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Whose Security?

Reader comment on item: War as Social Work?

Submitted by Giulio Battiston (Spain), May 6, 2003 at 18:32

It would be interesting to define what security means to Americans, for if it means going about your daily life without fear of a terrorist attack, that is one thing, and as is evidenced by the efforts of Spain and Northern Ireland efforts to rid themselves of a determined foe, not an easy nor a winnable cause, in a democracy. Under other types of regimes where sectors of state machinery are not subject to legal, moral or ethical constraints, maybe, although Israel's punishing Palestinian terrorists' families casts even that into doubt. South Africa couldn't get rid of terrorism and look at it now. There is very little any state can do against someone armed only with righteous anger and it might be that this is just the weapon that America is now arming its victims with.

If security means going about your daily business without fear of repression then the battle is even harder, and what is currently happening in America under the various acts passed post 9-11 make oppression and repression a daily reality for an increasing number of, like it or not, Americans. The days of Americans being secure in their land are no longer. Was Bin Laden possibly right? Has 9-11 not spawned the very climate any terrorist organisation wishes to create without him needing to lift a finger ? And only through what in my opinion is a complete unwillingness on the part of America to see itself as part of the world.

Only if you can envision and act on peace can that come about. And peace is about sitting with your enemies and working out ways of making it work for all. America shows precious little of that ability. You now influence those who make the decisions and our descendants will live with the consequences. God give you wisdom.!!
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Reader comments (51) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1A new military strategy in Afghanistan that might work. [353 words]Bill PazaratzNov 6, 2010 22:46179994
"War As Social Work" [201 words]Renee BouvierNov 8, 2007 15:32113438
Enhancing America's Security vs. War as Social Work [22 words]jennifer solisOct 13, 2007 14:40111385
WELcome democracy [92 words]samanJul 12, 2005 22:1623422
The Long Term [180 words]AdamJul 23, 2003 11:5010178
War as Social work [164 words]A.K. LenceskiMay 23, 2003 02:149196
A problem [605 words]David IseckeMay 14, 2003 17:489069
Brilliant! [26 words]Carmen Waggoner, Ph.D.May 14, 2003 11:159053
reason for military intervention [102 words]dave morrisMay 9, 2003 19:528979
Real war [189 words]A.A.May 9, 2003 18:388978
Strengthening alliances [247 words]Antonio ChavesMay 8, 2003 14:278960
USA saved Aussie bacon as well [166 words]Craig LawrieMay 8, 2003 00:418939
Social Work and National Interest [171 words]William KinneyMay 7, 2003 23:018937
The administration has an obligation to the American people to provide what it promised [223 words]Alex CMay 7, 2003 20:098934
Altruism benefits no one [125 words]Maryallene OtisMay 7, 2003 18:418933
Thank you for calling attention to the media's spin [171 words]K WallMay 7, 2003 16:308930
How about DeSoto property rights? [48 words]Jules C.May 7, 2003 13:178929
Well Done [14 words]Moshe CohenMay 7, 2003 12:488927
Then why....? [73 words]Barbara RunkelMay 7, 2003 05:428921
Remember 9/11 and American security? [160 words]Ivan BarnaMay 7, 2003 01:268919
Amen [131 words]Jim FitzgeraldMay 7, 2003 01:108918
Well put! [15 words]PennyMay 7, 2003 00:018916
The road to hell [16 words]Vivek L. DevMay 6, 2003 23:358915
It doesn't follow [226 words]Jim RyanMay 6, 2003 21:498914
Unique point of view [22 words]Ann CiccolellaMay 6, 2003 19:568912
Brilliant Insight [62 words]Peter H. RonaiMay 6, 2003 19:328911
Whose Security? [305 words]Giulio BattistonMay 6, 2003 18:328909
Take a Spin [5 words]N. HayesMay 6, 2003 18:288908
Americans help make the economic recovery become possible... [84 words]Tilman WinklerMay 6, 2003 18:188907
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Nation Building [152 words]Paul M. NevilleMay 6, 2003 15:008904
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Amazing [51 words]Larry BensonMay 6, 2003 14:298902
War against Iraq [72 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Samir Khalil SAMIR, SJMay 6, 2003 14:098901
Philanthropy is our interest! [191 words]AvrahamMay 6, 2003 13:368900
I respectfully disagree [128 words]Boris GurevichMay 6, 2003 13:268899
Surrender And Be Free! [176 words]EdMay 6, 2003 13:208898
Thank you: intelligence with common sense [25 words]Marcella JenkinsMay 6, 2003 13:158897
Social work required [131 words]JockoMay 6, 2003 13:108896
Right on!!! [107 words]Jacob B. Padgug, Ed.D.May 6, 2003 12:588895
A ray of sanity [126 words]Patrick BramwellMay 6, 2003 12:148894
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Pipes says what Bush Admin Thinks [180 words]Larry DerfnerMay 6, 2003 11:278892
With respect, this time you're off-track. [239 words]David ScholemMay 6, 2003 11:198891
Iraqi Freedom [24 words]Ron WeinerMay 6, 2003 11:178890
Germany after WWII [54 words]G.C. Colan, Esq.May 6, 2003 10:568888
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Dr. Pipes has identified a MAJOR guiding principle. [86 words]DSm.May 6, 2003 09:518880
Nemesis of Islamists [180 words]R.D. CrockettMay 6, 2003 09:198879
Oh how the truth hurts! [155 words]Daniel LenardMay 6, 2003 09:168878

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