No Winner in US Counterterrorism War

Resurgence of conservatism, substantial upgrade in airport security, continual double spending on national defense, more and more anti-terrorism law, the pawn of citizens' freedom and human rights and the like have taken place at that particular moment when terrorists attacked the United States. That moment in history has changed the United States and the world. These past 10 years in history are indeed a very different 10-year period for all.
Trace of 9/11 Tragedy
The people in the United States are eager to return to the life before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But it seems that there is no way for them to go back to the life they used to enjoy prior to the attacks. Ten years have since past, but the incident left by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States cannot wash clean the trace of the 9/11 tragedy.
Thus some people lamented and said that if the goal of the terrorists in carrying terrorist activities is to change the world, then these terrorists have achieved their purpose.
Country’s Dignity
In the post 11 September era, the deeply wounded United States began to carry out retaliatory actions against the terrorists in many other countries. The United States tried to use counterterrorism war to boost the morale of its people, and to restore the dignity of the nation.
But the more the United States staged the counterterrorism war, the more terrorist activities emerged from the ground.
All the big and small counterterrorism wars staged by the United States have caused a lot of thought and debate in the mind of the people. Is it true that the more a country stages counterterrorism war, the more these terrorists will launch terror attacks? Between war and peace, there exist two contradictory states. But in reality, can the world really pursue the so-called peace through the use of war alone?
Within the past 10 years, former US President George W. Bush Jr raised the counterterrorism banner during his tenure as the US national leader. Later on, Bush had to step down from his presidential platform eventually. His close counterterrorism ally Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister has also bid farewell to the 10 Downing Street in London.
Yet between the ups and downs of the two national leaders and their counterterrorism wars, more than 130,000 civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq have lost their lives; 7.8 million people have become refugees and about 7,500 US and allied force soldiers were killed in foreign land and could not return to their homeland and home forever. Have they died for their nation? Or have they become political sacrificial lamb?
Of grave concern to us is that after the 9/11 incident, the misunderstanding between the Muslim World and the western countries has exacerbated. The shooting tragedy that killed many innocent lives in Norway, a country considered by many as a heaven on earth has left with us unlimited sigh and sorrow! There is indeed no true winner in counterterrorism war.
National Security System
A recent public opinion poll conducted in the United States has indicated that nearly 49 percent of the people in the United States still think that Islam is not a religion that embraces peace. But as we think deeper, in fact, it is not only Islam that has been covered with a misunderstood dust by the people.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks that happened in the United States have reflected the reality of the vulnerability of the US national security system. Moreover, the reason used by the US Government to use force on Iraq was but a far-fetched ridiculous excuse. In the end the US allies also alienated from the United States eventually. The "Big Brother" image of the United States in the international community as well as in the eyes of its citizens has suffered considerable setback eventually.
It is with regret to note that terrorism is now linked with a certain religion and a certain race. While collapsed building can be rebuilt, but the good value in the hearts of people has been twisted. It is difficult for such value to revive in the hearts of the people when hatred and bitterness prevail.
New International Order
In the end, there is really no winner in any form of counterterrorism war for any nation. The winners are perhaps the arms dealers and the oil tycoons.
Yet as we reflect on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, we take note that an 9/11 victim who was trapped in the building on that fatal day has come out with the following message before he died: "I just want to let you know that I love you and I am stuck in this building in New York."
In this regard, we should all take comfort that on this tenth anniversary of 9/11 tragedy, what the incident has left with us has, in addition to the restructuring of a new international order, also included love.
In the face of hatred, taking revenge on others can tragically become a kind of continuation of strong pillar by some countries. But love and peace are not something that because you want them and thus you can own them. But instead, it is because we process love and peace, and so we want to cherish them.

