The tragedy that struck the world ten years ago - wanton attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre by terrorists on 11 September 2011 in New York - is still haunting humanity. The world as a whole since then suffers from what Erich Fromm termed 'Fear of Freedom' - the terrorists wanted to create an atmosphere of fear, terrorism and mistrust in which they succeeded.
During the last 10 years, the United States and its allies are engaged in 'war on terror' (sic) without much success. The recent reports suggest that they now want settlement with Mulla Omar in Afghanistan. It is strange that instead of uprooting the causes of terrorism, the mighty States are bowing before these merchants of death. The obscurantists want to impose their way of life on others. They are giving permits to paradise to their followers and condemnation of hell to their opponents. This thinking is the root cause of conflict and terrorism. They have no jurisdiction to pass such edicts. It is self-assumed jurisdiction, which if not surrendered voluntarily or taken away from them by law, will keep on creating fas'ad-fil-ardh. It is termed as the most heinous crime against humanity by Allah and State is ordained to punish the miscreants with full force.
It is the duty of all the states to counter terrorism and educate the people that nobody has a right to use force for imposing his faith and thinking on others. In the aftermath of 9/11, the use of force by US and its allies against innocent civilians is as condemnable as are unabated shameful attacks all over the world by terrorists - both posing great threat to global peace. The war against al Qaeda and the Taliban (enjoying networking with many Jihadi groups) - having hubs in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere - cannot be won unless their financial lifeline is destroyed. These networks in the name of religion are minting enormous money, even if its coming from organised crime. This aspect remains improperly investigated by domestic and international intelligence communities. Since al Qaeda and its allied groups have not been uprooted financially, they are wining more and more sympathisers in the US, the Western countries and elsewhere. With money and global networks, they are planning to attack all the major countries of the world. Strangely, their main targets are not only the US and Western countries - for their obvious participation in 'war against terror' - but also India, China and Iran. It appears that 'Islamic Card Policy' of the '80s, which helped the US to dismantle the hostile Marxist USSR, has still some unfinished agenda. The next target is financially and militarily strong China - it recently claimed that terrorists who conducted attacks in Kashgar were trained in Pakistan.
The questions that irk everybody's mind are:
-- Where do these terrorists get so much money from?
-- Why are the governments not serious in cracking down on unlawful transfer of funds?
-- If banking channels are used, why then cannot the remitters and recipients be traced?
-- If hawala and hundi are used for unlawful cross border transfer of funds, why persons engaged in these unlawful activities are not arrested and punished?
-- Who are financing these terrorist networks?
-- Who provides these terrorists with sophisticated arms and military training?
It is a well-established fact that the terrorist networks remit millions of dollars every year from bank accounts maintained in various countries in fictitious names. This money in their hands makes them invincible. According to James Petras, Professor of Sociology, Binghamton University, New York, there is a consensus among the US congressional investigators, former bankers and international banking experts that the US and the European banks launder between $500 billion and $1 trillion of dirty money each year, half of which is laundered by the US banks alone. These yearly inflows surpass all the net transfers by the major US oil producers, military industries and aircraft manufacturers. The biggest US banks derive a high percentage of their banking profits from serving these criminal and dirty money accounts. The big US banks and key institutions sustain the US global power via their money laundering and managing of illegally obtained overseas funds. The first thing to note about the money-laundering business, whether criminal or corrupt, is that the most important banks in the US carry it out. Secondly, the practices of bank officials involved in money laundering have the highest level of backing of the banking institutions - these are not isolated cases by loose canons.
All the big banks specialising in international fund transfer are called money centre banks, some of the biggest, process up to $1 trillion in wire transfers a day. For the billionaire criminals an important feature of correspondent relationships is that they provide access to international transfer systems -that facilitate the rapid transfer of funds across international boundaries and within countries. The most recent estimates (2010) are that 60 offshore jurisdictions around the world licensed about 4,000 offshore banks that control approximately $65 trillion in assets.
