America, after suffering a terrorist attack on September 11, mulled over the situation and, in trying to chart out the phenomenon of terrorism, realized the horrible global spread of this squid. Perceptions, shocked out of their complacency by the September 11 incident, could not believe the scene before them, in their moment of oblivion a web of violence and hatred had been woven across the world. Utterly bewildered, U.S.A, taking any hand that showed any support, formed a coalition to fight this monster, not considering that the coalition was fragile against the hydra of terrorism; a hundred heads sprout out from where a head drops. Adhering to the present context, to make the war a success, four aspects require reconsideration. First terrorism should be defined and on the basis of this definition lines should be drawn between terrorist activities and struggles for freedom and self-determination. Each category requires different tools, methods and approaches. Second, after having identified the states that have miserably failed their people, politically, socially and economically, constitutional guarantees should be sought from these states against the violation, on ethnic, religious, and political considerations, of the political, economic, and social rights of their citizens. Third, knowing for a fact that it is only the people of the world and not any group of governments, who, hand in hand, can deliver the world out of this misery, people of the fortunate countries should work for an integration with the people of the world to bring about cooperation, trust, and respect amongst the people of the world for each other, and to achieve a general consensus on issues that confront not one but all of them. Fourth, as a clearly contoured abstraction of a single issue out of a multifaceted situation is not possible, U.S.A. will have to abandon its isolationist policy, and adopt a holistic approach towards the settlement of issues that breed terrorism. 

What is American character? In the words of Ronald Regan, “some divine plan placed this great continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the earth who had a special love for freedom”. In this vision U.S.A. has not only a domestic but a universal responsibility. It is unfortunate that the leaders of the United States over some years in the past have not kept this vision before them while planning for international polity. Lack of perceptual depth in the US international relations, though not responsible for the birth, certainly contributed to the strength of the non-state actors who now pose a threat to global peace security and prosperity. 

Foreign policy merely defines the domestic national policy of a country: rather, the foreign policy of a country is the reflection of its domestic agenda. The national agenda of U.S.A is the prosperity, security and freedom of its people. Defining U.S.A. foreign policy in terms of its domestic agenda, U.S.A. ought to have pursued, in line with its desire for freedom of its own people, the strengthening of progressive regimes throughout the world; in line with its policy of prosperity for its people, USA ought to have adopted liberal and non-protectionist policy, with free market benefits spreading throughout the world. Finally, in desiring security for its people, United States ought to have wished the same for the people of the world, and, to ensure it not only for the people of the U.S.A. but for the people of the world, it should have tried to engage the people of the world into an active relationship with the people of the U.S.A. thus minimizing the risk of potential terrorists becoming a reality. If Britain cannot claim a period in its history, when it neither influenced an external movement by its internal policy, nor its internal policy was influenced by an external happening, then, no other nation of the world can claim an independent history, claimed Arnold J. Toynbee. If so, then how can USA, which has been always proactive in global affairs, claim and aspire for an isolationist path and that too in the twenty first century, when the world stands more integrated than ever, except for the cracks made by the September 11 incident.  

In pre-modern states there are powerful non-state actors, drug barons, crime syndicates, and terrorist networks. Most of these states have repressive regimes and people are suffering from their tyrannies. People of the world have to be brought together to collectively fight against these scourges and miseries. Well ahead in its purpose, and relieved of the constraints of immediacy, USA should make additions to its policy and bring into its programs the people of the world, because sooner or later the repressive and totalitarian regimes will have to vacate in the favor of peoples governments. Therefore, the people of the U.S.A. should naturally align themselves with the people of the world. Governments come and go while the people, through their national identities, stay. The true and lasting peace is the peace that the people of the world, in collaboration with each other, will forge for themselves, no government alone has the capacity and the legitimacy to deliver or contribute to global peace. Miserable is the life of the nations who still live in and conduct their affairs by the standards of pre-post-modern era. Those nations who are fortunate to have reached the twenty-first century should endeavor, through participation in education, social reformation and cultural integration, to bring the people living in the eighteenth and nineteenth century into the fold of the twenty-first century. This is the only way to bring a lasting peace; otherwise the temporal conflict will keep pouring out regressive and repressive elements, in the shape of radical individuals and groups. 

The repressive, undemocratic and authoritarian regimes of traditionally pre-modern and modern-nation-states have miserably failed their people, both politically and economically. Politically, through bad governance and policies of political suppression, these regimes have not been able to develop multi-ethnic and multi-cultural politics with constitutional guarantees to all the members of the state, an essential requirement of a post-modern state. Economically, through lack of a responsible legal and accountability system based on equality and justice, wide spread corruption and misappropriations of public property, these regimes have left their people poorer in terms of food, health and education The governments of the politically and economically failed states stand between the people and their political freedom and economic prosperity. The failed states, having failed their people politically and economically, are the breeding grounds for terrorists. The systems, governments, and the rulers of these states need special concerted attention and effort of the prosperous democracies and international forums to achieve grounds clear of terrorist seedlings. 

In this war against terrorism we have identified certain chore issues. The scourge of terrorism owes its birth to these issues. After having received careful consideration, the issues that standout as the responsible elements are authoritarian systems of government, repressive regimes, violation of the right of self-determination, state prejudices against ethnic identities, hatreds preventing social integration, poverty and illiteracy of the people, lack of health facilities, alienation of the people from the essential element of the state, state sponsored corruption and exploitation of public property by state sponsored elements. US.A. with the participation of its people should make these areas as war zones and wage a war against these scourges, making a common cause with the people of the world. 

(The writer, an ex-government servant, is presently the President of the South Asian Columnists Council, southasiancc.org. He has written three books on social philosophy, one on international affairs, and two books carry his English poetry.)