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Ira M. Millstein October 3, 2001 Letters to the Editor Sir, While there appears to be near consensus on a "just war" to find and destroy, root and branch, terrorists and those who support and harbour them, we know that bombs, missiles and troops aimed against a shadowy network – even with co-operation among worldwide law enforcement - will not lead to total "victory". Such actions may help cut and contain the branches of terrorism but military action and law enforcement will not eliminate its roots: abject poverty and human misery. Eliminating poverty and misery is crucial to the "just war"; ideologues and fanatics breed on poverty and oppression. They gain power through oppression and opiates such as communism, fascism and fanatic religious delusion; they use terrorism to glorify, further oppress and entrench. Long-range history demonstrates that oppression and opiates will not work but unfortunately we - and especially the poor and oppressed - live in the short range. To achieve stability for ourselves and the entire world we must improve the lot of the "have nots" - removing the fertile soil in which the thick root of terrorism grows. Diminishing the great economic divide between "haves" and "have nots" will require as much energy, effort and dedication as rooting out those who perpetrated the events of September 11. Our wealth will need to be directed to encouraging economic reform and motivating those in need of reform. We will need to increase our efforts to promote the kind of economic reform that brings with it the elimination of corruption and the creation of real industry and businesses that provide jobs - and hope, and a future. This is work for the public and private sectors in partnership and is what the free world should excel at. This battle in the "just war" will require steadfastness and patience and victories may be small and hard to measure - but it is crucial to a lasting solution. Ira M. Millstein, Chairman, |