How the Terrorists Can Win

After reviewing the various reactions to events precipitated by the slaughter of the four U.S. civilians in Falluja, the beheading atrocities, overreaction by much of the media to the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, and shameful exploitation of the latter incident by political opponents of the war, it became clear to me that many Americans still do not get it.

While respectfully disagreeing, I can understand the arguments of prominent Americans—including retired Marine General Anthony Zinni and retired Admiral William Crowe—to the effect that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake because it unnecessarily interrupted the war on terrorism. For better or worse, this is a complex strategic issue that will not be resolved with certainty for many years.

What bothers me most, however, is the persistence of the wrongheaded notion that the United States brings this treatment on itself by arrogance and insensitivity toward Arabs and Muslims. Those who take this view are convinced we would not be targets of radical Muslim hatred and violence if we were more compassionate and evenhanded in our dealings with them. Presumably, the lack of evenhandedness has to do with our tilt toward Israel in its struggle against Palestinian terrorism.

It may be comforting for people to believe that solutions to hatred and violence lie in their own control; that by simply modifying their behavior and attitude they can soften the hearts of those who hate us so we can live happily ever after. Unfortunately, even if we could change who we are and how we behave, it would make little difference to the terrorists. Even if it were possible, should we abandon our principles and friends to do so?

The contention of those who believe we can melt our enemies' hearts by reaching out to them is based on a faulty premise. Muslim extremists hate us more for who we are and what we stand for than for our actions. They believe any means are justified by the ends. We are the richest and most modern and powerful nation on earth. We are a diverse, multiracial, largely Christian nation that values and enjoys a wide range of rights, including gender equality and freedom of speech and religion. Most of these freedoms are largely unknown to the extremist masses; they constitute distinct threats to their leaders that require forceful responses. Thus, since 1979, they have attacked U.S. citizens and activities, from our embassy in Tehran to the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The religious fanatics who dominate these people despise our way of life—especially our insistence on separating religion from government. What we see as sexual freedom and gender equality, they see as depravity. While we encourage scientific advancements, they fear them as threats to age-old religious dogma. To Islamic radicals, our society is corrupt and profane. The United States will continue to be the Great Satan—and those who side with us are evil as well.

We will never change their minds by offering the other cheek or turning over a new leaf. There is, of course, always room for improvement in our conduct of international relations. Despite its great power, the United States might better be served by less arrogance on occasion. But can we truly change our very nature and—not incidentally—surrender our role as the world's only superpower? And what would it benefit us to forsake our allies and national interests in the process? The horrendous Rwandan massacres in 1994 remain a stern reminder that international efforts often run aground.

Notwithstanding the opinions of armchair strategists, leaving Iraq prematurely could have no good outcome. In fact, any concession or retreat from the U.S. objectives of establishing democracy in Iraq and combating Muslim extremists will be viewed by them as signs of weakness—a fatal lack of determination that they believe will lead eventually to our withdrawal from the Middle East. They will take credit for driving us out and will be strengthened measurably by our retreat.

If the United States opts to reshape its principles in response to extremist demands and stand on the world's sidelines, terrorism will continue to dog American citizens and interests around the world. That is how the terrorists can win.