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Mindless terror

As we write the world is still to recover from the shock and horror the mindless carnage and devastation in New York and Washington have left-behind. Believed to be the worst terror attacks ever, the twin tragedies have shaken the conscience of the world to the core and filled a multitude of hearts with overwhelming sorrow and grief.

The scale of Tuesday’s bloodshed and terror easily staggers the imagination. Never before have terrorists displayed hatred of these proportions for humanity. What have hundreds and thousands of politically uninvolved men, women, children and elderly people done to earn the wrath of bloodthirsty purveyors of terror? How will the anomalistic bloodshed which has thus been unleashed resolve any grievances - perceived or real?

In fact, the contrary may be correct. The wanton snuffing out of life and destruction would only strengthen the resolve of the peacefully inclined sections of the international community to stand together even more unitedly and firmly to take on and defeat global terror. The solidarity and feeling of oneness expressed by world leaders in their condolence messages to the US bear this out forcefully. It proves the futility of resorting to terror as a means of promoting change. For instance, President Kumaratunga in her condolence message to US President George W. Bush was quoted saying that, “These attacks highlight once again the paramount necessity for concrete action by the international community for the suppression of terrorism. We should redouble our efforts in combating this menace”.

The Lankan President is not alone in this sensible stand. Numerous world leaders see the necessity for greatly strengthened united efforts against terror by those sections of world opinion which are opposed to the use of force in the resolution of disputes. As a country which is constantly exposed to the chilling brutality of the LTTE, Sri Lanka could be counted on to bolster all legitimate means of fighting terror globally. The time is ripe for greatly enhanced united action against all organisations which sacrifice innocent human lives on the altar of obscurantist political beliefs.

Time will reveal how the demonic bloodshed and devastation was orchestrated and let loose in New York and Washington. We are reminded of the widespread nature of the wicked forces those desiring peace are up against. The lesson that those desiring peace cannot afford to let down their defences is also brought home to us. Those who devastated the Twin Towers in New York and savaged the Pentagon obviously exploited to the fullest lapses in the security system pertaining to air travel. Intelligence gathering, apparently, left much to be desired too.

However, when the going gets tough the tough gets going. The carnage in the US must provoke further thinking among the peaceful sections of the world on how global terror could be stamped out and help generate new strategies in strengthening global security.

• Editorial of  The Observer - 12.9.2001:
  Target USA

• Voice of the Sinhala and Tamil Media
  Editorials from Sinhala and Tamil Newspapers
  of 12.9.2001

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