KT edit: What breeds terrorism?

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We need to stop and introspect on why countries are failing to stop the spread of radicalism

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Published: Wed 4 Nov 2020, 7:54 AM

The brutal terror unleashed on the streets of Vienna on Monday night is a chilling reminder of the horrors that extremist group Daesh is capable of perpetrating against innocent people. There is no respect or concern for anyone. No one is spared when hatred flows freely through the guns of men and women who have been radicalised beyond reason. To think of such terror attacks as a clash of civilisations would be wrong. It is not only the liberal societies that have often become the victims of such mindless violence. Daesh has been as barbaric on the streets of Europe as it has been in the desert of Syria and Iraq, where thousands of men, women, and children have lived for months at a stretch under the shadows of fear and cruelty. Many were mercilessly killed, abused. The extremist group undoubtably is guided by some superfluous belief that has no room for humanity. They do not represent any religion or faith, but are led by their crude ambition to reign supreme over the world.

When the blood of the kith and kin is spilled, it understandably envokes anger. But in this moment of great loss of life, in Austria and France, it is up to our political leaders to guide their countries. Perhaps, we need to stop and introspect on why countries are failing to stop the spread of radicalism. Is it that our efforts often appear to contribute to it than nip it in the bud? The failure of our ‘war on terror’ starts with us reacting in anger and revenge. We are failing to grasp the reason behind the rising prominence and spread of extremist groups like Daesh, when it is not just the impoverished who are being lured to join them but also well-educated and well-off men and women, who often leave the comfort of their homes and corporate lives to volunteer to fight for Daesh. This war on terror has no religion. We should understand this.



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