Military Impact of South China Sea Dispute on ASEAN Countries

Some international strategist has said that if ever there is any large-scale war happened in this world again, then it is likely that such a war will happen in the South China Sea. But not many people believe it and said it is an exaggerated prediction.
In the past, the Southeast Asian region could still be considered as a peaceful region and the South China Sea is still considered as a calm and quiet piece of ocean.
Sovereignty of Islands and Maritime Boundaries
Although there are some small islands and some small reefs in the South China Sea whose territorial rights and maritime boundaries no country can clearly define, but countries, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei have all come forward to claim the 'sovereignty' of these islands and maritime boundaries and in wanting to protect such maritime territorial rights.
Nevertheless, in 2002, the countries involved in the sovereignty disputes of islands in the South China Sea have at least reached an agreement to say that no country should use military power as a solution to end the dispute of the territorial rights to these islands. These countries also said they would jointly develop the marine resources in the South China Sea.
New Challenge
Under the premise of 'peaceful development,' although all countries involved in the sovereignty disputes over the islands in the South China Sea are unwilling to give up their 'sovereignty' on these islands, but they also do not want to involve in some kind of conflict or confrontation with one another. As such, in the past years, countries involved in the South China Sea conflicts could still basically keep peace with one another.
But the situation in the South China Sea has since changed. Facing new challenge and new impact, the balance of peace achieved by these countries in the past might eventually lose the needed balance of peaceful coexistence.
In the first place, the world natural resources are getting less and less. As such, to each and every nation, natural resources have also become more and more precious to them. For countries to sustain and advance in economic development, they have to depend on new energy resources to sustain their economic growth. Since the South China Sea is rich in oil and gas resources, countries surrounding the South China Sea can no longer control or hide their desire in wanting to carry out their respective oil exploration projects in wanting to extract the rich oil and gas resources in South China Sea instead of waiting for the day when all can jointly develop the rich natural resources there as agreed upon earlier.
Second, in the past, the national strength and ability of countries surrounding the South China Sea were limited. These countries did not have the strength to handle their respective domestic affairs let alone extending their national power to the far away ocean.
However, today, China's rapid economic growth has driven its military expansion. In addition to adding warships, fighter jets, submarines, missiles, China has also added aircraft carrier to its list of military equipment making it a major sea power. Making effort to strengthen its military force, China's sense of fighting spirit has also been uplifted. The voice of China's domestic hawkish camp is on the rise as day goes by. To China's hawkish group, the South China Sea is but an inland sea belonging to China and as such the South China Sea must be under the control of China.
Earlier this year, when China launched a massive military exercise in the South China Sea, the countries in the Southeast Asian region have already shown their concern over such a massive military exercise carried out by China.
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have indeed felt the pressure of the expanded military power of China. In response, all ASEAN countries also began to increase their respective military budget, to purchase more military equipment and weapons. They begin to carry out military procurement race.
In the end, the original consensus to maintain peace and balance of power in the South China Sea region has entered a state of precarious balance with new friction emerging in the South China Sea water one after another.
Long-Embedded Confrontation
In May 2011, some patrol officers from China's patrol ship forcibly cut broken the cables of Vietnam's oil exploration ship. This incident has triggered serious argument between Vietnam and China and led the two sides entering a deadlock argument over such maritime conflict in the South China Sea. After the confronting incident between the vessels from the two countries, the Chinese and Vietnamese Governments have also begun to accuse the other side for provocation and for creating issue with each other. The incident has also set off protests from the civil society in both the countries.
Of note is that between China and Vietnam, these two countries have long-embedded confrontational and rival sentiment toward each other. For a long period in the past, Vietnam and China have considered each other as potential adversaries. As such, once these two countries come out with any kind of conflict and dispute, it can easily get out of control.
For this reason, the2002 consensus agreed upon by countries in the South China Sea region in not wanting to use military means to resolve the sovereignty dispute in the South China Sea might come out with possible variables.
Significant Military Influence
However, because of the military strength of ASEAN countries can never match that of China's military power, ASEAN countries understand that they cannot engage in direct military confrontation with China.
The present situation in the South China Sea is conducive to US intervention. After the United States withdrew its major military base in the Philippines, the United States has lost significant military influence in the Southeast Asian region. But today, due to the shift in global geopolitical environment, major powers have again reexamined the strategic importance of this part of the world. In this regard, Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore are countries that have expressed their positive desire to welcome the reentering of US military power to the South China Sea.
In the coming days, the United States and China are bound to twist their military arms to compete with each other in the South China Sea. In the end, what smaller countries surrounding the South China Sea can do in addition to taking or choosing sides to move closer either toward China and the United States, is, to hope for the best.

BRICS Summit

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit is being held at a time when there is great upheaval in several Islamic countries. The heads of the organization have assembled in China's Sanya City. Hints of a cease-fire between Israel and the HAMAS on the Palestine issue are being thrown.

India is striving to improve its relations with its neighbor, Pakistan, through the cricket diplomacy. India also appears to be desirous of holding talks with China on all major issues, including the border dispute. India also appears to be desirous of mutual cooperation between the countries.

