Friday, January 16, 2015

Think calmly. Think rationally

That's Steven Walt's advice relative to the Hebdo and similar incidents. His theory is that the perpetrators of these incidents want us to get all het up about it and start doing things we shouldn't do, like going to war with the Islamist world instead of focusing on the bad actors. Such an act would make them heroes and aid in recruiting. The perpetrators do not now have the weapons or the backing to seriously harm us. 

Martin Wolf recommends six things we should and can do:
First, accept that we are playing the long game of containment.
Second, recognise that the heart of the struggle is elsewhere. The west can help. But it cannot win those wars.
Third, offer the lived idea of equality as citizens as an alternative to violent jihad.
Fourth, appreciate and respond to the frustrations many now feel.
Fifth, accept the need for measures to provide security. But remember that absolute safety is never achievable.
Finally, remain true to our beliefs, since without them we have nothing to offer in this struggle. We must not abandon either the rule of law or the ban on torture. Once we do, we have already lost this war of ideals and ideas.

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