‘War on terror’ is folly as violence begets violence

In his State of the Union address, US President Barack Obama vowed to “relentlessly hunt down terrorists” (“Obama vows to hunt down terrorists and help the poor”; January 21). He will continue the US’s ‘War On Terror’, a cure more deadly than the disease.

Atrocities and violence provoke violent responses; responses that rarely have the desired effects.

The number of civilians killed by Western military in Iraq and Afghanistan far outnumber those killed by terror and the Western response also increased the numbers committed to violence.

The important conclusion to draw is that the threat of terrorism cannot be eradicated until its fundamental causes are removed.

Studies show that the most common way that terrorist groups dissolve — in 43% of the cases — is via a transition to the political process.

This week, the ‘European Year for Development’ kicks off and it asks people to build a more sustainable society.

Sustainability is commonly interpreted as an environmental concern, but it must also include a social and political dimension.

It is time to focus on a more holistic understanding of ‘human security’.

Violence, unemployment, poverty and marginalisation of young people are a huge risk to us all.

Hans Zomer

Director

Dóchas

Baggot Court

Dublin 2