Page 11 - Only Love Can Defeat Terrorism

n 2001, jet planes were crashed into the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon, injuring and
killing thousands. In the days following these
attacks—totally unexpected in their timing and
method, aimed at the world's only superpower—the world
began debating the concept of terrorism that lay behind them.
An atmosphere of fear and panic grew, especially in the
United States. But that did not last long: Soon the entire

world began wondering how best to combat terrorism. No
longer could any country stand apart from the fight against
terrorism and declare, "Those attacks weren't aimed at us."
Citizens of every nation realized that the dark face of
terrorism could confront them at any time, whether asleep
in their beds, while watching television, taking their
children to the park or at work in the office. The terrorists'
aim, they realized, was to paralyze society, making civilians
reluctant to venture into the street, much less use public

transport or go shopping—in short, to create a permanent
climate of fear. As soon as America recovered from the
shock of 9/11, it joined a large number of other countries to
launch a worldwide war on terrorism. From the beginning,
however, officials of this powerful coalition declared openly
that it would not be enough for them to fight on the military
battlefield alone.