Tolerance
and Understanding
Opinion
Piece
by
Allan Rock
Over
the past few weeks, a great deal of criticism has been levelled at the
Prime Minister for suggesting that the global exercise of power needs to
be re-examined in light of the events of September 11. His opponents argue that the mere suggestion of a
relationship between the West’s economic and political dominance, and
the conditions that foster terrorism, is tantamount to blaming the victims
for their suffering.
This
criticism is wrong, although predictable, coming as it did from Brian
Mulroney, the Canadian Alliance, and the other unthinking defenders of the
‘ready aye ready’ school of Canada-US relations.
I
believe their argument falls back on the too-easy analysis of ‘good vs
evil’ and ‘us against them’, obscuring the more important questions.
We must ask “Why did this happen?”.
In addressing this question, our dialogue must produce a much
deeper analysis than to say, in a facile way, “the root cause of
terrorism is terrorists”.
Let
me be clear. The events
of September 11th constituted
an unprecedented act of savagery on North American soil, inexcusable by
any calculation. Terrorism is
a direct assault on human life, human dignity, and the principle of peace.
Brutality of this sort has no place in the world and can never,
ever, be justified. Where it
occurs, our duty is to stand with the victims.
Canadians
know this instinctively, and responded to last year’s attacks with a
spontaneous outpouring of grief unmatched in recent memory.
Similarly,
the government’s decision to send troops to Afghanistan as part of the
fighting coalition–the largest deployment of Canadian Forces since the
Korean War–made it clear where we stood.
Let there be no mistake: at the critical moment when every friend
counted, Canada was there–not just with nice words or the space to house
hundreds of stranded planes–but on the battleground with troops, where
the dirty work of rooting out al Qaida was to be done.
And
yet, in the aftermath of a crisis like this, responsible leaders must look
back and ask themselves the hard questions.
Questions about whether the exercise of foreign policy has been
just. Or whether the global concentration of power and wealth has
abandoned the less fortunate to the despair, resentment and hatred which
fuel extremism.
To
ask these questions is not to search for excuses. It is to search for solutions.
September
11 demonstrated–in the most graphic and devastating way –that military
power alone cannot secure our safety. The terrifying reality is that we
are living in a world in which violence can be done through unpredictable
means, at unforseen moments, from great distances, by actors who lack both
the means and interest to advance their goals through diplomacy.
These
are unconventional threats. They
require unconventional responses. The fact that the campaign against
terrorism cannot be won by military means alone has been widely
acknowledged. President Bush
has said it, Prime Minister Blair has said it, and now Prime Minister Chrétien
has said it.
Poverty and the absence of democracy may not cause terrorism, but they can create conditions which facilitate its perpetration. Certainly, there can be little doubt that al Qaida would not have found safe-haven in Afghanistan without the prevailing atmosphere of lawlessness and tyranny in that country.
Canadians
know that addressing the underlying conditions of poverty and dictatorship
is inherently right. Indeed, poverty alleviation and the promotion of
democracy have served as longstanding hallmarks of Canada’s foreign
policy precisely because they reflect bedrock Canadian values.
But
this is no mere altruism. A
more equitable world is a more stable world, and a more stable world is a
safer world for all of us. Simply
put, security and development cannot be separated.
They are mutually reinforcing principles. Conversely, poverty, tyranny, the denial of human rights, the
spread of disease, all reduce human potential and undermine global
stability.
I
believe that Canada must raise these issues and promote social and
economic development everywhere, even as we work with our allies to bring
those responsible for terrorist violence to justice.
The
Prime Minister has begun the hard work of finding new and concrete means
of increasing our security. His
words challenge the international community to turn tragedy into triumph
by creating a fairer world that cannot be so easily attacked or exploited
by terrorists.
In
doing so, the Prime Minister is not blaming the victims, he is honouring
them.