jad@harpo.UUCP (jad) (07/08/85)
I commend President Reagan for his pledge to bring the skyjackers to
justice, but we should all hope that the U.S. government has further plans
for combating the terrorist threat. When would-be terrorists realize that
they will likely be captured and extradited to the U.S. to face trial and
punishment, they will feel more compelled than ever to commit murderous
acts of a suicidal nature. Not only would they be motivated by a yearning
for martyrdom, but they would feel the added compulsion to escape the dis-
grace and humiliation of being captured, tried and punished by the U.S.
So I ask everyone, not rhetorically, but for the purpose of soliciting
shrewd, creative and effective ideas; how would potential terrorists be
inhibited from becoming kinetic terrorists (suicidal or not)? As in foil-
ing a terrorist plot, devising a penalty having effective deterrence re-
quires thinking like a terrorist. Here are a few ideas:
The small-fry are suicidal, but their ayatollahs and their war lords are
not. These leaders must be convinced that their punishment will be much
too severe to risk facing. For example, Iran fears that the U.S. might arm
the rebellious Kurds or worse yet, the U.S. might supply Iraq in it's war
against Iran. The U.S. might demand that Israel cease selling war-weaponry
to Iran.
Perhaps there is some punishment decreed by his religion, the fear of
which would inhibit the terrorist.
The U.S. government must begin to treat the peoples of the Islamic nations
fairly, justly and respectfully, because it is morally right. We should
recognize their grievances and try to resolve them.
Please let us hear your ideas on how to inhibit terrorist acts. I pose
this question, not as frivolous banter, but with the hope that it might
save lives. If readers think your idea is valuable, they should tell it
to their congressperson. Don't assume that the people in the Reagan admin-
istration are more intelligent or more imaginative than you are.
sophie@mnetor.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (07/11/85)
Please keep this discussion out of net.women!
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Sophie Quigley
{allegra|decvax|ihnp4|linus|watmath}!utzoo!mnetor!sophie