12/02/2009 Human Observations
There is an obvious appreciation for caution in thinking through a course of action when considering the volatility of the regions where terrorists hide themselves. How simple it would be to turn their hiding places into rubble; but they hide themselves amongst an innocent civilian population. So we are faced with a very hard reality: the enemies of civilized behavior are embedded within the fabric of Afghan and Pakistani life. There was a time when we sought to halt the threat posed by the Soviet Union to takeover Afghanistan, by financially supporting the Afghan resistance. We also financially encouraged Pakistan to assist in the effort. In creating this wall of resistance that did indeed withstand the Soviet assault, we inadvertently enabled a faction within the Afghan region that grew into the destabilizing threat that we recognize today. Yet, that region of the world is but a single example of the “tares growing up with the wheat” (so to speak), where destroying the bad would also harm the innocent. Similar examples are located in parts of Asia, Africa, and even in Europe. It would appear that we and our allies have chosen to militarily and methodically root out these elements that disrupt civilized living. Such a task takes on serious proportions that will dramatically impact the economy and socio-politico lifestyles of each participating nation; yet a decision to ignore this threat to civilization has already been demonstrated as very costly to human life. There is much to consider.