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UNDERNEWS
Dec 20, 2001
THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
Inside the Beltway, Out of the Loop & Ahead of the Curve
Edited by Sam Smith
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WORD
I have a higher and greater standard of principle [than George
Washington]. Washington could not lie. I can lie but I won't." – Mark
Twain
TEN LESSON ON TERRORISM
FROM SRI LANKA
SHARIF ABDULLAH, COMMON WAY INSTITUTE - The Sri Lanka government has
been fighting “terrorists” for almost two decades, with no end in sight.
On the other hand, the American “war on terrorism” is only two months
old. Is there anything the US can learn from the conflict in Sri Lanka?
Can America head off twenty years of bloody suffering by looking for
lessons in Sri Lanka?
I live in both worlds. For half of my year, I live in Portland, Oregon,
what is arguably the best city in America, as far from civil war and
suicide bombers as I can get. The other half of the year, I live in
steamy, tropical Sri Lanka, the teardrop hanging off the tip of India .
. .
My reason for being in Sri Lanka is simple: help stop the two decades of
debilitating war that is sapping the vitality and civility of an
otherwise beautiful island. I do this through the application of the
philosophy of inclusivity, a search for a “third way” solution that does
not support either party to the current struggle. Our goal is to
permanently break the cycles of victim-villain-violence. I work with
Sarvodaya, a 40-year-old self-help development organization based on
Gandhian and Buddhist principles. In my time in Sri Lanka, I’ve learned
a few things that can be applied to America’s new-found “war on
terrorism”:
1. THE WAR COULD GO ON FOREVER. Armed conflicts can last for
generations. The longest “hot” war of modern times is the conflict in
Angola – 45 years, with no end in sight. The military standoff in Korea
is also multi-generational.
Sri Lanka: “Terrorist” attacks become so routine they simply aren’t news
anymore. Each attack further reduces the vitality of the island and her
inhabitants. Politicians meet each new attack with words of outrage and
promises of retribution. However, for most Sri Lankans, raised for a
full generation on daily doses of terrorism and violence, the ongoing
cricket matches are more newsworthy than unending stories of horror and
retribution.
America: Airplanes, skyscrapers, anthrax, bridges, federal buildings,
alerts… Attacks and rumors of attacks are becoming so prevalent that
many people are already turning off and going numb. This trend will
continue – the public will become more numb as more terrorist attacks
occur.
LESSON #1: Violence never resolves anything. At some point in time,
people will stop shooting at each other and will start talking to each
other. Nonviolent dialog is the only proven way to resolve conflict.
2. THE TWO SIDES ARE FIGHTING VASTLY DIFFERENT “WARS”, BASED ON VASTLY
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF REALITY. Because the wars are different, the
standards of “winning” are different. The fighting goes on for decades,
with both sides claiming victories.
Sri Lanka: The government sees itself fighting a war against a handful
of terrorists who are trying to destroy the government. The Tigers see
themselves leading a movement for national liberation against a
Sinhalese government that wants to exterminate the Tamil ethnic group.
Both sides see themselves as the victim and the other as the perpetrator
of violence.
America: The government sees itself fighting a war against a handful of
terrorists who are threatening the American way of life. The Al Qaeda
group sees itself fighting a war against foreign invaders in their
homeland. Both sides see themselves as the victim and the other as the
perpetrator of violence.
Lesson #2: Help formulate and articulate a “third way” position (beyond
government and insurgent positions.) This “third way” must look at
reality from the point of view of the people, not the advocates of
violence.
3. WHAT EACH SIDE SAYS ABOUT THE OTHER IS TRUE. WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT
THEMSELVES IS NOT. Each maximizes the sins of the other, while
minimizing their own. Both sides commit atrocities. Each justifies its
actions while vilifying the actions of the other. Because of anger,
history and psychological filters, the two sides cannot see or hear each
other. They each seem unreasonable, “evil”, to the other.
Sri Lanka: The government always refers to the LTTE as “terrorists”, and
stresses their unprovoked attacks on unarmed civilian populations,
Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil, as well as their use of suicide attackers
and child soldiers. The Tigers refer to the government as oppressors,
and stress the military’s well-documented record of “disappearances” and
other violation of human rights.
America: The US government refers to Al Qaeda as “terrorists” and
“evildoers” and stresses their unprovoked attacks on unarmed civilian
populations. Al Qaeda refers to the US government as invaders and
oppressors and “evildoers”. They stress the military’s occupation of
Muslim land and the hundreds of thousands of Muslim deaths at the hands
of the American military. Each claims that God is on their side.
(Either God is very busy, or both sides are deluded into thinking that
God is on the side of the violent.)
