The dangers of a lack of action

Tolerance and understanding are often in direct conflict with impatience, especially when there is a real need to evaluate clearly the probable big picture regarding terrorism. It is apparent that many Muslims see all statements or actions taken by a Western power as being directly opposed to or aggressive towards the Islamic faith, irrespectively and often unquestionably so.

An interview billed as a special report, which was broadcast on television some time ago, saw the Indonesian female interviewer continuously pushing Islam into the forefront of every question to the Australian Foreign Minister. He, in turn, kept referring to the word terrorists, and stated that he couldn't care less if they were Muslims, Christians or atheists. Understandably, he was extremely cautious with his replies, but on the other side of the coin comes impatience, which is bubbling at the moment, and the real need for positive action.

A terrorist has no need or intention of asking anyone for permission to carry out his evil act, and so (as they say) if Mohammad won't come to the mountain, then the mountain must make the move. For now (and for some considerable time), all eyes are on Indonesia in regards how it performs, with obvious human rights violations in East Timor and in Aceh, and also in regards how it handled the few trials that were conducted in Ambon earlier. If these were to be scored out of ten, then a score of less than five would be certain, and less than three, a possibility.

Osama bin Laden was right when he said that injustices are the cause of his actions, but he is not the only one who has witnessed such blatant abuses go unchallenged. It is more likely that a lack of action will eventually pull the trigger, and Saddam, in the not too distant future, may well be the first victim.

DAVID WALLIS

Medan