As we mourn the loss of so many innocent people in Orlando, as well as those who lost their lives at a fireworks celebration in Nice, France, at an airport in Istanbul, a cafe in Bangladesh, and so many others taken by terrorist attacks over the last few years, let us continue to be mindful not only of the need for more effective gun controls and mental health care, but how perniciously the war on terror is seeping into our country. While hatred of gays and the LGTB community seemed to have played some role in the Orlando attack, and that should not be forgotten, we need to be increasingly mindful of the fact that we are also in the middle of a religious and cultural war with radical Islam, and one that we are not winning. Daily we hear media coverage of terrorism committed by ISIS, our military strikes against them and their loss of territory, along with rhetoric from presidential candidates on who can be toughest against ISIS, but we almost never hear even so much as a vague plan on how to stem the growth of radical Islam and win the peace.
While unrelenting lethal force against ISIS fighters bent on enslaving and killing innocent people is as called for as ever, it should not be difficult to appreciate that the effectiveness of such is fleeting. Air strikes are spectacular, but they’ve done little to stem radical Islam from drawing in fresh recruits as well as metastasizing geographically. Hitting Islamic terrorists seems much like some terrible but true life game of “whack a mole.” Every time our military surgically hits and kills one terrorist, another one or more quickly rises up to take his or her place. While this has been obvious to most observers, it seems to have taken the Obama administration some time to appreciate. CIA Director John Brenner reminded us of this on June 16th when he testified: “despite all our progress against ISIL on the battlefield and in the financial realm, our efforts have not reduced the group’s terrorism capacity and global reach”. While President Obama’s intensified prosecution of the war against ISIS finally seems to be gaining momentum, and is commendable, it is essential that both the administration and we the people consider making a near equal, parallel effort to win the peace with Muslims.
The situation in Syria and Iraq are certainly very complicated, but if we can employ a dual path strategy to rapidly hunt down and kill the terrorists, while defending the innocent, we may have a chance to firmly, yet quietly stem the of growth of radical Islam and win the peace. As a global superpower, we have at hand a responsibility and generational opportunity to demonstrate true strength and leadership by being substantially more engaged in helping the millions of innocent refugees in the Middle East.
To win the peace, we must much more effectively counter the radical Islamic narrative that America is a sinful, vile, warmongering nation and demonstrate that we are in fact a gracious, generous and caring people. The ongoing refugee crisis, by far the greatest humanitarian crisis since WWII, with over 20 million refugees across the Middle East, should call us to compassion and take up the leadership role we have. Millions of moms and dads, children and the elderly have been on the run, fleeing barrel bombs and terrorists. With Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey shouldering much of the responsibility for physically harboring most of the people fleeing the war in Syria, America has an opportunity to take up more of the load. While America has contributed $5 billion over the last 4 years to assist our allies in the Middle East and encouraged our allies in Europe to do more to help the refugees, we have for all practical purposes led from behind. $5 billion probably seems like a lot a money, and it is, but it pales in comparison to the $2 trillion we spent on the war in Iraq. $5 billion, spread out over the last 4 years, also pales in comparison to the enormity of the humanitarian crisis. 20 million people is more than the entire population of Ohio and Indiana combined. Would not the people of the Middle East, and we, be so much better off if we’d invest in caring for fellow human beings in such desperate conditions? Cities and towns and refugee camps in countries neighboring Syria are filled with people with an array of needs, just like we would be if we were on the run with our family.
While it would feel good to suggest the US deploy our armed forces to establish “safe zones” in Syria, given the substantial scale and risks associated with such, the very least we can do is further underwrite the aid the refugees are so very much in need of. On the southern border of Syria, Jordan, with a population of just 6.5 million people is struggling mightily to host 1.4 million refugees. In Jordan, where hospitality is so much a part of their culture, Jordanian relief workers say “it is impossible to walk away”. We too, as a people, seeing so many in need, can commit more to helping people, people not so different than members of our own family, struggling to find safety, food and water, a place to sleep, and hope for their children.
An example of how incredibly difficult the refugee situation has become is what has happened at the Rukban border crossing from Syria into Jordan on June 21st. ISIS detonated a car bomb killing 6 Jordanian soldiers, and Jordan was forced to suspend aid to the more than 60,000 people encamped there. In this one camp alone, 60,000 people with little food, water or shelter, are trapped in the sweltering desert heat, between a horrific war and a closed border. How can we look away? Perhaps many of us didn’t know such a tragedy was unfolding, but now that we do know, we have an opportunity to do something about it. We can write the President or our congressmen, and we can give, even a little, to one of the many non-profit organizations struggling to serve the refugees.
Finally, to win the peace and take away the recruiting narrative of radical Islamic leaders, it is essential that political leaders stop stoking fears of Muslims. Having lived in the mostly Muslim community of Dearborn, Michigan the last few months, I can personally attest to the fact that the vast, vast majority of Muslims are gracious and kind people. To insinuate otherwise, not only insults peace loving Muslims, it further embitters the few that are disenfranchised, angry and prime candidates for radicalization. US politicians must refrain from denigrating comments and policy positions that insult Muslims of good will and inflame those that are already anger and wavering.
As we daily face the war on terror that has come upon us, both abroad and now here at home, we have a choice. We can try to hunker down here at home and bomb our way out of this mess abroad. As we’ve seen over the last year, that strategy alone hasn’t materially turned the tide of this war. It’s left us apprehensive if not fearful here at home and left tens of millions people suffering in the Middle East. Or, we can go the extra mile, and along with intensified efforts to bring down those bent on killing innocent people, we can make a much greater effort and commitment to help the millions of refugees trapped in the Middle East. We have before us an opportunity to demonstrate the real strength of America, not just in our military might but in our compassion toward those that are suffering. Surely we must know by now that in an ideological war, such as this one, we cannot bomb our way to peace. Our military has taken down many terrorists and must continue to do so, but it will be the kindness and compassion America shows the refugees that has the power to counter the perverse ideology of radicals and win the peace.