Obama Vs Osama

It has been a year since Al-Qaeda’s leader Osama Bin laden was killed by the elite Special Forces. It is a defining moment of the world, especially to USA. U.S.A government charged that Osama headed an international terrorist network called ‘Al Qaeda’ an Arabic word meaning ‘the base.’ By eliminating Osama, Obama claimed that he had brought justice to the victims of terror. But there is a need to know that Is Al-Qaeda finished or hat it simply mutated.

The loss of founder and leader of Al-Qaeda has discarded its ability to bring out more terrorist activists which they claim that ‘Jihad’, means holy war. Because what gave substance to Al-Qaeda’s global ambition was the person of Bin Laden. He was a unique figure whom his successors are incapable of replacing. And the key idea of radicalizing and mobilizing its ideology across Islamic has failed. That is more evident in Middle East uprising as theywere democracy not for radical Jihad. In addition, since al-Qaeda took its place on the world stage, a process of assessment has been going on. In spite of Muslim anger over both Iraq, Afghanistan and Yeman, that assessment, never truly positive, has become more and more negative as Al-Qaeda has alienated people by its indiscriminate killing.

War on terrorism can be justified. However, military techniques may bring momentary advantage. Development aid can shift attitudes. Intelligence can abort particular attacks. However the real change has been more fundamental than what we think. There is a significant necessity to search out a permanent solution to tackle the so called ‘holy war,’ terrorism.

The global pattern of War on Terrorism emerges rapidly against Al-Qaeda. Military action has evidently marginalized Al-Queda in Iraq, Pakistan and in troubled Afghanistan, although its offshoots and associates in North Africa and the Yemen are stronger and may still be growing. However, its ability to conduct long-range operations in the Eastern and non-Eastern countries has been reduced by good intelligence and measured such as the continual tracking of its communications.

The cause of terrorism is not just because of an individual or a group of people who have wrong ideology, but it is mostly because of mistake of foreign policies of different countries in the world. When developed countries trying to play a hero role to their country people, it indirectly affects developing countries. However I cannot also neglect the fact that religion and racism are other root causes of terrorism.

Well, I am not an anti-American, however, I should write about the controversial story behind Osama. It claims that during in the 1970s, when the Russia was the biggest threat to America and radical Islam was not as a concern of the USA’s, the USA began funding and training Islamic militants to fight their Russian enemies in Afghanistan.[1] Because of the failure in the foreign policy of America, its own trainee turned against the trainer, America. What happened in the rest of the history we all know. In addition, fairly recently, it seemed like there was a family feud – passed down from the Crusades or the like-going on between the Husseins and the Bushs for much of two decades.

Can terrorism be eliminated by Military action? Never. For instance, Haqqani network is emerging, that is still strong. Can terrorist ever achieve their dream by killing innocent people? oh Never. Evidently, Osama and Obama have failed. I remember Gandhiji words “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Terrorism and war will destroy the humanity from the face of the earth if we fail to stop. I don’t know how much it is possible but I conclude this article by a saying of Jesus, that is

                “Love your enemies”

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[1] http://newsone.com/1205745/cia-osama-bin-laden-al-qaeda/

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Nexalism – the Unforgotten War in India

Hostage crisis is the word repeatedly occurred in Indian media as Nexals are showing their militant face by kidnapping government officials. For instance, the abduction of Sukma district collector in Chhattisgarh state in India. According to media yesterday they released the statement to justify the abduction of IAF officer – Alex Paul Menon. Their statement goes like this “these people need to understand the reality on the ground and the manner in which the people are suffering state’s repression and the role of district collector in it.” But in practical ground, this militant activity of Nexals caused chaos in that region. The sudden rush of nexalism was brooded by corruption in a democratic government. Though democracy gives liberty, sometimes it causes chaos in society.

Though  socialist system collapsed in USSR, still socialism has its impact in Indian society in the form of Nexals/Moaists. The Nexals are considered far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology.   To have a comprehensive idea on Nexals, we need to understand the tribal tradition first. The distinctiveness of tribal tradition lies in affirming the centrality of land or space as the foundation for understanding the tribal people’s culture, identity, personhood and religious ethos.

The recent fighting scenario and Naxals aggressive behavior shows that they will not give up their guns. It is theoretically problematic to assert the existence of Naxels as they stand for their principles to bring the deliverance from the oppressed community. Maoists are not cowards enacting dramas. They have been fighting for the cause of oppressed for last 30 to 40 years. The boldness and reckless are indirectly stimulated by the oppression of the local government and the corrupted politicians.

The lack of knowledge of our political leaders in tribal issues has been proved by the recent Union Budget. The union budget has set aside a mammoth amount of over Rs.40,000 crores/ $ 8 billion to battle Naxals and other separatists in the North Eastern States, who posed a serious challenge to the nation’s internal security.  This step shows the total ignorance to tackle the problems of Nexals. Can these deployments stop the Nexalism, never. It may provide temporary solution but not the permanent one.

Clearly, Gandhi had visualized the menace we are facing today. Indian political leaders should aware of the Mahatma Gandhi’s warning. Father of our nation had warned 68 years ago about inevitable armed revolutions in Indian if the gulf between the rich and the hungry continued to persist. The remarks of the civil society may be dismissed as “unnecessary romanticism of violence,” but can we afford to overlook the warning of the father of the nation.

Gandhiji and his methodologies are still very much relevant in relation to resolving state-people conflicts and especially when the present political system has no clue to an appropriate political starter for such conflict resolution except using forces. Today the mainstream politics need to learn the relevance and art of political mobilization of common and deprived people from Gandhiji’s historic experiences. Therefore we need to recall what were the views of other legendary leaders of India bout the social and political conflicts which would emerge in independent India. In 1931, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar in his famous speech in the Round Table Conference in London mentioned about the duality on Indian society and that of the political classes, which would create more inequality and hence violence. It is not always a bad idea to trace the roots of present day problem in the historical experiences of the legends of India.

Naxalism and insurgency would automatically disappear if development and equality are ensured to all citizens of the country. The most stupid thing to do is to try to crush the oppressed through deploying para-military.

There are plenty of the ways for tackling the problem. One of the way to solve problems is through talks. Nexalism started due to the pauperization and exploitation of the peasantry in a filthy feudal system in the countryside. Nexals must be talked into giving up the gun by fulfilling their legitimate demands of development of all section of society.

Further, one of the root causes of Nexalism is low or no development of the affected areas. In one sense, poverty makes crime. So the natural solution is bringing development mainly in the form of education, employment and infrastructure. Sustainable employment will be permanent solutions for the eradication of Nexalism in India which will lead to education, development and patriotism.

Violence only breeds more violence and tears apart the society. Government and Nexals should realize that violence cannot bring peace or development. The stupid self-serving politicians and bureaucrats in the central and state governments and leaders of Nexals have to realize this. Till then this frightening scenario will not be over. We have to unify India by fighting against corruption, have transparency and find innovative ways to promote the deserving under privileged.

I will be posting few more articles about my experiences in the Nexal heartlands and in North East India.

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