[Nettime-bold] (fwd) Harbouring terrorists: A lesson from history

[Janos Sugar <sj@c3.hu>]

Harbouring terrorists: A lesson from history
http://www.blueear.com/forum/wtc913berenyi.html
From: Peter Berenyi <berenyip@psi.com>
September 13, 2001

Let me say something about the notion, that all states harboring terrorists are to be held equally responsible. This is not new. The Austro-Hungarian government took essentially the same approach in 1914.
"Now the history of the past few years, and particularly the painful events of the 28th of June, have proved the existence of a subversive movement in Serbia, whose object it is to separate certain portions of its territory from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. This movement, which came into being under the very eyes of the Serbian Government, subsequently found expression outside of the territory of the Kingdom in acts of terrorism, in a number of attempts at assassination, and in murders.
"Far from fulfilling the formal obligations contained in its declaration of the 31st of March, 1909, the Royal Serbian Government has done nothing to suppress this movement. It has tolerated the criminal activities of the various unions and associations directed against the Monarchy, the unchecked utterances of the press, the glorification of the authors of  assassinations, the participation of officers and officials in subversive intrigues; it has tolerated an unhealthy propaganda in its public instruction; and it has tolerated, finally, every manifestation which could betray the people of Serbia into hatred of the Monarchy and contempt for its institutions.
"This toleration of which the Royal Serbian Government was guilty, was still in evidence at that moment when the events of the twenty-eighth of June exhibited to the whole world the  dreadful consequences of such tolerance."
In: The Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum to Serbia, 23 July 1914 
http://www.lib.byu.edu/~rdh/wwi/1914/austro-hungarian-ultimatum.html
We all know what followed. The Great XX. Century War was started. It's not to say that the majority of Powers were pro-terrorism ones at that time. The day after Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, King George V of Britain decreed seven, Czar Nicholas II of Russia ordered twelve days of mourning. However, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia (because the ultimatum was rejected), these Powers took sides quite independent of their anti-terrorist feelings.
It was a long and cruel war, with close to a hundred million casualties, most of them civilians. By the end of it the dreadful might of all the European Powers vanished, the last step being the unexpected dissolution of the Soviet Union, the former Russian Empire in 1992. In this sorrowful, 76 years long process the United States emerged as the only undeniably victorious party in spite of the fact it was only a second-order Power at the beginning and in spite of its reluctance to get involved at all.
However, even if this war has turned the whole world upside down, the original problem was not even touched, not to mention solved. Terrorism, mass-murder and nationalism is still raging around Serbia and Bosnia, although the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the first one to take stance against it, was eliminated a long-long time ago. Remember the American aircrafts that had to bomb all the proud bridges into the depths of the Danube only recently.
I really don't know what is the moral of the story. But I think terrorism is only the tip of the iceberg, behind it much deeper and much more complex problems are lurking. It's absolutely childish to believe that they can be solved by simply declaring war on any number of states "harboring terrorists". You could certainly declare war on the peoples themselves harboring terrorists deep in their heart, but the only way to win that war would be to exterminate them once and for all. The same way the Roman Empire solved the Carthagean problem and also tried to solve the Jewish problem, until a Jewish sect called Christians took over the Empire and helped to destroy it. Unfortunately this kind of solution, although eliminates terrorists, doesn't eliminate terrorism itself, for it can't be done without harboring terrorists and mass-murderers in your own ranks.
So what? America, as the sole winner of the last war got extremely rich and powerful
compared to the rest of the world. To win this war required excellent performance in many respects, however, she didn't get so rich because of her excellent perfomance, but because everyone else are paying tribute to the winner. This is a fact. A fact that no one denies (except some Americans). And you are not even in a position to be able to get rid of this cumbersome power easily. For it would mean an immediate sink-back to (relative) poverty and helplessness, but wouldn't mean the immediate cessation of negative feelings against those once in power. Such a transition would be extremely dangerous, and not only for America, but for the entire world.
The only viable path is to re-learn that power means responsibility and absolute power means absolute responsibility. To learn not to dominate the world, but to lead and serve it. To learn how to share that looted wealth in a veritable and sensible way, e.g. by financing education on a large scale, all over the world (including America!) - as a matter of courtesy from the American taxpayers. To regain the spiritual meaning of being American, and also the  outward radiance and attraction attached to it. This latter goal can not be achieved by any easy means. You can't entrust PR professionals with this job, neither would the Holywood industry suffice, not even installing malls and fastfood facilities worldwide. It requires a change in your hearts. It requires the inscription "In God We Trust" to be moved from the coins to its proper place: the human spirit.
Back in 1914 and before mainly Sovereigns were targeted by terrorists, for they were believed to be the ultimate sources of power, or at least it was so remembered. Today it's different. America has won the war and with it, at least in the public mind, won the American idea that all power comes from the people. It must follow, that all American power comes from the American People. These modern day terrorists, horrible as it may sound, also target Sovereigns, as they see it. This is why they are trying to kill people en masse, and two days ago they hideously succeeded.
I'm not saying that America should surrender to terrorism. The American people (yes, the entire people, not only the Government, the CIA, the FBI and such) should take every concievable precautions to prevent such acts, as long as these precautions themselves don't threaten the core ideals of America. The terrorists themselves and all those who actively helped them to commit the crime should be brought to justice. But it doesn't make sense to go to war against entire nations for the deeds of a few. Nations should be captivated instead of being conquered. 

http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/EastEurope/FranzFerdinand.html 
http://www.worldwar1.com/tlplot.htm 
http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/comment/sarajevo.html
                                                                    
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