This is the real ground situation whereas we daily hear from official quarters in the US and elsewhere making big claims about war on terror. This is all eyewash. In reality, all the financial institutions and even the State structure are subservient to these billionaires. The ruthless arms and drug barons, who know how to move money from one part of the world to another, buy government functionaries, control politicians, law enforcement officials and use terrorists to cripple the state structures.
The US government knows how trillions are laundered through banks in America, yet it does not take any action. The reason is obvious: it would dismantle its economic might. Professor James Petras in Enormous By Any Measure has revealed that "Washington and the mass media have portrayed the US as being in the forefront of the struggle against narco-trafficking, drug laundering and political corruption: the image is of clean white hands fighting dirty money. The truth is exactly the opposite. The US banks have developed a highly elaborate set of policies for transferring illicit funds to the US, investing those funds in legitimate businesses or US government bonds and legitimating them. The US Congress has held numerous hearings, provided detailed exposés of the illicit practices of the banks, passed several laws and called for stiffer enforcement by any number of public regulators and private bankers. Yet the biggest banks continue their practices, the sum of dirty money grows exponentially, because both the state and the banks have neither the will nor the interest to put an end to the practices that provide high profits and buttress an otherwise fragile empire".
The stance of the US government is different. It claims to be committed to taking strict action against illicit money and terrorists. President Bush signed Executive Order 13224 on September 23, 2001. The official site of US government says "Executive Order 13224 gives the US government a powerful tool to impede terrorist funding and is part of our national commitment to lead the international effort to bring a halt to the evil of terrorist activity". President Bush issued Executive Order 13224 pursuant to the authorities of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 5 of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945, as amended (22 U.S.C. 287c) (UNPA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code. In issuing Executive Order 13224, President Bush declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the terrorist attacks in New York and Pennsylvania, and on the Pentagon committed on September 11, 2001, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on US nationals or the United States.
The website further claims that "In general terms, the Order provides a means by which to disrupt the financial support network for terrorists and terrorist organisations by authorising the US government to designate and block the assets of foreign individuals and entities that commit, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism.
In addition, because of the persuasiveness and expansiveness of the financial foundations of foreign terrorists, the Order authorises the US government to block the assets of individuals and entities that provide support, services, or assistance to, or otherwise associate with, terrorists and terrorist organisations designated under the Order, as well as their subsidiaries, front organisations, agents, and associates".
Recently, the US Department of the Treasury targeted the financial and support networks of al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Haqqani Network leadership by designating Said Jan 'Abd Al-Salam and Khalil Al-Rahman Haqqani, two Afghan individuals, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (EO) 13224.
Al-Salam was designated for acting for or on behalf of al Qaeda and for providing support to the Taliban; and Haqqani was designated for acting for or on behalf of the Taliban, for providing support to al Qaeda and for acting for or on behalf of Sirajuddin Haqqani. As a result of this action, the US persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with these individuals, and any assets they hold under the US jurisdiction have been frozen.
"Khalil Al-Rahman Haqqani, who is among the Haqqani Network's most important figures and fundraisers, and Said Jan 'Abd Al-Salam have engaged in activities in support of the Taliban and al Qaeda," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey. "These actions expose two consequential sources of financial and tactical support for these terrorist organisations and is part of a larger US and international effort to degrade their capabilities", claimed Stuart Levey.
Various actions are part of Treasury's ongoing efforts to use the Kingpin Act to target the financial and support networks of narcotics traffickers world-wide. Internationally, the Treasury Department has designated more than 900 businesses and individuals linked to 87 drug kingpins since June 2000.
Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to serious criminal penalties. For criminal violations, corporate officers may receive up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million and criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals face up to 10 years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act
The reports suggest that militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the garb of "Islamic ideology" engaged in criminal activities; from smuggling to kidnappings, narco trade to arm deals. They are fascist in their outlook, who want to control the entire world financially - religion is just a ploy. Terrorism is their main tool to achieve this objective.
