The tragic terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have created a reaction by some in our country to enact laws that appear to contradict the tenets of our Constitution.  For instance, mention has been made for the need for a national identification card to be carried by all residents.  Although a possible effective tool in tracking down terrorists it would further the intrusion by government on our individual liberty (see footnote1).  In actuality, using this approach would be somewhat of a band aid because the major cause behind the organized terrorism disease is not being addressed as such. This cause is driving the forces that support the terrorist network with financial and moral backing.  It is this cause that must be treated in a manner that will diminish the support now existing and thus eliminate terrorism as an organized entity.  Terrorism will always exist but it can be made more controllable if support by major groups is eroded.

The cause that I speak to is the Israel – Palestine problem that has created support by people living in middle eastern countries for the plight of the Palestinian people. This is not taking anything away from the plight of the Israelis’ where their security is threatened on a daily basis.  Even though governments like Saudi Arabia support us in our anti-terrorism efforts there are many wealthy citizens of those countries that are known to have financially supported Osama bin Ladin’s al-Qaida organization. However, it is obvious to me that the only way the problem can be ameliorated is for the Palestinians to have their state and the Israelis to be guaranteed security into the far future.  The question becomes, “how can that be done?”.  The solution I propose may not have been possible before the terroristic acts on the WTC and the Pentagon but the atmosphere in the United States and allied countries now could make it possible.

This approach builds on the Mitchell Plan, wherein there would be an independent Palestinian state at some future time, but including a very important additional provision.  The provision would provide for an international military force that would guarantee the security of both parties for as many years in the future as required.  Even if the United States had to provide an inordinate amount of the funding for the force it would be worth it to the American taxpayer as a price for guaranteeing their own security.  By removing the major cause creating support for the terrorists it will reduce their ability to conduct organized terrorism.

It is the nature of people to be reactionary and it is unfortunate that it took the acts that occurred on September 11th to foment united support for major actions that should probably have been taken after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.  In this support the American people must be wary of supporting new legislation that will erode the very provisions of our Constitution that we would never normally concede to those looking to change our system of government.

Don’t you agree that finding a major cause of a problem and then working to eliminate that cause is the best way to solve it?

1 Martin Anderson, Ronald Reagan’s policy advisor, in his book “Revolution” tells of the introduction of a report by a immigration policy group at a cabinet meeting.  It included a national identification card and a case was made for it by Attorney General William French Smith.  When Reagan looked around for reaction Anderson asked to speak and said the following, “I would like to suggest another way that I think is a lot better.  It’s a lot cheaper.  It can’t be counterfeited.  It’s very light weight, and impossible to lose.  It’s even water proof.  All we have to do is tattoo an identification number on the inside of everybody’s arm.”  That obviously killed the idea of a national ID card.