2006-09-26-jihadism-cia

By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM—The CIA is concluding that the war in Iraq has caused jihadism to metastasize . There is no surprise here, except in the weight of the CIA's imprimatur. The White House has not signed on to the conclusion, but that, also, is no surprise.

The cardinal lesson for policymakers is, "Don't make things worse." I fear we need no better example.

America's post 9/11 wars are arguably more costly than Vietnam. There the adversaries were a nationalist movement that 30 years later could accommodate its ideology to making nice with the United States. From all reports, it is a good place to visit. The worseness of blundering warfare in the Middle East is the push it gives to a religious fanaticism with a tradition of violence against non-believers that already was at fever pitch. Sure, the costs to date for the United States were much greater in Vietnam. I hope we have heard the last of the costs under the column of Islamic terrorism, but I doubt it. Democracy may yet come to a peaceful Iraq, but I doubt that, as well. Even more remote is anything close to democracy or domestic peace amid the cluster of warring tribes called Afghanistan.

Hamas authorities in nominal charge of Palestine are reiterating their assertion that they will not recognize the legitimacy of Israel. Many of Palestine's teachers, civil servants, security personnel, and health personnel have gone six months without salaries. A bit to the north Hezbollah is claiming victory amidst the rubble. While some might respect the heroism of these religious and political leaders, it does not say much for the pragmatism that can make things work for them and the rest of us.

What to do?

Get on with life despite the less than perfect leadership on our side and theirs. It will be more stressful, but hopefully more rewarding than for the cows and sheep we saw lounging on the polders of Holland last week.

It will be important for the United States to keep selling its fancy stuff to the IDF, and keep allowing its own military and that of its allies to buy some of the fancy stuff produced by Israeli defense industries. It also must assure that no fingernail clippers get onto airplanes, as well as avoid all semblance of ethnic profiling or suggesting that Islam is a problematic religion. Let the Pope carry that ball, along with clarifications that fall a bit short of apologies. The murder of a 65 year old nun in Somalia is a small price to pay for decency.

Our people will have to retrain the fighters to deal with adversaries who are better armed and led than Palestinian gangs, as well as to keep up the intelligence networks in Palestine, Lebanon, and perhaps elsewhere. It is crucial to know which hole, or which auto is the prize target. Managing informants among the hostiles is not decent or pleasant work, but in this game the golden rule is "Do unto others."

Sharkansky is an emeritus member of the political science department at Hebrew University in Jerusalem