Terrorism, like fascism is a self-destructive ideology. To fight terrorism, it is necessary to understand it. Wishful thinking about military might and invincible air-strike-power will not help to win the war against something that relates to human behaviour and lust for money and control. Use of ill-directed force against a few groups without eliminating the main causes leading to "terrorism", would be merely a self-defeating exercise in futility.
Humanisation of world societies is the only effective tool to eliminate terrorism. Use of force and denial of peoples' legitimate rights on the contrary is bound to provoke more terrorist acts around the world. The violent incidents in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Iran, India, Afghanistan, Spain, England, Ireland, Iraq, Palestine, Chechnya and elsewhere are self-evident.
The use of force or right of pre-emptive strikes is only a short-term solution. In the long-term, the governments of the world will have to sit down and chalk out a comprehensive strategy to ensure that miscreants are dealt with a strong hand without disturbing the peace and tranquility of individual societies and the world as a whole.
The most important question faced by humanity in the aftermath of 9/11 is whether we are afraid of freedom or want to preserve it for our future generations. All the terrorist attacks constitute a strike against freedom, but at the same time are a reaction against the callous attitude of those who claim to be self-appointed guardians of free world, human rights, faith and freedom, but in fact they exploit others for personal benefits.
In a unipolar world, after the debacle of communist oligarchy, the responsibility of Western democracies has increased manifold to assure the rest of the world that absolute power in their hands does not mean high-handedness towards others. Mankind, after much struggle and sacrifices evolved the principles of economic liberalism, political democracy, religious freedom and individualism in personal life.
There are now certain forces, having vested interest to push mankind back towards dark ages when inalienable fundamental rights, were denied by the authoritarian rulers. There are debates inside the US and elsewhere, pinpointing the erosion of civil liberties on a massive scale in the name of defending the 'Frontiers of Freedom'. Terrorism surfaced as a reaction towards growing "fascism" on the part of certain states, is a human problem, which needs to be understood. The analysis of character structure of a man is at the core of understanding the rising phenomena of fascism, fanaticism, fundamentalism and terrorism [which includes state terrorism].
The economic imbalances within a society and from global perspective, revival of religious movements (primarily a camouflage to manifest certain political aims) and imposition of will of the mighty on the weak have all given rise to what culminated in the shape of 9/11 in 2001 and events thereafter, which have created world-wide turmoil and unleashed a reign of fear.
Behind this trail of terrorism is dirty business-drug trade, human trafficking, smuggling, kidnapping for ransom, arms trade and all other activities relating to organised crime. This aspect of terrorism has been well-documented by Gretchen Peters in her brilliantly-researched book, Seeds of Terrorism. Earlier, we exposed this horrific aspect of the 'Jihadi bonanza' in Pakistan: Drug-trap to Debt-trap.
Freedom of expression per se has been considered as sufficient fulfilment of the need to achieve a democratic society. The fallout of this fulfillment appears to be a misconceived notion on the part of individuals and groups that freedom of speech ipso facto gives them an authority or a license to impose their own ideas on others using money, power and physical force as means.
They are not only intolerant towards others' views, but also suffer from the misconception that their ideas are the only truth through which the world can be changed into a wonderful place. The terrorists, engaged in criminal activities, profess self-assumed ideological obligations as the only way of life and the so-called defenders of freedom are of the view that they hold the ultimate truth. Neither side is ready to open a dialogue. Both the sides have a non-comprising attitude when matter comes to money and control, camouflaged under some ideology.
Lack of responsibility on the part of the powerful to be fair towards the powerless has converted our world into a place full of misery, destruction and unhappiness. The frustration of the powerless is en-cashed by mafias-they use their anger and deprivation that vents in the form of ghastly acts of terrorism and destruction. If we want to change this situation drastically, a balance has to be struck between the powerful and the powerless.
If a large segment of the world lives in a state of powerlessness, the powerful will always remain the target of hatred and attack. The powerful want to transform human beings into a machine where all cogs function as per the command of the master. Human beings are not machine cogs-they find ways to develop all sorts of malfunctioning depriving the master of his absolute control.
