances of it becoming overt are growing.