Lesson #3: Articulate the “third way” position that is against VIOLENCE,
not against either of the parties to the conflict. Help both sides
understand that their actions are part of the problem, and that all
sides, including “the enemy”, is part of the solution.
4. BOTH SIDES BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER IS THE AGGRESSOR. Each side feels
justified in fighting the war, since they see themselves as “defending”
the unprovoked aggression of the other.
Sri Lanka: The government states that the LTTE started and maintains the
war, and that the government is only defending the Sri Lankan people.
The LTTE says that the Sinhalese majority and the government started the
attacks on the Tamil people, and the LTTE is only defending against
those attacks.
America: The government states that the Al Qaeda members are the
aggressors, and that the government is only defending the American
people. Al Qaeda says that the US government started the attacks on
Muslim people, and they are defending against those attacks.
Lesson #4: Help all parties understand that it simply doesn’t matter who
“started” the conflict. The willingness to use violence creates the
“aggressor”. There are no innocents in modern warfare. No one who
holds a gun can claim to have “clean hands”.
5. FEAR FAVORS THE EXTREMISTS. IT IS EXTREMISM THAT FUELS THE WAR. The
extremists on both sides gain from conflict. As long as this is true,
the conflict will continue. Extremists benefit from the atrocities
committed by the other – they gain a false sense of righteousness.
Extremists also increase their power whenever the Other acts.
Sri Lanka: Sinhalese nationalists and hardliners call anyone who talks
of peace a “traitor”. LTTE punishes those who do not hold to their
line.
America: Those who criticize the US government policies in Afghanistan
or domestic restrictions are seen as “giving comfort to the terrorists”.
Dissenters are threatened, fired from their jobs or otherwise punished
for speaking out.
Lesson #5: Isolate the extremists. Do not allow extremists on either
side to dictate the dialog on war and peace. Understand that the
purpose of violence is polarization and separation – refuse to be
separated from “the Other”.
6. THOSE IN POWER HAVE CONFUSED, UNCLEAR AND EVEN CONFLICTING GOALS, FED
BY A VARIETY OF POLITICAL AGENDAS. THE INSURGENTS, ON THE OTHER HAND,
ARE SINGLE-MINDED.
Sri Lanka: At any given time, the Sri Lanka government says that its
military goal is “wiping out terrorism”, “protecting the rights of the
Tamil people”, “devolving power”, “protecting the rights of the
Sinhalese people”, “bringing the Tigers to the peace table”.
America: The stated goal the “war on terrorism” is “punish the Taliban”
(who determines when they have been “punished”?), “destroy the Al Qaeda
network (who determines when it has been “destroyed”?), “restore
security to America” (who determines when “security” has been
“restored”?) After a full decade, America is still fighting its war
against Iraq, with constantly shifting goals and priorities.
Lesson #6: Without absolutely crystal-clear, definable goals, war
becomes anything and everything. There is no place where victory can be
declared, the “war” ended and healing processes begin. The military
must not be allowed to act unless the political goals and objectives are
crystal clear, specific in definition, time limited in duration, with a
timetable set for achieving those goals.
7. EXTREMISTS ON BOTH SIDES GAIN FROM CONFLICT. AS LONG AS THEY GAIN
POWER, THE CONFLICT WILL CONTINUE.
Sri Lanka: Simply follow the money and follow the power. People on both
sides of the conflict benefit financially from arms sales and from the
insecurity that comes from war hysteria. The Tigers get stronger from
every human rights violation by the government and military. The
hardliners in the government and military gain power with every Tiger
suicide attack.
America: Simply follow the money and follow the power. Arms merchants
on both sides benefit from the war. Both the US government and Al Qaeda
gain power and prestige in their respective spheres of influence. If
America kills bin Laden, he will become an international martyr; if not,
he becomes an international hero. Either way, we enhance his power.
Lesson #7: Research and publicize who benefits from conflict. Continue
to articulate the “third way” approach. Argue against any use or
escalation of violence as a method to resolve the conflict.
8. WAR CANNOT END BY THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT CREATES AND MAINTAINS IT.
WAR WILL END ONLY WITH A PROFOUND SHIFT IN CONSCIOUSNESS.
Sri Lanka: After 20 years, both sides still maintain that victory is
right around the corner. The Sri Lanka government maintains that their
war on terrorism will end through military dominance: by deploying their
latest weapons systems. The LTTE maintains they will win through
strategic attacks: in the latest ground offensive or the most recent
bombing. Both are wrong.
America: The US government maintains that their war on terrorism will
end through military dominance. The Al Qaeda group maintains that they
will win through strategic attacks. Both are wrong.
Lesson #8: Continually advocate the “third way” position as a shift in
consciousness that can end war.
