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16/35
August 2002
5762 Elul

THE WAR IS GOING ON
GARRY KASPAROV
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On December 6, 1941 World War II was in its heat. Like Japanese air strikes on Pearl Harbor, the acts of terror on September 11 made the Americans start a severe war for the future of Western civilization. That was the war, which declaration was too long postponed.

As well as World War II, the terrorist war against Western civilization started with the aggression against the Jews. It's no use to separate the conflict between Israel and Palestine from the war on terror. New attempts are being made to reach peace in the Middle East, but I am sure of the failure of any attempts to find a solution to the Middle East crisis before we win the war on terror.

Similar to 1930's, every delay in the war increases the price we pay for the victory that will entail a great number of ruined lives, and among them there will be not only the Palestinians but also western people for they also become the targets. Common sense makes us believe our final victory over terrorists will need some dozens of years. I do not believe that we shall wait for it that long. At present domestic security is a priority for the Americans, but in case this creates in them a feeling of total protection during their offensive operation, the aftermaths may be very tragical. Surely, there's no denying the fact of necessity to intensify inner security, but unless a direct blow is struck at the concentrations of terrorists, preventive measures can only guarantee a partial result.

In case a militant Islam becomes able to strengthen its positions, to acquire access to cash, to use training bases and to actively propagate, no shields, airport checks, no additional financial support of special services will be of help. It's easier and cheaper to commit an act of terror than to prevent it. The price of a successful attack on America may comprise 10 million dollars or a bit less, but the price for America many times exceeds this one. The time and expenses work for the terrorists, so the longer we are rooting the terrorism out, the more probable is the possibility of a new attack on the US territory.

On December 6, 1941 World War II was in its heat. Like Japanese air strikes on Pearl Harbor, the acts of terror on September 11 made the Americans start a severe war for the future of Western civilization. That was the war, which declaration was too long postponed.

As well as World War II, the terrorist war against Western civilization started with the aggression against the Jews. It's no use to separate the conflict between Israel and Palestine from the war on terror. New attempts are being made to reach peace in the Middle East, but I am sure of the failure of any attempts to find a solution to the Middle East crisis before we win the war on terror.

Similar to 1930's, every delay in the war increases the price we pay for the victory that will entail a great number of ruined lives, and among them there will be not only the Palestinians but also western people for they also become the targets. Common sense makes us believe our final victory over terrorists will need some dozens of years. I do not believe that we shall wait for it that long. At present domestic security is a priority for the Americans, but in case this creates in them a feeling of total protection during their offensive operation, the aftermaths may be very tragical. Surely, there's no denying the fact of necessity to intensify inner security, but unless a direct blow is struck at the concentrations of terrorists, preventive measures can only guarantee a partial result.

In case a militant Islam becomes able to strengthen its positions, to acquire access to cash, to use training bases and to actively propagate, no shields, airport checks, no additional financial support of special services will be of help. It's easier and cheaper to commit an act of terror than to prevent it. The price of a successful attack on America may comprise 10 million dollars or a bit less, but the price for America many times exceeds this one. The time and expenses work for the terrorists, so the longer we are rooting the terrorism out, the more probable is the possibility of a new attack on the US territory.

If Mr. Bush agrees to a victory in the war on terror be quick, he should consider two main conditions: a counter-offensive should be resolute and no compromises with our enemies should be allowed. 60 years ago it was, to a certain degree, easier to fight against the axis of evil.

The German and Japanese armies with their war industries were open targets. Air strikes nowadays will be, at best, half successful. That's why the crucial thing today is to chop off financial roots of terrorism. Whereas a decisive flow goes to the ground forces.

The war on terror has also an important political factor - it lays responsibility on the USA "to re-educate" nations spoiled by Islamic fundamentalism. We cannot wait for these countries to get liberalized in a natural way. No one is likely to complain of new colonialism. Ask Afghanistan inhabitants when did they live better: previously or now? Liberation of other nations goes in line with our interests.

But, first, a direct strike should be delivered. Baghdad remains the nearest but not the last target. The list should also include Teheran, Damascus and, naturally, Er-Riyad. Tactics should be diverse but the aim - complete defeat of terrorism - remains the same. When American troops enter Iraq, all sponsors of terrorism should become aware the game is over.

As for the second demand - firmness of our convictions - America's European partners are still in two minds. When I listen to declarations of European leaders on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict I discover in myself a growing sympathy for the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his French colleague Edward Daladier in 1938.

Neville Chamberlain and Edward Daladier were unable to lean for support on past experience. They were guided by a distinct order of their electorate - to prevent war by any means. And Hitler seemed quite a "legal" partner to peace talks since the German nation had elected Nazis. True, a multiparty system had been abolished, but doubts in the efficiency of a representative democracy were not unusual at that time. Practically the entire civilized world regarded Hitler's actions in Germany with understanding, especially against the background of expansion of communism seen as a bigger evil.

Contemporaries did not consider the price for "eternal peace" leaders of the Free world paid in Munich excessive. Hitler's prosecution of Jews should have foretold a big disaster for them but due to centuries-long prejudice and anti-Semitism extermination of Jews was easily neglected. Who could have thought the Nuremberg laws and Crystal night be of any danger to Paris and Coventry? Chamberlain and Daladier had no crystal ball to indicate all consequences of their deal with Hitler. Whereas we of today have an opportunity to draw useful historic lessons to help us avoid fatal mistakes.

America's partners haven't yet realized the exceptionality of today's situation. They still refuse to believe in the necessity of strict measures of counteract the most serious, over past half-a-century, threat to our civilization. Europe, habitually, grants terrorists-kamikaze a perfect opportunity to hide behind the ideas of a "political" struggle. The European Union countries and banks are almost ready to become a guarantor of the Iranian government. Multilinguism and polyculturality, saying nothing about anti-Semitic moods, exert an excessively strong influence on Europe for its role to become constructive.

Another striking likeness to WWII lies in the fact Russia may again become a valuable partner to USA. Though Putin is criticized for his actions in Chechnya and legal sphere, he is head and shoulder above "Uncle Jo" - a star of the Western liberal press in 1941-1945. Still, European partners of America will enter the coalition against Saddam Hussein or, at least, will not openly oppose it. But after the operation in Iraq has been over they will press on the USA to recognize the war on terrorism victorious and complete. That would become a catastrophe.

Those who have provoked this war should remember Coventry and Pearl Harbor were followed by Dresden and Hiroshima. Peace in Gaza and security in Jerusalem will not come until we bring to the end war on terrorism in Baghdad, Teheran, Damascus and other places. At its time the American leadership saved Europe from fascism and communism. Today we again pin our last hope on them.

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