Aim and Objective

The aim of the BRICS is to enhance cooperation among member countries and working together at the international forums. Clearly, it is an opportunity for India to improve and strengthen its relations with China and strive to get their disputes resolved.

The summit is being held on 14 and 15 April. Recently, while relations between India and China have largely improved, some issues have become intense. The report of the infiltration of the Chinese soldiers, for instance, in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese activities in some areas in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the issuance of stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir by China. All these led to escalation of tension between them. Yet, the leadership of the two countries judiciously did not let their relations deteriorate. In fact, India-China relations are imperative not only for the two countries alone, but for the progress of the entire Asia and the world peace at large.

Importance of BRICS Countries

The importance of the BRICS countries is no less either. Some member countries in the organization are among the fast emerging economies in the world. At the same time, the world has come to realize that to bring an end to the unipolar world and to maintain the power balance, the importance of Russia cannot be ignored. Countries such as China and Brazil not only want to maintain close relations with the United States, but with Russia as well. At the same time, despite recent closeness between India and the United States, there is the need to reiterate and rejuvenate old friendship and traditional relations with Russia as well.

Ever since its independence, South Africa has made progress in several fields of human endeavors. Its trade relations with the BRICS and other countries deserved to be lauded. In short, the summit assumes greater importance in the world spectrum. If the member countries succeed in reaching some concrete decisions during the two-day deliberations, it would be of immense benefit to the region for US industrial development.

West Asia and Other Issues

The trade and economic relations and then development and discussions on the situation in West Asia and other countries are on the agenda of the BRICS. The inclusion of the situation in West Asia can be termed a positive indication that going by the fact that the United Nations, which has turned into a puppet in the US hands, cannot be expected to play any major role to play in the West Asia and check the intervention of the US and its allies in these countries.

The United Nations also cannot be expected to find an amicable and just solution to the Palestine issue. Under the circumstances, it devolves around the organizations like BRICS, that they evince keen interest in getting international issues resolved but also present the US and its allies to implement their game plan in West Asia and prevent them from fishing in troubled waters in the Arab world.

At the same time, the economic issues being faced by the United States have also cast their shadows on several Asian countries. If the BRICS succeeds in extending and strengthening economic and trade relations among them, it would help in emancipating Asia and the rest of the world for the impact of the economic crisis and help in accelerating industrial development. One should hope that the BRICS summit would be able to give a new identity to the organization at the international level.

Japan Mishap Jolts US, Europe

The destruction of nuclear establishments after the recent earthquake in Japan has not only created problems for Japan but has also troubled several other countries having such establishments. It is said that nuclear energy is an unavoidable necessity. It provides maximum energy needs. That is why every country worth of it is floundering to have this facility. Today, nuclear reactors are spread across the world. Currently, there are around 441 working nuclear reactors across the world. This does not include many more under construction reactors. Until January 2010, there were 60 reactors under construction.

Security Reasons
There are 30 countries in which nuclear plants are working. There are over 100 plants that have been closed down for many reasons. In the United States, there are over 150 nuclear plants, half of which are over 30 years old. In the United States, certain plants were created for security reasons, on which work was started in 1950's.

The first nuclear power plant of the United States started in 1955, which was closed down in 1974. The reason for its closure was lack of emergency cooling system. In Europe also, over 150 nuclear plants are working, whereas dozens more European countries are planning to establish new plants.

Corrosive Process
In addition to the above, there are hundreds of laboratories where experimental work on nuclear energy is under way. Apart from the United States and Europe, Russia is one such country having numerous plants. From geographical viewpoint, Russia comes under Europe but in power block it is counted separately as an axis power. China and Japan also have constructed dozens of plants for getting energy. Although all such countries have made concrete arrangements for their safety and there are guidelines from the United Nations, still doubts persist on their safety.

Nuclear energy, which on one side has been made an unavoidable necessity, carries dangerous proportions as it is secured through a corrosive process. It is such a deadly process that even a minor fault can endanger the existence of the earth. Human beings have experienced its deadly effects still the work is going on.

The powers who have invented this dangerous technology have used it for anti-human and suppression purposes as well. When the victims of such suppression tried to develop this technology to contain the oppression, they were restrained. All this created an uneasy situation. This way the process of oppression and counter oppression kept on going.

Steps Toward Safety
Now the occurrence of Japan has cautioned all that they have invited plethora of problems for themselves. The United States and Europe made it a business by developing such technology for third world countries. Today, the plants existing in the third world are their gift of death. They invited risk not only for themselves but for others also.

