Sunday, June 15, 2003		Books

Dynamics of dealing with global terror
Rakesh Datta

Dealing with Global Terrorism: The Way Forward
by Maj Gen Vinod Saighal, Sterling, New Delhi, 2003. Pages 398

WHATEVER be its other manifestations, global terror after 9/11 has become synonymous with Islamic jehad. Had the ISI-Al-Qaida network not targeted the USA and had they decided instead to restrict their activities to Europe, Russia, the subcontinent or elsewhere, it is likely that they would have done considerable damage worldwide with the USA remaining a mere spectator.

The terrorist attack on the USA served as a boon for the world because it played a major role in initial training and funding of Islamic jehad and later became its principal victim.

For instance, according to the author, President Carter had authorised $ 500 million in 1979, to create an international terrorist movement to spread Islamic fundamentalism in Central Asia and de-stabilise the erstwhile Soviet Union under Operation Cyclone. Later, $ 4 billion was poured into Pakistan to train fundamentalists of Al-Qaida by the CIA and SAS in Virginia and Brooklyn.

It was the retrogressive Islamic orthodoxy spreading its tentacles to other parts of the world through violence and terror, that became responsible for global terror. Massive retaliation against the movement made it a case of Christianity vs Islam.

The genesis of Islamic jehad took place in Pakistan albeit with the support of the USA and Saudi Arabia because without its hold, the Taliban and Al-Qaida could not have consolidated their power in Afghanistan. Later, after the rout of the Taliban it retracted into the source. Pakistan was left unassailed, despite being an epicentre of global terror, and even at this belated stage remains ostensibly an ally in the fight against global terror.

Divided into five parts, with a further subdivision into various chapters, the book carries out a postmortem of events in Afghanistan. Such an operation, according to the author, was to ensure for the USA, a smooth flow of oil from Central Asia as well a surveillance over Pakistan.

In its chapter on limiting US power, the book details measures undertaken for homeland security, which may transform the character of US society permanently. The US Patriot Act passed in October, 2001, enhanced the law enforcement authorities’ reach into civil liberties and personal lives. Digital fingerprint identification and face recognition technology have been introduced at airports, which includes electronic body search that strips a person naked without being asked to take off clothes. As Bush remarks: "America is leading the civilised world in a titanic struggle against terror."

Giving a global perspective to terrorism, the author discusses its collateral ramifications. The USA has established a strong military presence in Central Asia. This has brought it into conflict with Russia, China, India and other European countries, which have stakes in the region. The outcome is loaded with several possibilities and oil is the overriding interest.

There is a need to examine the implications of the globalisation processes which cannot be delinked from global terrorism. Added to this, is a threat of nuclear terrorism, which has become far more likely after the destruction of the WTC and subsequent events.

Commenting on the role of the UNO, the writer says that enforcement action by the Security Council can be triggered at any time but lack of consensus on a universally applicable definition of terrorism is a major lacuna in the struggle against international terrorism.

In part III of the book that deals with countering global terrorism, the author has dealt with the changing nature of conflicts where a terrorist attack on innocent civilians is the most cruel form of war. This is fuelled by growing economic disparities between and within nations. In suggesting ways to deal with terrorism, the author has cited the example of Punjab where successful combating of terrorism took place only once civil liberties were suspended and those dealing with terrorism given a free hand.

At the same time, according to the author, Iraq had provided a paradigm shift in the fight against terrorism. In this, Bush’s unilateral diplomacy became consequent to the ostensible production of the WMD by Iraq and its attack on Kuwait, though with the blessings of the USA. It sought to turn around the down turn in the US economy besides accruing other political and strategic advantages for itself and the allies.

The stress factor to which America as a society been exposed has been highlighted. Since terrorism and stress go hand in hand, the USA is hell-bent on demolishing any likely support system of militant Islam.

The author argues that unless the Muslim community actively refutes Islamic fundamentalism, the world will have no choice but to fight the threat on a continuous basis. Global terrorism has intruded into the consciousness of people. To combat it, Bush has unleashed a dangerous war policy that has little to do with fighting terrorists or making the world safer. As the author says, the present threat of war is coming from Washington and it promises to be a global war.

An interesting insight on terrorism and its various manifestations, it is an informative book on the subject and can provide useful data to researchers working in the area.