Editor,
I would like to comment on letters this week regarding terrorism and its causes. I was waiting for some UNM history, political science or military instructor to speak up, but none have.
First, terrorism is a tactic.
You cannot declare war on a tactic. Could you declare war on blitzkrieg? No - so stop using the phrase "war on terrorism."
Second, the United States government has used terrorism when it felt it would benefit from it. The Clinton administration used it against Serbia, the Bush administration uses it in Iraq, and during WWII our government used it against the Japanese.
Third, terrorism is a political act. Why did Timothy McVeigh blow up that federal building? Because he was poor? Why doesn't al Qaeda commit terrorist attacks in Sweden, Canada or Mexico? Are Swedes not free enough? Why did terrorist attacks against the French occupiers stop as soon as they left Algeria?
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Finally, it might be comforting to think our government's actions are pure good, but it will not help in dealing with these issues.
Gregg Ozimek
TVI staff
