War Against Global Terrorism

<p>The current US-led global war against radical Islamic terrorist elements focuses on the direct approach of physically eliminating terrorist cells depriving them of safe haven and cutting off their sources of financial funding. There is an urgent need to formulate a broader plan that would stop radical Islamic groups such as al Qaeda from subverting the Muslim population worldwide and inciting hatred against the western ideals of civil liberty democracy modernity and progressive thinking. This paper proposes that the United States and its allies should in parallel with the above direct approach adopt an indirect approach of waging an information campaign to win the hearts minds and souls of the international Muslim community. This information campaign would have two main thrusts: first to undertake reform in Islamic education; second to establish Iraq and Afghanistan as positive models of Islamic states. These main thrusts will address the issue of Islam's compatibility with modernity and democracy respectively. The paper begins with a discussion on the characteristics of Islam the nature of this war on terrorism as well as the emerging trends and considerations in the post-Cold War strategic environment within which the US policy makers are operating. This is followed by an elaboration on the proposed approach. Finally the paper concludes by drawing a parallel with relevant lessons learned from the Cold War.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>