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Mumbai Terror: CNN & ‘Uncomfortable Questions’

Posted by SWARAAJ CHAUHAN, International Columnist in War.
Nov 28th, 2008 | Comments

While the media keep reporting on the events related to terror in Mumbai and elsewhere, their viewers might also be interested in fresh perspective/analysis on terrorism, instead of listening to the same old theories. Deepak Chopra, a well known writer/thinker, raised some vital questions on CNN’s Larry King Live.

“Who is financing this (terrorism)? Where is the money coming from? What role do we have in this? Are our petrodollars funding both sides of this war on terrorism? Why are we not asking the Saudis where that money is going that we give them? Is it going through this supply chain to Pakistan?

“It’s not enough for Pakistan to condemn it. Pakistan should cooperate with India in uprooting this. They should be part of the surgery that is going to happen. It’s not enough for Indians to blame Pakistanis. Indians should actually ask the Pakistanis to help them.

“And it’s not enough for us to worry about Westerners being killed and Americans being killed. Every life is precious over there. We have got to get rid of this idea that this is an American problem or a Western problem. It’s a global problem, and we need a global solution, and we need the help of all the Muslims, 25 percent of the world’s population, to help us uproot this problem.

“Get rid of the phrase ‘war on terrorism.’ Ask for a creative solution in which we all participate.
Because it’s (this expression) an oxymoron. It’s an oxymoron, Larry, a war on war, a war on terrorism. You know, terrorists call mechanized death from 35,000 feet above sea level with a press of a button also terror.

“We don’t call it that, because our soldiers are wearing uniforms. They don’t see what is happening, and innocent people are being killed. So, you know, terror is a term that you apply to the other.

“And we cannot go after the wrong people, as we did after 9/11, because then the whole collateral damage that occurs actually aggravates the situation.

“What we have seen in Mumbai has been brewing for a long time, and the war on terrorism and the attack on Iraq compounded the situation. What we call ‘collateral damage’ and going after the wrong people actually turns moderates into extremists.” More here.

Michelle Haimoff in Huffington Post queries why Deepak Chopra was silenced in another interview. “A CNN journalist interviewed Deepak Chopra last night about his take on the Mumbai attacks and how to prevent similar attacks in the future, but it looked like producers cut Chopra off when he started to get too controversial.” More here.

I had stated in a post earlier: “While we mourn the death and destruction at Mumbai and elsewhere, we must study whether State terrorism and Ideological/Business/Religious terrorism are closely linked and how they form an unending and vicious circle. In the propaganda war no one is sure who the real terrorist is!!!” Read here.

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JSpencer

Deepak Chopra is exactly right imo. Whether people are comfortable thinking outside the box or not, he raises valid points that must be considered if terrorism is going to be approached seriously and genuinely. This IS a global problem rather than a western problem, and ALL lives should be viewed as equally valuable. And the way we define terrorism? It all depends on where one is in the equation doesn't it. Popular American-centric views only take part of that equation into consideration, and by extension only provide partial remedies.

IndiaShoudlFight

Deepak Chopra raises some good question, but it is the Indian government who needs to act promptly and strongly. This was the 7th attack on India by terrorists and virtually no action from the government. It is easier for the officials to say that this was prompted by Pakistan and provide some proof, but no action. Think which nation in world would not act if there are attacks on their parliament, or national pride locations such as Taj Hotel? Act India Act.

On Act, it is also Indian nationals who do not vote at election but say and discuss all the issues in parties, blogs, social and other gatherings. We Indians should be taking action by voting and putting government who can function. NOT a PM like Manmohan who says that Pakistan is also a victim of terror. IT IS PAKISTAN who is executing terror activities in world. YOU CAN NOT sympathisyze country who is the axis of Evil.

Finally, the western media should be responsible as well. Initially, western media gave spin to the entire issue with sole focus of "terror focused towards American and British nationals" As Deepak has echoed thoughts, every life is precious. Many media outlets in western countries don't even consider Canadian or south American nations or non UK lives as "western lives". Come on - Indian life is as precious as other life - but sadly, when government of India does not recognize value of their own citizens, who else would?

DLS

Chopak is wrong when he criticizes our (too-tame!) efforts against terrorists and their state sponsors, whereas his idealism is misplaced, as it was in our 1960s in the USA when many were preoccupied with "the urban problem" of festering cities and thought the answer to it lay in spending vast sums and trying to lift people out of crime and other pathological behaviors from which they chose not to extricate themselves. (Just as the West spent vast sums on places like Africa -- including out of a misplaced sense of guilt -- without progress to show for it, in so many cases.) Chopak should be muffled or muzzled when he begins to spout left-PC nonsense. At least Ravi Batra wasn't asked for _his_ "explanations" of and "solutions" to the "problem" of the Neglecful, When Not Abusive, Bushite West. (These days even our left-political media in the States, while following PC trends as always, isn't so crazy as to routinely rely on, say, Noam Chomsky. Which reminds me -- what does Chomsky have to say about this and whom does he ultimately "blame" for this, Bush?)

Many criminals here in the USA and many terrorists elsewhere (as well as in the USA) have freely chosen to do these things, simply as a variant of crime and criminality, a resentment against and decision to act against society and its interests and better-behaved members.

At the same time I have both no sympathy for Pakistan (which has been arguably worse than Saudi Arabia when it comes to terrorism as the West has witnessed, much worse as India has both witnessed and _experienced_ numerous times) and sympathy for Pakistan in its current form, because its government (when not complicit in terrorism) is a failed-state government whose demise is most likely a mere matter of time (destroyed by violent elements within that country).

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