Carnage in Russia
Carnage in Russia
Updated 11:29pm (Mla time) Sept 06, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A10 of the September 7, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
LAST Saturday, the most horrific thing to occur in the world this year took place in an obscure town in Russia. After a two-day hostage standoff with Chechen separatists, Russian troops stormed a school in Beslan and in the ensuing panic and confusion, 322 people were killed. Half of them were children.
The Beslan hostage crisis marked a new low in the brutality and barbarism of the continuing war of terror. In previous hostage-taking crises, only a few children were the targets of terrorists. In Beslan, roughly half of the hostages taken, and also half of those killed, were children. Henceforth, children will be no longer safe. The terrorists were indeed, as one world leader described them, "depraved, obscene and cruel.''
The practice of targeting enemy civilians is as old as warfare itself. But as military historian Caleb Carr has said, it has always failed as a military and political tactic. He said that despite the dramatic increase in its scope and range of weapons, terrorism will continue to fail in the future because it is self-defeating.
What to do then, against these bestial terrorists whose tactics, choice of weapon, target and timing of attack can never be predicted with any degree of accuracy? Traditional and conventional military, police and legalistic approaches will not do. Carr says the answer lies in "a comprehensive, progressive strategy that can address all terrorist threats with the only coercive measures that have ever affected or moderated terrorist behavior: preemptive military offensives aimed at making not only the terrorists but the states that harbor, supply and otherwise assist them experience the same perpetual insecurity that they attempt to make their victims feel.''
The continuing, worldwide war of terror should keep us perpetually on our toes. Because of limited intelligence and operational capabilities, our military and police may not be expected to undertake large-scale preemptive measures. But we should never let our guard down. Eternal vigilance is the price of security and safety.
Vision of Asia
WHILE the Beslan hostage-taking was at a standoff, about half a world away, in Singapore, an event was taking place that should give the people of Asia reason to have hope in the future. The event was the Youth Leaders' Forum sponsored by the Asia News Network and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
It was attended by the outstanding youth leaders of about a dozen Asian countries. Among them were business and economic leaders, politicians, social activists, educators and artists. They discussed their vision of Asia 10 years from now: the regional economy, geopolitics, society, arts and culture and the media.
They wanted economic and social development for the region, but at the same time they asked whether a higher rate of Gross National Product was the only measure of the progress of a nation. They were more interested in people than in dry numbers: the human development index, the happiness quotient. Some leaders said that in many places in Asia, people may not be economically well off and yet they are happy and contented with their station in life.
They asked whether economic development cannot be achieved without having to waste natural resources and pollute the environment. They agreed that continued economic development will create a conducive environment for the loosening up of authoritarian regimes and the rise of more democratic governments.
They stressed the need for political reforms. They deplored that in many instances, idealistic young leaders who are appointed or elected to high government positions are soon co-opted by the system and tolerate and even practice its corrupt ways.
They deplored that the West was dictating its tastes on Asia in the arts, culture, entertainment and even in such things as fashion and furniture. They said it was about time Asian nations asserted their artistic identity and raised a worldwide consciousness of Asian art and culture.
They were optimistic that in the near future, censorship laws would be relaxed or repealed in some Asian countries where freedom of the press and freedom of expression do not now exist. They deplored the "dumbing down'' of media, particularly of electronic media, that seem to be more interested in entertainment than information and in making profits than in educating the people.
Overall, if the activist and reformist attitude and thinking of the young and emerging leaders of Asia are any indication, there is hope for the region in the future. They are the heralds of a Brave New World in Asia.
Updated 11:29pm (Mla time) Sept 06, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A10 of the September 7, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
LAST Saturday, the most horrific thing to occur in the world this year took place in an obscure town in Russia. After a two-day hostage standoff with Chechen separatists, Russian troops stormed a school in Beslan and in the ensuing panic and confusion, 322 people were killed. Half of them were children.
The Beslan hostage crisis marked a new low in the brutality and barbarism of the continuing war of terror. In previous hostage-taking crises, only a few children were the targets of terrorists. In Beslan, roughly half of the hostages taken, and also half of those killed, were children. Henceforth, children will be no longer safe. The terrorists were indeed, as one world leader described them, "depraved, obscene and cruel.''
The practice of targeting enemy civilians is as old as warfare itself. But as military historian Caleb Carr has said, it has always failed as a military and political tactic. He said that despite the dramatic increase in its scope and range of weapons, terrorism will continue to fail in the future because it is self-defeating.
What to do then, against these bestial terrorists whose tactics, choice of weapon, target and timing of attack can never be predicted with any degree of accuracy? Traditional and conventional military, police and legalistic approaches will not do. Carr says the answer lies in "a comprehensive, progressive strategy that can address all terrorist threats with the only coercive measures that have ever affected or moderated terrorist behavior: preemptive military offensives aimed at making not only the terrorists but the states that harbor, supply and otherwise assist them experience the same perpetual insecurity that they attempt to make their victims feel.''
The continuing, worldwide war of terror should keep us perpetually on our toes. Because of limited intelligence and operational capabilities, our military and police may not be expected to undertake large-scale preemptive measures. But we should never let our guard down. Eternal vigilance is the price of security and safety.
Vision of Asia
WHILE the Beslan hostage-taking was at a standoff, about half a world away, in Singapore, an event was taking place that should give the people of Asia reason to have hope in the future. The event was the Youth Leaders' Forum sponsored by the Asia News Network and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
It was attended by the outstanding youth leaders of about a dozen Asian countries. Among them were business and economic leaders, politicians, social activists, educators and artists. They discussed their vision of Asia 10 years from now: the regional economy, geopolitics, society, arts and culture and the media.
They wanted economic and social development for the region, but at the same time they asked whether a higher rate of Gross National Product was the only measure of the progress of a nation. They were more interested in people than in dry numbers: the human development index, the happiness quotient. Some leaders said that in many places in Asia, people may not be economically well off and yet they are happy and contented with their station in life.
They asked whether economic development cannot be achieved without having to waste natural resources and pollute the environment. They agreed that continued economic development will create a conducive environment for the loosening up of authoritarian regimes and the rise of more democratic governments.
They stressed the need for political reforms. They deplored that in many instances, idealistic young leaders who are appointed or elected to high government positions are soon co-opted by the system and tolerate and even practice its corrupt ways.
They deplored that the West was dictating its tastes on Asia in the arts, culture, entertainment and even in such things as fashion and furniture. They said it was about time Asian nations asserted their artistic identity and raised a worldwide consciousness of Asian art and culture.
They were optimistic that in the near future, censorship laws would be relaxed or repealed in some Asian countries where freedom of the press and freedom of expression do not now exist. They deplored the "dumbing down'' of media, particularly of electronic media, that seem to be more interested in entertainment than information and in making profits than in educating the people.
Overall, if the activist and reformist attitude and thinking of the young and emerging leaders of Asia are any indication, there is hope for the region in the future. They are the heralds of a Brave New World in Asia.
posted by Dante at 11:10 AM
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