Why the West's `war on terror' is failing
TheStar.com - opinion - Why the West's `war on terror' is failing
March 15, 2007 Haroon Siddiqui Second of 2 parts
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The war on terrorism has become counter-productive because it has degenerated into a war on Muslims, on Muslim religious institutions and on Muslims' freedom of speech.
It has created the perception among Muslims worldwide – "and most non-Westerners, for that matter" – that "prejudice and intolerance, ignorance and arrogance" have been driving American foreign policy.
The war on terrorism, which has created more terrorism, has caused so much damage that it would "take the world years to recover."
These are the views of Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister and now leading opposition figure in Malaysia.
A democratic reformer, he has condemned Islamic extremism at home and abroad, including majority Muslim Malay chauvinism against the minority Chinese community here.
Jailed in 1999 by then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad for posing a threat to his hold on power, Ibrahim was released in 2004 but barred from politics until April 2007. He has just returned home from teaching stints at Oxford, England and Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C. He is director of the International Crisis Group, the Brussels-based non-profit think-tank that works to prevent and resolve conflicts.
Referring to a recent ICG report on Afghanistan, he said he has "red-marked" portions of it that recycle anonymous accusations that Pakistan is supporting Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
He plans to question it at an ICG meeting next week in Vancouver. Such uncorroborated narratives, combined with an "oversimplified view" of Muslims and Islam, are so "lacking in credibility that people don't trust you anymore."
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TheStar.com - opinion - Why the West's `war on terror' is failing
March 15, 2007 Haroon Siddiqui Second of 2 parts
Article Link
The war on terrorism has become counter-productive because it has degenerated into a war on Muslims, on Muslim religious institutions and on Muslims' freedom of speech.
It has created the perception among Muslims worldwide – "and most non-Westerners, for that matter" – that "prejudice and intolerance, ignorance and arrogance" have been driving American foreign policy.
The war on terrorism, which has created more terrorism, has caused so much damage that it would "take the world years to recover."
These are the views of Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister and now leading opposition figure in Malaysia.
A democratic reformer, he has condemned Islamic extremism at home and abroad, including majority Muslim Malay chauvinism against the minority Chinese community here.
Jailed in 1999 by then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad for posing a threat to his hold on power, Ibrahim was released in 2004 but barred from politics until April 2007. He has just returned home from teaching stints at Oxford, England and Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C. He is director of the International Crisis Group, the Brussels-based non-profit think-tank that works to prevent and resolve conflicts.
Referring to a recent ICG report on Afghanistan, he said he has "red-marked" portions of it that recycle anonymous accusations that Pakistan is supporting Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
He plans to question it at an ICG meeting next week in Vancouver. Such uncorroborated narratives, combined with an "oversimplified view" of Muslims and Islam, are so "lacking in credibility that people don't trust you anymore."
More on link
