On September 11^th we recoiled from the images on our screens, unable to absorb the full horror of the human suffering.  Days pass, and it is still difficult to grasp the enormity of the tragedy, but gradually we can begin to come to terms with the issues.

The world has always known terrorism but in most cases the battleground has been local. The distinction between terrorists and freedom fighters is not always clear with anarchist power-seeking overlapping with the fighting of oppression.  Yet even on this smaller scale it is has proved almost impossible to prevent, with outsiders often providing sanctuary, funds and training.

September 11^th was different.  This was not a desperate reaction to a repressive regime but an extremists’ attack on a free way of life, and served notice of war just as forcibly as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.  Now we all have to decide how to respond.  The USA and her close allies are gearing up for military action, whilst the majority of other countries have pledged support against terrorism.  Muslim extremists seem eager for a holy war, which could rapidly escalate into WW3.  Yet the Muslim communities have it within their power to halt the rise in terrorism and bring the world back from the abyss without a shot being fired.

When soccer hooliganism became a serious problem in Europe the football community accepted responsibility.  National associations and individual clubs took action to identify the trouble-makers, curtail their activities, and co-operate fully with police.  Racial abuse chanted from the terraces, intolerable and inflammatory, has been all but eliminated. 

Muslims failed to act to stop the chanting of racial abuse even in the aftermath of the Lockerbie bombing.  The world can hunt down individual terrorists, but as long as a minority of religious leaders continue to fuel hatred there will never be any shortage of volunteers willing to die for Islam.  The majority of Muslims have distanced themselves from the fanatical claims linking America with Satan ~ in fact millions have made their homes in democratic western states where they have freedom to worship and maintain their culture ~ but there has been no effort to end the incitement to violence

The world needs to be given a clear message from Islam.  Are Muslims who kill innocent non-Muslims rewarded with martyrdom and heaven, or are they more likely to incur the wrath of their God?  If it is the former, then we might indeed prepare for WW3; if it is the latter, then the fanatics should be stripped of credibility and religious titles and Muslim youths should be bombarded not with American cruise missiles but with words of wisdom from the real Muslim leaders. 

Wars might be won by military might, but peace can only be maintained by tolerance and understanding, and America and her western allies must also help that process.  In sport, in commerce, in entertainment and in politics, arrogance wins fewer friends than genuine humility.  That is something we can all work on.  And although old political empires have been dismantled, commercial empires are often now viewed as grasping and ruthless.  In particular, our extraction industries (oil, gas, minerals) strip smaller countries of their assets just as surely as any nineteenth century treasure hunter.  The West could become benefactors by allocating significant funds towards making renewable energy a low-cost practical alternative.  This would be cheaper than fighting a war and would result in a healthier economic balance between oil producing states, developed nations and third world countries.

Bombing Afghanistan and capturing bin Laden will not remove the problem.  But by changing attitudes and accepting greater responsibility we can win the war against international terrorism without a shot being fired.