Terror war 'may breed more terror'

[cal04]

MILITARY strikes and draconian measures against terrorists might create even more terror, US-based academics warned at a summmit in Madrid as Spain prepared to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the deadly train bombings in the capital. The experts said Europe could learn from Washington's mistakes on this.

"Europe can learn from America's mistakes and successes. Among the successes was not to allow any religious group to dominate society. But a strong militant stance may lead to more violence," Mark Juergensmeyer, the director of international studies at the University of California, said.

He was speaking to the press on the first day of a summit marking the anniversary of the March 11, 2004, Madrid train bombings, where several delegates pointed to the dangers of the "war on terror" led by the United States.
Mr Juergensmeyer said the US military's detention of Islamic militants captured in Afghanistan as "prisoners of war" at Guantanamo Bay had exacerbated the threat of extremism.

We have the Guantanamo effect. That is dealing with terror in such a way that it has an incubator effect. One has to examine the penal system's role in creating more terrorism," Mr Juergensmeyer said. Arguing that government should behave in a "counter intuitive way", he said military strikes in the aftermath of a terrorist attack were meant to appease voters. But they often played into the hands of extremists by helping them recruit more followers, he said.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12490922%255E1702,00.html

[LiberalVoice]

1. "may"?

dumbasses :eyes:

[ClassWarrior]

2. Ya think??

NGU.

[uppityperson]

3. And today's Obviousman Duh Award goes to...

[LynnTheDem]

4. WOW another STUNNINGLY OBVIOUS observation!

Killing and torturing and terrorizing other people's kids in unprovoked wars of aggression tends to piss people off.

Torturing and terrorizing nations and people tends to piss people off.

Bullying the world about, demanding they do this & that, and then doing the opposite yourself, tends to piss people off.

Braying far and wide that you're "spreading democracy", and then ordering nation's leaders to ignore the will of 98% of their citizens tends to piss people off.

Braying far and wide that you're "spreading democracy", and then demanding another nation's military ignore their own people and their own government and join in an unprovoked war of aggression tends to piss people off.

Braying far and wide that you're "spreading democracy", and anyone who isn't with you is the enemy tends to piss people off.

Braying far and wide that you're "spreading democracy", and then smearing and punishing and threatening any nation who isn't "with you" because they believe in the Rule of Law, the illegality and immorality of unprovoked wars of aggression, and the majorities of their own people are opposed, tends to piss people off.

Braying far and wide that as you're "fighting a war on a (noun/emotion/flanking manuever) terror", you have the right to "disappear" and detain & torture & terrorize anyone you want and ignore any and all laws, yours or theirs, tends to piss people off.

And did I mention? Killing and torturing and terrorizing other people's kids in unprovoked wars of aggression tends to piss people off.

[shrike]

5. Does this mean Bush ISN'T right?

Kind of destroys the current meme, don't you think?

[Nikepallas]

6. Amazing what a smart mind thinks...The true question is will Europe take a

page from the US? Methinks...NAAAHHHH ain't that dumb.

[ScrewyRabbit]

7. And in other news, dog bites man. News at 11.

[NuttyFluffers]

8. Hooray Captain Obvious! You save us again!

where on earth would we be without you!!