Dakota Beacon

Terrorist. Someone who uses violent action, or threats of violent action, for political purposes. Terrorists want power over others and intend to do harm to strike fear as a means to an end.

Terrorism works. A US Army patrol moves cautiously into a jungle village. All is quite. People are gone -- or hiding. In the center of the village they find a young girl tied to a post. Her unborn child lies tangled in her entrails at her feet. This village now belongs to the terrorists. Villagers will unquestioningly do the terrorists’ bidding.

Terrorism works. Saddam Hussein coerced loyalty in his top leadership through terror. It has been reported that senior officers suspected of disloyalty were forced to witness the gang rape of their wives and daughters by interrogators. Other senior officers were shown videos of the scene as a warning against disloyalty.

Terrorism works. Only homicidal maniacs would train their children to lace themselves with explosives and serve as human bombs as have Islamists. Or use children as human shields. Terrorism knows no morality or ethics. It is willing to advance the cause in the most horrific ways.

Communists mastered the art of terror. Communists kept entire countries subjugated through the skillful use of terror. In particular, they effectively used terror throughout Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, Central and South America. But Communists were not alone. They influenced or trained, contemporary terrorists. The list includes the Irish Republican Army, the Red Army Faction, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and drug cartels.

Terrorism enhances the military capability of an inferior force. In military terminology, it becomes a combat multiplier providing the most bang for the least buck. Coupled with propaganda, terrorism gains the compliance of the population. Money, information, and cooperation may be extorted to achieve psychological and political ends through fear. Most people will do anything to avoid rape, murder, and torture. A force of two percent of the population becomes a substructure controlling the other ninety-eight percent. Two percent provides the command, control, communications, and intelligence for the organization. Without the substructure the insurgency cannot survive. Eliminate the fear factor and the terrorists lose their leverage. They are reduced to just another civic organization.

Terrorism works because it creates complications, frustrations, confusions, and dilemmas for the defender. Counter terrorism requires resources. By enhancing security, freedoms may be restricted or curtailed. This disrupts normal activities and free movement of the population. The public bears the inconvenience while the target government bears the blame.

Twentieth century experience points the way to successfully countering terrorism. Unfortunately, with the unexpected ditching of Afghanistan the lessons listed below were either forgotten or never learned. For this the US will pay dearly. First, Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban will become a safe haven for al-Qaida and Isis. Second, former allies will think twice about aligning themselves with an unreliable US partner. The measures forsaken or forgotten are:

--Neutralize terrorist bases. Whether in Afghanistan, Gaza, or the West Bank, terrorists must be denied a safe haven where they can rest and prepare and train. First and foremost, know everything about the terrorists and their activities, movements, and communications day and night. This requires developing the best intelligence gathering capability possible. Sharing the analyzed intelligence with trusted agencies foreign and domestic is critical.

--Pursue terrorists relentlessly whether in safe havens or friendly territory. Disrupt and deny to them the convenience of organizing, coordinating, and planning without hindrance.

--Do not treat terrorists like common criminals. They are paramilitary combatants and must be treated as such. Released terrorists have a way of showing up again in new acts of terror.

--Deny terrorists international assets and succor. Seek militarily, political, and economic cooperation, as far as possible, with other governments to terminate terrorist support.

Since the attack on New York’s Twin Towers America has waged war on terror. The military component knows what to do and how to do it when dealing with terrorists. They developed the doctrine, the tactics, and the training to accomplish the mission. Unfortunately, the political decision-makers have their collective heads where the sun doesn’t shine. The political class will receive the best military advice. But, if ignored in favor of political gamesmanship, if used to besmirch and attack political opponents rather than terrorists, then the advice becomes worthless. Why should the American people volunteer their sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters to a military run by an incompetent political class along with woke generals and admirals? They become pawns for political gain and career enhancement.

Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban now harbors al-Qaida and Isis to be regenerated, reenergized, and re-constituted. We’ll hear from them soon enough within US borders.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)