Night Thoughts

These terrorist attacks always provoke thoughts of the so-called "War of Civilizations" that bin Laden is said to wish to provoke. The money and sophistication of the weapons of the Mumbai attackers suggests organized support with real money and territory. These resources are tiny, of course, compared to those of India, Europe, or the US, but their effect is magnified by their willingness to use indiscriminate violence. So far, the rest of the world has responded in somewhat measured fashion.

Despite its excesses and grotesqueries, even the Bush response never descended into all-out religious warfare. When the provocation becomes great enough and prolonged enough, the pressure for that kind of response becomes overwhelming. Should that happen, the hundreds of millions of Muslims innocent of any violence will suffer with the relatively few who are guilty.

The principal victims of such a war would be the citizens of Muslim countries, but the damage to the institutions of democracy in the US and Europe would also be enormous. Mass expulsions and internments would be likely.

It is absolutely urgent that the countries of the victims and those of the perpetrators take urgent action suppress the individuals and institutions that promote terrorism.

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