EXTRACT FROM ... War Against Terrorism Declaring a war on terrorism is in many respects, a ludicrous concept. The Bush Administration claims that their campaign has clear, defined goals and a mission that is unquestionable - rid the world ofterrorism through all the means at the disposal ofthe U.S. Government,including financial, economic, legal and military. It is indeed an honourable objective, but one that I fear has very open-ended goals, rather than clear, defined ones. However, regardless of the actual action and results thereoffor the U.S., it is important that they embark on this war, iffor no other reason than to lull the American people into a false sense ofsecurity. Currently the American society is gripped by a fear that is unprecedented and has not been seen since the end of the Cold War,and in order to revive an already struggling economy consumer confidence is absolutely essential. Although a stimulus package has already been given to the airline industry,that market is still ripe for consolidation, with many airlines on the brink of bankruptcy. The investment banks, luxury goods and technology markets have also been hard-hit, with defence stocks being the only equity to rise since September 11, in an environment where the only certainty is a long, hard-fought, and invariably expensive war. Terrorists and terrorism exist in almost all countries. From the criminal investigations following the World Trade Centre and Pentagon attacks it has become clear that much of the planning and logistical support for the attacks was in fact carried out in Britain and Germany. Undoubtedly the inevitable paper-trail left behind by the suicidal hijackers will, in the proceeding months ofintensive work by the FBI,reveal that other countries were also used as stopping points for planning and communication. Despite the purported existence of"Echelon",a worldwide communication-logging network created by many of the world's most secret government agencies, such as the NSA,whose existence was proven on circumstantial evidence by the EU parliamentary commission, and Echelon's alleged ability to intercept any form ofelectronic communication anywhere on the globe, the US law enforcement and intelligence agencies were not able to collect and analyse enough data to prevent the ensuing atrocities on September 11. The latest media reports indicate that in fact the relevant authorities did have enough data to predict the attacks, but only in hindsight. With literally billions ofphonecalls taking place worldwide each day, and thousands of tip-offs, analysing and collating relevant information such that all attacks can be prevented is nearenough impossible. Several plans have been foiled in the past few years, but a large element of luck was present in all cases. With the most recent plot,the government's luck ran out. The military strikes on Afghanistan may or may not kill Osama bin Laden,but they will definitely not destroy the Al-Qaeda group. Even if the Northern Alliance, an American-friendly party in the country succeed the Taliban, Afghanistan will face the same problem as Egypt - they do not want and do not support the terrorists, and yet they cannot remove them. Indeed,the US is firmly engaged in what will be a very long extended and costly war,fighting an enemy that is incredibly difficult to find,and even more so to remove. P McAAAHON -GRADE 11 EXTRACT FROM... "War, is it inevitable?" "Eor every one year ofpeace in recorded history, there have been thirteen years of war". Judging from the past, it may therefore be assumed that man has and always will be susceptible to war. It is accepted as a major portion ofearly civilizations such as the Romans, Egyptians, Assyrians and Greeks. History also reveals that warfare was a fundamental contributing factor to their heights of greatest development and vigour. Mankind possesses a natural aggressive characteristic which is part ofhuman nature and can therefore not be altered. This instinctive behaviour is blatantly exposed by the primitive enjoyment many masculinely powerful men derive from a fight;a trait which is dangerously encouraged by human nature's craving for adventure and instinctive struggle for existence. A nation symbolizes a united being and displays all the characteristics ofthe common individual. The personality and dominant qualities of the nation are determined by the culture and moral integrity of the people of which it consists. 61
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