Terror conundrum remains a prime issue for world

The recent killing of top Iranian nuclear scientist Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in Tehran is a measure of the tenacity with which the problem of terrorism persists in international politics. It would be premature to arrive at any firm conclusions on the identity of those who orchestrated and executed the killing, which is notable for the sophisticated methods that were deployed, but it is all too obvious that some marked progress would need to be made by the world community in understanding the terror phenomenon and in evolving satisfactory solutions to the problem.

There is a multiplicity of quarters, including some state parties, among the likely suspects in the murder, when a rough survey is done on who would stand to gain by the killing, but the murder of the Iranian scientist needs to be condemned by all civilized sections. The point needs to be taken that a tendency on the part of the international community to ignore or gloss over the killing would be tantamount to turning a blind eye on lawlessness and terror, which would in turn be a further fillip to the proliferation of the latter menace.

Admittedly, terror defies easy ‘diagnosis’ and understanding. If that were not so, answers to the centuries-long problem would have been forthcoming. Sri Lanka’s current official agonies over the Easter Sunday terror is sufficient proof of this. Apparently, a terror leader in the Easter attacks had been absolutely calm, according to a Sri Lankan psychologist, while detonating his bomb which claimed scores of lives at a well known Colombo hotel, and this ought to be grist to the mill of those attempting to understand contemporary terror. The inference that we ought to draw is that mind-numbing mass murder could be just ‘second nature’ to some humans. Does not this revelation stand our general understanding of human nature on its head, so to speak?

It is hoped that the above observations would help in drawing attention to the highly complex psychology of those perpetrating terror. However, nothing can justify the taking of lives. Desperate poverty and socio-economic inequalities drive individuals and groups to take to arms and violence but the remedy for such compulsions lies in the ushering of equity in all its dimensions by governments and other sections that are charged with making countries and the world safer places to live in.

There is an uphill task in this connection awaiting US President-elect Joe Biden. While there is no denying that easing the agonies for the US public occasioned by the Covid19 pandemic should be top on Biden’s priority list, an issue of considerable magnitude that ought to give him many a restless night is political terror. This is particularly true of the terror emanating in the Middle East. The Fakhrizadeh killing ought to have jolted Biden into realizing afresh the painful uphill task constituted by Middle East terror, which is in turn largely bound-up with the seemingly intractable Middle East problem.

Anyone trying to understand some of the causes that led to the killing of the nuclear scientist would need to wade deep into the complex currents of Middle East inter-state politics. As mentioned, many are the Middle East actors, including states, who would be keen on churning the troubled political waters of the region by carrying out the killing. As matters stand, it is not easy to pin the blame firmly on any particular regional or extra-regional power, although there seem to be tell-tale signs that point in the direction of a couple of these powers. But no allegations could be made prematurely in the absence of concrete evidence.

However, if Biden is keen on making some progress in resolving the Middle East question he would need to make peace with Iran, one of the most powerful regional powers. As is known, by President Donald Trump ditching the international nuclear accord of 2015 with Iran, the US put the clock back in Middle East peace-making and paved the way for a further heightening of regional tensions.

Biden would need to patch-up relations with Iran and compel it to re-enter the international nuclear accord. If this is not done in double quick time the US and the international community would be reduced to mere on-lookers as Iran goes ahead and builds the nuclear bomb. It would need to do this to match Israel’s nuclear capabilities.

Considering that quite a number of Middle Eastern militant organizations enjoy the support of Iran, befriending Iran ought to be high on the US’ foreign policy agenda. In fact, this enterprise could prove a crucial key in the task of bringing a degree of Middle East peace. However, in the event of the US normalizing ties with Iran, Israel should be made to see by the US that it would be in Israel’s interest to help constructively in forging a permanent Middle East settlement. Israel would need to remember that Hamas in the contested areas of Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon are aided greatly by Iran. Hence, the importance of Iran to Middle East peace.

However, Middle East peace is a many-dimensional thing. While working on normalizing ties with Iran and sorting out other issues on the foreign policy front in respect of the Middle East, the US in particular and the West in general, besides others concerned, would need to learn more about the terrorist’s psychology or mindset.

The latter task would, perhaps, prove more arduous than the former one. This is on account of the seemingly insurmountable difficulties that crop-up in the task of getting into the consciousness of the militant, which is a gruelling challenge. How does one win the heart and mind of a human who conceives of his ‘salvation’ as lying in the killing of innocent lives in countless numbers? This is the Question.

One way out of this quagmire consists in the Biden administration and other like-minded international actors working with moderate Moslem opinion the world over in inculcating in the militant consciousness a reverence for life. This is no easy task but it needs to be undertaken right away. Besides, the democratic process needs to be seen as holding the key to resolving differences, nationally and internationally. This is where the PLO is today; a one time terror group.