The threat of terrorism has been a growing problem. Even though an attack of the magnitude of 9/11 has not been replicated, the idea that terrorism has diminished is ignorant. Shootings connected to terrorist organizations have occurred both domestically and in foreign countries like France. The shootings in San Bernardino, California, and Paris, France both included explosives, as well. Now this weekend, a series of explosions in New Jersey and New York have investigators concerned a terror cell is alive and well in the two states.
Despite the fact that we’ve deployed our military in foreign lands, have drones regularly hitting foreign targets, and are spying on people across the country, terrorist activity is continuing to occur and with a higher frequency. Why?
It is actually largely due to our foreign policy – although our domestic policy plays a part in it, as well. The common denominator across the board is ignorance among American leaders.
Military intervention abroad has actually destabilized the region further, resulting in the rise of ISIS and the increase in terrorist activity. Terrorists use the invasion of those considered infidels as a recruitment tool. It also uses the images of their people slaughtered by foreign invaders as a recruitment tool. Thus, Saddam Hussein’s removal might have stopped a tyrant, for example, but it arguably created a worse situation.
The situation with the drone strikes also results in numerous innocent targets being hit. What do citizens of the region think about their children being killed by foreign military equipment? What do they think about their homes and cities being reduced to rubble?
The United States is feeding the rise of terrorism by providing the terrorist organizations with a recruitment tool.
It also doesn’t help that the United States government has continued to aid countries with known ties to terrorist activity. While the government has armed militant extremists in the past, they continue to aid countries like Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has connections to the 9/11 hijackers and has funded terrorism for years. Saudi Arabia is also currently bombing hospitals and medical facilities as part of its campaign against Yemen, killing many innocent men, women, and children.
Now new reports suggest that Saudi Arabia is using white phosphorus supplied by the United States against civilians. Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemen for over a year now.
Is it any surprise that terrorist organizations are able to recruit? Many people aren’t so much looking to pick a foreign fight as they are looking to avenge their fallen and repel a foreign invader.
Terrorist activity abroad is occurring with success too, as shown in numerous attacks in the United States and in Europe. Instead of increasing border security to better stop these individuals from entering the country, the government is more concerned with scrutinizing their own citizens. Instead of following legitimate terrorist targets, the government is more concerned with intercepting data from and spying on their own citizens. Instead of stopping terrorism and opposing foreign slaughter of innocent civilians, it is aiding the slaughter that feeds terrorist recruitment.
If the United States is to get serious about stopping terrorism, it needs to stop treating innocent Americans like terrorists and start treating terrorists like terrorists. The government needs to stop aiding countries like Saudi Arabia that fund terrorism and engage in terrorist activity in other countries. Until this happens, terrorism will continue.