Highhandedness on the part of the powerful and tactics adopted (eg imposing economic sanctions etc) cannot win the war against fundamentalism and terrorism. The oppressed and powerless have their peculiar ways of reacting, which by no means can be expected to be according to the norms of internationally agreed principles or legal norms. Their destructive tendencies (suicide bombings) are symptomatic of a sick world order.
Our world is fast emerging as an authoritarian state reminiscent of fascist systems of the last century's practices in Germany and Italy where the dominant role of authority in social and political structure rested with dictators. Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, remarkable book by great psychologist and thinker Erich Fromm, should be read by all the world leaders, especially heading the powerful States call them G-8, to understand the basis of ongoing conflicts giving rising to terrorism.
Revival of dictatorial state orders in the name of security needs is a step towards fascist world order. On global level, there are now open expressions of superior and inferior statuses while entering into relations with different states and blind admiration of the unipolar force.
This is like pushing the entire world to Ground Zero. In devising military strategies to fight the forces of fanaticism and terrorism, the people at the helm of affairs should not overlook the human side of the whole problem. Freedom and democracy are inseparable. The right to express our thoughts clearly means something only if we are able to have thoughts of our own.
If the media and state machinery is shaping the thoughts of everybody, then where is freedom of expression? If one does not have his own thoughts what does democracy mean? If the shape of the world is to be determined by a handful of people, having known economic interests [who want to redesign oil and political maps], then what is the need of freedom for the common man? In the wake of 9/11, there is skepticism and cynicism towards everything. The future of freedom and democracy is at stake.
James Petras, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the State University of New York, and Dr Henry Veltmeyer in their book Globalization unmasked: Imperialism in the 21st Century have remarkable exposed the tactics of imperialists in the 21st century. They argue that "Globalization is propagated not to bring a better and more just world to the masses of the people but, as has always been the case with imperialism, to advance the interests of those who already enjoy power and privilege".
The anodyne rhetoric of 'Globalization,' 'markets,' 'democracy,' and other pleasant and apparently neutral terms, conceals realities that are far better understood within the framework of imperialism and class conflict. The wide-ranging and penetrating inquiry by James Petras and Henry Veltmeyer yields insight into the core structural features of the evolving forms of domination and control, their severe human costs, and the popular resistance engendered.
It is a contribution of unusual value for those who hope not only to understand the world, but also to change it, drastically, for the better. Looked at superficially, people in various societies may appear to be functioning satisfactorily in economic and social life: yet it would be dangerous to overlook the deep-seated unhappiness behind that comforting veneer.
The loss of substantial human lives in brutal attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq or elsewhere and atrocities committed by drone bombings in various parts of the country, resulting in the death of innocent civilians are interlinked, painful action-reaction chain.
Human despair in the wake of these gruesome happenings is not an isolated individual experience of a community, but a world-wide feeling on a political scale where dominant thought is losing freedom at individual level at the hands of forces of obscurantism and fanaticism, which lack sanity and respect for human life. Those who are encountering it with military might are equally mindless of the fact that suppression of individuals and governments cannot win any agenda against terrorism.
Erich Fromm in Free of Freedom rightly concluded, "The victory over all kinds of authoritarian systems will be possible only if democracy does not retreat but takes the offensive and proceeds to realise what has been its aim in the minds of those who fought for freedom the last centuries. It will be triumph over the forces of nihilism only if it can imbue people with a faith that is the strongest the human mind in capable of, the faith in life and in truth, and in freedom as the active and spontaneous realisation of the individual self."
The same is true for victory against terrorism. In order to secure triumph over the forces of destruction and disruption, the people will have to unite and convince fellow human beings of faith in life, freedom and truth as the active and spontaneous realisation of individual self. This is possible only in a world that is free of authoritarianism, exploitation and injustice.
(The writers, authors of many papers and books are Visiting Professors at Lahore University of Management Sciences.)