John Kerry has written an opinion piece that appears in today's Wall Street Journal. In my opinion, it is an embarrassment. You can read the whole piece here.http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kerry-our-plan-for-countering-violent-extremism-1424305659
He starts with a nod to the role of military reaction to wanton violence. Then he goes on to say, "But military force alone won't achieve victory. In the long term, this war will be won only by deploying a broader, far more creative arsenal."
So, in the long term, there is a creative solution? I'm waiting for the suggestion that we might discern what this arsenal is by making collages.
He goes on..."A safer and more prosperous future requires us to recognize that violent extremism can't be justified by resorting to religion." This future you speak of, Mr. Kerry, requires us to recognize this principle? We have already recognized it as a country. In fact, our nation is founded on the recognition that all must be able to practice religion freely. There is nothing for Americans to recognize here.
He elaborates, "A safer and more prosperous future also requires us not to be distracted by divisions grounded in hatred or bias." So... we have a problem of distraction due to our bias?? We do, Mr. Secretary? It's our problem?
He continues, "There is no room in this fight for sectarian division. There is no room for Islamophobia or anti-Semitism." I was not aware that this so-called Islamophobia was causing violent terrorism. Is that really a part of the problem? And no room for anti-Semitism? Someone should tell that to ISIS. There is no room for their hatred of Jews. What on Earth is the Secretary of State talking about?? And, since you have not mentioned Christians, Mr. Secretary, shall we assume that there is room for hatred of Christians?
In regards to the summit at the White House and State Department, Kerry says that they will "expand the global conversation..." Oh, good, because we really have a problem of limited conversation. "...and, more important, adopt an action agenda that identifies, shares, and utilizes best practices in preventing and countering violent extremism."
In other words, this administration does not know what to do, refuses to be decisive, and will instead wait for a summit to decide what's going on and what should be done about it.
Mr. Kerry goes on, "Success requires showing the world the power of peaceful communities instead of extremist violence." It does? You mean we just need to give peace a chance? Seriously, Mr. Kerry?
Apparently the cause of terrorism is the lack of good governance, according to Kerry. We must identify the "zones of greatest vulnerability," and "target our resources to meet the specific needs of those places." They need job training, he says, and a vision of human dignity.
While it may be helpful to identify the causes of terrorism. (Note they don't use the word terrorism-- it's violent extremism. Not sure why.) We have a problem that needs to be dealt with in the here and now.
Is the problem that John Kerry and Barack Obama do not want to admit that evil exists? Sometimes evil must be recognized for what it is. ISIS and all terrorists are acting against good, against God, against peace. They are serving evil. They are wrapped in hatred and no vision of peace, no jobs program, no ongoing conversation is going to change that.
This is what happens when the children of the sixties ascend to public office. Wish there were adults in charge.
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