9. NEITHER SIDE CAN WIN. AND, PARADOXICALLY, NEITHER SIDE CAN LOSE.
MORE VIOLENCE CREATES MORE KILLING, NOT RESOLUTION. THE ONLY WAY THE
CONFLICT CAN END IS BY BOTH SIDES TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
Sri Lanka: Both parties are locked in a cycle of mutual terrorism and
retribution. Both sides have made honest attempts at peace, but have
had them ignored or dismissed by the other. Both parties call for
“peace talks”, but have those calls rejected by the other as not
serious. Both parties are locked in a cycle of mistrust and violence.
America: Both parties are about to lock into a cycle of mutual terrorism
and retribution. Neither party has made any attempt at peace or
talking; the conflict is too new.
Lesson #9: Both parties will find peace through dialog. Not through
violence. The only question is how long it will take for them to learn
the lesson. Our goal must be to shorten the learning curve, from
generations, to decades, to years, to now.
10. THE ONLY WAY THE WAR CAN END IS THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
PEOPLE, NOT THE EXTREMISTS.
Sri Lanka: Both parties have promised “victory” for almost 20 years.
Without a shift in leadership, the conflict in Sri Lanka will become a
multi-generational war.
America: Both parties promise “victory”.
Lesson #10: There is no violent “victory” possible, only increasing
levels of violence, increasing cycles of animosity.
Whose Lessons? The above ten lessons are not for George Bush, Osama bin
Laden, or any other party to conflict. People who use violence tend to
stay locked in that way of thinking. As Voltaire said, “if you only have
a hammer, you tend to see all of your problems as nails”.
The lessons are for you. The lessons are for all of us who seek
fundamentally different ways to handle and resolve our issues. The
lessons are for those of us who will be the leadership of the next
generation, a generation that is learning to reach for the telephone
before reaching for the gun.
MORE http://www.commonway.org/CWI911-17.html
THE WAR AGAINST WHATEVER
*** AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE - Opinion-makers strongly support the US-led
war on terrorism but oppose spreading the action beyond Afghanistan and
feel Washington's policies contributed to the September 11 terrorist
attacks, according to a survey in 24 countries. The poll of 275 opinion
leaders, published in the Paris-based International Herald Tribune
Thursday, showed a majority of non-US respondents felt US policies had
played a significant role in fueling terrorists' anger against the
United States. The poll findings suggest "that much of the world views
the attacks as a symptom of increasingly bitter polarization between
haves and have-nots," the paper said. "The danger for America is that
its overwhelming power is feeding resentment, in the same countries that
also feel they are missing out on the spoils of economic progress."
While around six out of ten non-Americans believed Washington was doing
the right thing in fighting terrorism, that support tumbled when the
question of possible US-led attacks on Iraq, Somalia or elsewhere was
raised.
While 50 percent of the Americans polled said the military action should
be broadened to the regimes supporting terrorism, only 29 percent
outside the US agreed. Asked if many or most people would consider US
policies to be "a major cause" of the September 11 attacks, 58 percent
of the non-US respondents said they did, compared to just 18 percent of
Americans.
MORE http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/1220-01.htm
*** FOREIGN MINISTER SHIMON PERES - Some of Sharon's military operations
make me horrified.... I hope that the policy of liquidations is not
extended to include the Palestinian political echelons. If it is, we are
going quite soon to be declared war criminals by the international
community. [quoted in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth]
GREAT MOMENTS IN CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
Lo Blow Dept.
BILL HOFFMANN, NY POST - Muslims are seething at CNN and MTV after the
cable-TV giants teamed up to surprise sheltered Afghan kids with sexy,
skin-baring photos of Jennifer Lopez and get their reactions on camera.
In the segment aired on CNN last night, reporter Jason Bellini whipped
out an American teen magazine featuring J.Lo, showed it to traditionally
dressed Afghan teens and asked: "What do you think?" The jolted
youngsters told Bellini that while J.Lo was "very beautiful," she would
"never be allowed to dress like that here because her outfit exposes her
belly." Disgusted Muslim leaders said the interviews, produced and
edited by MTV and aired on CNN's "Newsnight with Aaron Brown," were
disrespectful. "I'm surprised a CNN correspondent would not be sensitive
to Muslim issues. He should have known better," fumed Dr. Sayyid Syeed,
general secretary of the Islamic Society of North America.
MORE http://www.pagesix.com
WHICH PAPER DO YOU READ?
<> USA TODAY, Dec 20
Key Taliban, Al-Qaeda Leaders Believed Caught
By Jack Kelley, USA Today
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Taliban's army chief of staff and its
intelligence chief are believed to be among a handful of prisoners in
U.S. custody aboard a ship off the coast of Pakistan, officials said
Wednesday. Also, senior al-Qaeda members are believed to be among
prisoners being guarded by Marines in Kandahar, Afghanistan, according
to U.S. officials who requested anonymity.
USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/hlead.htm
<> NY TIMES, Dec 20
Taliban Chiefs Prove Elusive, Americans Say
By James Risen
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 — Virtually the entire top leadership of the Taliban
has survived the American bombing and eluded capture by American-backed
Afghan forces, according to United States officials and people close to
the Taliban.
Many of the Taliban's senior leaders have melted back into their home
tribes, joined the opposition or crossed the border into Pakistan, the
officials said.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/20/international/asia/20TALI.html
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/20/international/asia/20TALI.html
CULTURE
PATRICIA BEACH SMITH, SACRAMENTO BEE - More than 78 percent of
Californians would be willing to spend $5 apiece in additional state
taxes to fund the arts, according to the state's first major survey of
public opinion about the arts and their place in our lives and in our
schools . . . Also indicative of high public interest in the arts was
the finding that 83 percent of those surveyed attended a performing or
visual arts event at least once in the past year, and 31 percent
attended four or more performances a year. In addition, support for
increased funding for the arts was found across California society,
including 78 percent of African Americans surveyed, 71 percent of those
with incomes of less than $50,000 per year, and 70 percent of people
ages 18 to 29.
MORE
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/1348587p-1418120c.html
LAND OF THE FREE
DECLAN MCCULLAGH & BEN POLEN, WIRED - Jack Valenti predicts that
Congress will require copy-protection controls in nearly all consumer
electronic devices and PCs . . . Valenti's remarks came during a one-day
workshop titled "Understanding Broadband Demand: Digital Content and
Rights Management." Organized by the U.S. Commerce Department, it was
designed to ask whether some form of digital rights management is
required before more broadband content appears online. Hanging over the
event was the specter of federal legislation to embed digital rights
management in any "interactive digital device," from personal computers
to wristwatches. Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-South Carolina) has circulated
drafts of his bill, the Security Systems Standards and Certification
Act, which is on hold until Congress is done with spending measures and
work related to Sept. 11 . . . Academics and free-speech groups such as
the Electronic Frontier Foundation have savaged the SSSCA. The EFF even
has a sample letter to send Congress that argues it will stifle
technology and thwart fair use rights . . . "There is no right to fair
use," [a Disney official] said at the event. "Fair use is a defense
against infringement."
MORE http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,49201,00.html
FDA BANS TRUTH AS "MISLEADING"
SCOTT KILMAN, WALL STREET JOURNAL - The Food and Drug Administration,
trying to douse one of the hottest trends in food retailing, is warning
Hain Celestial Group Inc. and five other natural-foods companies that
they are misleading consumers with labels touting products as free of
genetic modification. The non-GMO label - the initials stand for
"genetically modified organisms" - is on hundreds of food products.
Virtually unknown in North America just three years ago, the label is
materializing on everything from pasta and breakfast cereal to baby food
and jam. The label is popular because repeated surveys show that the
majority of U.S. consumers want to know about the presence of
genetically modified ingredients, apparently so that they can choose
whether to avoid them.
But the FDA letters, issued on Nov. 29, reflect the growing concern of
agency officials that some marketers might be trying to play to the
public's worries about an unfamiliar technology - which that FDA has
declared is safe. "We want to stop misleading statements," said
Christine Taylor, director of the FDA office that supervises label
claims.
GREAT MOMENTS IN NON-CONSTITUENT SERVICE
CHRISTINE BEDELL, BAKERFIELD CALIFORNIAN - A local Assembly candidate
slammed one of his opponents for using photos of herself at the World
Trade Center attack site in a campaign mailer . . . Democrat Jim
Crettol, running in March's 30th Assembly District primary, accused
fellow Democrat Nicole Parra of exploiting the "horror of the 9/11
tragedy for political gain." "Most Americans saw Sept. 11 as a national
tragedy," said Crettol, flanked by two similarly outraged veterans at a
press conference he held to criticize Parra's actions. "Unfortunately,
Nicole Parra saw it as a political opportunity." Parra insisted her
primary purpose for visiting New York two weeks after the attacks was to
comfort rescue workers and victims' families.
MORE http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/740129p-787886c.html
TODAY IN HISTORY
1803 - The Louisiana Territory is transferred from France to the U.S.
The residents of the territory are not informed.
1835 The Trail of Tears begins as Cherokee Indians are kicked off their
Georgia lands after gold is discovered there, and forced to move west of
the Mississippi. The evacuation, led by General Winfield Scott, results
in the death of ten percent of the Indians.
1892 - Phileas Fogg completes his round the world trip.
1989 Thousands of Panamanians die as the U.S. invades Panama. Former CIA
asset Manuel Noriega is jailed in U.S. but other drug connected leaders
stay in power.
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THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
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