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Way country portrays terrorists strengthens cause, according to speaker
Shorr questions approach to war on terror
By Kristin Kern
“*It’s so important not to build up Osama bin Laden as the leader of a global movement, but to leave him bare as a gruesome sadist.*”
-David Shorr.
The Institute of World Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sponsored “National Security: Is the War on Terror the Right Framework for US Security Policy?,” the second installment of the eight-part Great Decisions 2008 series Tuesday night in the Union Ballroom.
David Shorr, program director of the Stanley Foundation, spoke on the featured topic, with several IWA members, students and the general public braving the cold to gather and ask Shorr questions relating to the ongoing War on Terror.
Shorr kicked off discussion by outlining the steps taken by the 9/11 commission, including improving intelligence, gathering and sharing information between government agencies, better monitoring and inspection of cargo coming into the country, and improving control and security of nuclear material.
“America does need to decide the extent to which we want to orientate our national security and foreign policy around the terrorist threat,” Shorr said.
Shorr progressed by breaking down terrorism and other international challenges from a political, military and foreign policy standpoint. He began with looking at the political vantage point and why the right and left are coming together.
“The simple fact is, we’re frustrated with the low quality of debate,” Shorr said. “What we hear being debated doesn’t sound to us like the real choices, or the real issues.”
Shorr’s belief became more evident as he looked at how government and political leaders have dealt with Osama bin Laden.
“The more we build him up as the symbol of a monolithic global movement, the more we undercut our own interest,” said Shorr.
Instead of portraying bin Laden as a warrior and the face of an anti-American organization, Shorr shared his thoughts on how he and other terrorists should be viewed.
He said the key is to peel away Al-Qaeda’s support and sympathy abroad.
“It’s so important not to build up Osama bin Laden as the leader of a global movement, but to leave him bare as a gruesome sadist,” said Shorr.
In terms of military might, Shorr views the U.S. as a Goliath, a comment that brought great debate within the audience.
“We should know better then anyone, public sympathy is always with David, not Goliath,” said Shorr. “I hate to break it to you, but we’re Goliath now.”
One of the questions raised about the Goliath comment was on what kind of superpower we can be while eluding such a label.
Shorr believes that the United States needs to protect against becoming increasingly disconnected from the rest of the world. America must also restore its image globally, according to Shorr.
“We have to prevent America from getting cut off from the rest of the world,” said Shorr. He added that the policy of sending troops to execute missions they are not properly trained for, and allowing civilian agencies to deplete, are leaving America short-staffed and ill-equipped to deal with global issues.
“We simply must invest in our capacity to relate to the world,” said Shorr.
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