How to fight terrorism

In his Friday speech to the 52nd Munich Security Conference, His Majesty King Abdullah outlined his views on the manner in which terrorism can be fought, which should be holistic and global.

“Failed states, conflict zones and sectarian divisions are fertile grounds for terrorism,” said the King.

Terrorism is the biggest enemy humanity has to confront now in a battle whose outcome “will shape global values and define our security and way of life long into the 21st century”, warned the Monarch.

Of most immediate concern in this battle are Syria and Iraq, but the threat posed by Daesh and its ilk can be found across the globe, which makes it imperative for the global community to pool resources and cooperate in the fight against this scourge.

“It is time for a new level of global action focusing our resources, coordinating our responsibilities and synchronising our military and security efforts. Our countries, our international institutions, must work collectively, as a truly global alliance,” urged the King.

There are no simple recipes for eradicating extremism and radicalism, which plague not only the Middle East but also the entire world.

The King did not call the new war against terrorism a “third world war” lightly; this threat has indeed spread, acquiring a global dimension.

King Abdullah acknowledged the fact that Arabs and Muslims “have a responsibility and duty to be in the lead in the fight against the khawarej”, as “this is a war to protect our religion, our values and the future of our people”, but the effort must still be “global in partnership and scope”.

The resort to force alone will not be enough to combat Daesh and other terrorists. Hence the holistic approach that will see political solutions take root in the Arab countries witnessing war and conflict, will address socioeconomic imbalances, will tackle cultural beliefs and will see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — a perpetual sore point that breeds discontent and is used as a justification by all and sundry to practise their terrorism — settled justly.

Short of that, terrorism will not be uprooted but will stay a threat to all humanity.