Why is there no focus on the root causes of terrorism?

[jaysunb]

I believe the world will always suffer some form of terrorism. There will always be someone or group with a grievance that will drive them to think they have no other recourse. but,
I rarely, if ever, hear anyone talking about trying to understand and/ or undermine the things that drive todays extremist.

We more or less assume the simplistic rationale given us by our leaders are valid ( they are not )yet I'm amazed that in a world of so many smart people that we would not have an outcry for solutions to the problem , rather than reactions only....

Are we so loath to admit that our greed , complacency, personal comfort or tacit complicity in the pain of others that we sit by silently. If we know what the cure for an ailment is, isn't better to cure it rather than kill it ?

It's time for a cabinet level Peace Department.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. because the point is not to eradicate terrorism

the point is to keep people afraid so that the neocons can steal our rights and gain more and more power.

[DaveJ]

2. I think that would scare a lot of people in the U.S.

If everyone knew the root causes of terrorism nobody would get a nights sleep knowing what the U.S. is doing to literally manufacture them.

[Parche]

3. terra

Because it keeps our CIA going, keeps Bush in power...etc

[Mojambo]

4. Identifying the root cause of terrorism will not allow you to manufacture and sell more weapons.

And that's what the war on terror is really all about.

Just like the Cold War.

[SanCristobal]

5. There is, it's the war in Iraq.

The whole war is intended to eliminate the root causes of terrorism, as viewed by neocon ideology. The idea is that unrepresentative Arab governments lead to grass roots support for Islamic terrorism, as they create impoverished populaces and feed them scapegoats which promote radical Islam. Democratic Iraq will lead to empowered Iraqis who will reject radical Islam and democratic reform throughout the Arab world.

I give Bush credit, he is the only president who tried to solve the root cause of terrorism rather then react to attacks (please don't flame that remark, I don't support him, I just give credit where it is due). Unfortunately he has done this in a way that has hurt the American image and failed to sufficiently plan the war at the center of his solution.

[Disturbed]

6. Busholini Illegally invades a sovereign nation to

force democracy yet most of the ally nations in the ME are dictatorships which he and his Regime support.

[jaysunb]

7. I won't flame you , but

I can't see using an army to fight an ideaology. Even in Afgahnistan, we could have went in there with a small elite Ranger & Special Forces groups with air support and rooted the whole Al Qiada and Taliban crowd out.
I know, I know, we had to get revenge. But still, a smart leader --or Commander in Chief-- would have weighed.
Actually Rummy had it right about " smaller quicker" strike forces....just the wrong country.

[rainy]

9. Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts. Very brave of you

But, we are a welcoming group. I'd like to say that most of the reason we are hated around the world is the way we lend money, drive a country into dept, say we will forgive it if they sell our corps. their natural resources at fire sale prices. People are used by their leaders to fight. They are lied to about patriotism, religion etc. to get the people to fight their wars for whatever cause. It is always the people who suffer. You might like to read "Confessions of an economic hit man." It explains how we go around the world and try to take control of countries' natural resources. This benefits the national corporations who are now in control of our government. Read up on the WTO, IMF and other such organizations. Look what we did to Panama. We went after their leader for breaking a US law, not one of his own people's or country's.

[MadMaddie]

10. The war started in Afghanistan where the Taliban and their

extreme ideology blossomed...if we would have kept our troops in Afghanistan and contained the extremist this could have been a much more successful effort...The root was Asama Bin Laden now it's over the entire MiddleEast....

However; * wanted revenge against Hussein not a reason to go to war, by pulling our troops when he did, today 4 years later, the Taliban is reemerging, the opium growth is higher than it was before we went there...Karzai only has control of the city he is in...

Western style Democracy for the Iraqi's is not working out very well...they are dying at a rate of 100 a day, no running water, sporadic electric, schools are closed, unemployment is rampant and the list goes on..

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Hamlette]

8. because terrorists acts are the result of occupation of lands

and to admit that we'd have to get out of the middle east. We're not willing and there is no way we'd tell Israel to.