Now after the Japan incident, the United States and Europe are aghast of it. The US citizens and Europeans are now emphasizing their respective governments to take prophylactic steps toward safety of these plants.

Islamic Awakening in Turkey

"Islamic awakening" is not being tolerated nor digested anywhere and how can it? If "political Islam" overpowers, then would not the declining secular and liberal politics be buried forever! After the burial of communism, secular and liberal politics are waiting for their turn. It is struggling for the continuance and preservation of its artificial and unstable power. After public rejection and defeat on the political and democratic front political and military death is visible.

Unsuccessful Conspiracies
Accordingly, through military uniform and military hardware they are busy in unsuccessful conspiracies to stop the peaceful storm of Islamic awakening and are active in bringing down the representative and elected governments. But it seems that the movements and forces of the Islamic and public awakening are determined and have decided to bury the secular and liberal politics forever.

A practical demonstration of the same has been witnessed in the unsuccessful conspiracy of a military revolt against a pro Islamic government in Turkey in the past few days.

The Turkish Government thwarted a conspiracy hatched by a secular group of senior Army officers against the elected and representative government of Prime Minister Rajab Tayeb Erdogan's pro-Islamic Justice party and about 50 senior Army officers were caught red handed. This Army group had prepared a conspiracy plan to carry out activities of destruction and terrorism, bomb explosions in important mosques in Turkey and destroy a Turkish aircraft. The aim was to create fear and confusion in the country to prove that the government is unstable and produce a reason for military revolt and intrusion. This Army group since 2003 remained busy in different conspiracies against pro Islam government and there are indications of contacts and backing of the US officials and planners with mutineer Army officers.

According to some information this Army group had met former US President George W. Bush but before they could do any action, the government had made this conspiracy of mutiny unsuccessful.

According to the details of this mutiny conspiracy which have come forward, the Turkish security officials in the light of the matters carried out a crack down in eight provinces of Turkey, raided the houses of serving and retired Army officers and arrested them. Those arrested include senior Army officers of Turkish Army, former deputy chief of Army, former chief of the the Air force and chief of the Navy.

Government's Courageous Action
Recently, a Turkish court has sent seven senior Turkish military officers to jail. They include four admirals, one Army general and two colonels. After the courageous action of the government against Turkish Army for allegations of conspiracy and revolting against the government, tension between pro Islam ruling party and secular Army has increased. Exchange of harsh words has also taken place between the opponents.

The chief of Turkish Army made short his visit to Egypt and returned to Ankara where he presided a meeting of all the generals of Turkish Army and admirals at the Army headquarter. Whereas the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan during his tour of Spain while giving a statement on the arrest of Army officers said that this is not a political issue but a matter of security and destiny of Turkey.

Although after the arrest of mutineer Army officers, tension and friction between pro Islamic government and secular Army had immensely increased but according to the latest information, during a meeting and negotiations between the Prime Minister of pro Islamic government and Chief of secular Army it has been agreed to bring to an end the tension and friction.

An announcement issued from the presidency says that this matter will be resolved while remaining within the constitutional and legal limits. Erdogan has declared meeting to have been pleasant.

Since the time justice party has come to power, a struggle continues between pro Islam government and Turkish secular Army. The Turkish Muslims want an end to the secular reforms of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk and an enforcement of Islamic values and traditions whereas Army is continuously disgracing the public mandate.

It is active in conspiracies for the downfall of pro Islam government sometimes with the strength if its own power and sometimes with the connivance of judiciary. But the people have strongly and with heavy majority rejected the alliance of secular Army with judiciary against the pro Islam government.

The present military revolt which reached its end prematurely; is this revelation not amazing that directly or indirectly it had the US support. The United States after 9/11 is unhappy with that decision of Turkish parliament of not sending its troops for attack on Iraq and in the war against terrorism.

Military Revolt and Intrusion
Since the last decade in this struggle between the pro Islam government of justice party and secular Army, the political leadership showing extreme prudence, intelligence and sagacity has made the military revolt and intrusion unsuccessful. This success of Turkey's political leadership is not being digested by the secular and liberal elements.

It is incorrect to understand that after the present crisis the struggle continuing between pro Islam people and secular Army has finished. Rather the political leadership will have to further struggle for a complete Islamic awakening in Turkey and an end to the remains of secularism. Finally the secular elements will have to surrender before the Turkish Muslims because the sense of awakening with regard to "political Islam" in the Islamic world that has been created cannot be finished by the alliance of Army and judiciary.