Statesmanship, not partisanship, the need of the hour

The United States is yet again in the grip of terror. The Islamic State has already claimed responsibility for the Florida shooting, though other angles are also being speculated.

The powerful nation can make the life of people in Asia or Africa or Latin America pleasurable or miserable. But, it should instead introspect on ensuring the country inviolable and invulnerable. The dastardly act of terror needs universal condemnation.

No excuse. No pretext. Terror is terror. No place for it in a civilised society. But, such speeches cannot wipe out the tears. Such sermons cannot free this great nation from the fear of the barbaric. The roots of the problem deserve attention.

But, the political class seems to be not learning the right lessons. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee comes out with his usual rhetoric that can further alienate the minority community.

Donald Trump reiterated his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country. The US unabashedly enters every other Muslim country and pillages it, plunders it, destabilises ruling regimes, while protecting the despotic Muslim rulers servile to it.

Such a foreign policy coupled with demand for such an obnoxious domestic policy would only end up in disastrous consequences as it obviously evokes extreme and violent reaction from the community targeted.

Instead of demonising Muslim Americans, America needs political statesmanship, not partisanship, as observed by the democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Terror emanates from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya etc., precisely as an aftermath of the civil war in these countries. The United States has aided and abetted the fissiparous forces only to wake up when they hit the American coast.

Terror survived as countries like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan fanned it with funds, guns and hooligans. But they remain American allies as they discharge its strategic role.

Declaring war on entire religion is self-defeating and fraught with catastrophic repercussions for not only US but even for the entire world. Radicalisation of the religion should be confronted, but its vilification will only serve the interests of fanatics.

The United States has to realise that terrorist is terrorist whether one emanates from Kashmir or Kandahar. Acts of terror are heinous and reprehensible, whether they are in Florida or Mumbai. The perpetrators of terror, both State and non-State, should be defeated. The finance, military and intelligence networks of such terror groups have to be choked.

The international community can fight a genuine global war on terror only when it is UN-led rather than US-led. The gun culture patronised by the rifle industry is rampant only because American government is yet to impose stringent restrictions on sale and possession of such assault weapons.

The unabated drug menace adds fuel to the fire. The widening inequalities between white and non-white Americans are resulting in alienation of ethnic minorities, thus breeding extremist tendencies.

The Orlando massacre should at least prompt an honest endeavour to revisit American domestic and foreign policy aspects that foment terrorism. Terrorism is not an antidote to any hegemony.

In fact, acts of terror invite and legitimise constraints on democracy and freedom. The wonderful land of innovations has to innovate a policy response that could completely uproot terror.