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SoIyan Saputra
Dr. Erin Dietel-McLaughlin

WR 13200

11 November 2011

Terrorist Recruitment: Root Causes and Solutions
Marwan Abu Ubeida is a terrorist. Every day he waits Ior the order to strap on a bomb
and perIorm his duty. However, he is not waiting with angst or trepidation. Instead Ubeida
Iantasizes about the day he will be able to oIIer a Iinal prayer, where he 'will ask to bless |his|
mission with a high rate oI casualties, and become a gloriIied martyr (Ghosh). It is Irightening
that people like Ubeida could be recruited and implanted with such a passion to die and perIorm
terriIying acts oI violence.
In America, there is a common misconception that individuals who 'choose to join
terrorist groups are the ones to blame Ior joining. However, these individuals do not join through
an individual and impartial decision. Terrorist organizations utilize potent techniques in order to
persuade and trap members oI society into their organizations and convince these people to
perIorm unspeakably evil acts. Groups Irom the Middle East are particularly eIIective at
recruiting new members. This is due to their inIluential positions in the currently volatile Middle
East. Middle Eastern Terrorist groups capitalize on internet media, economic turbulence,
religion, and Ilawed ideologies to brainwash deIicient members oI society into their
organizations and then perIorm terriIying and violent acts. However, iI the United States acts less
biased towards the suIIering oI Middle Eastern countries likes Palestine, portrays a more
benevolent image, avoids stereotyping Muslims, makes an eIIort to improve Middle Eastern
economies, and actively combats online recruiting, then terrorist organizations would have less
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potential Ior recruitment.
On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists Irom the militant terrorist group al-Qaeda
hijacked Iour planes. Two collided on the World Trade Center and one on the Pentagonthe
Iourth Iailed and landed in a Iield in Pennsylvania. Since this attack, America has involved itselI
in a war against Terrorism, running operations throughout the Middle East in order to prevent
such attacks Irom happening again. However, the methods America have used involved violent,
direct conIrontation against the terrorists. In Iact, Congress has approved a total oI $1.283 trillion
dollars Ior the war on terrorism, but 94 has been spent on direct warIare, while only 5 has
been spent on Ioreign aid programs and diplomatic operations (Belasco 1). Considering the large
amount America has spent and the ongoing status oI the conIlict, this method oI direct conIlict is
clearly ineIIective. II America shiIts its tactics to identiIying terrorist recruitment methods and
negating the root causes Ior why people join terrorist organizations, then not only would less
lives and money be lost, but terrorist organizations would become signiIicantly weaker since less
people would be willing to join and support their organizations.
The Iirst part oI this paper will argue the recruitment methods terrorist organizations use
and the reasons Ior which people join. The Iirst method discussed will be internet recruiting.
Discussing this topic Iirst will show the imminence oI the terrorist recruitment problem since
internet recruitment is targeted Ior America. Next, the two main tenets oI terrorist recruitment:
economics and religion will be discussed. The interesting ideas here are that terrorist
organizations appear more benevolent than America due to their charitable activities and that
Islam is not the gateway to terrorism. Finally, the Ilawed ideology oI those recruited will be
analyzed. This will be analyzed last because a person with decent morality and a peaceIul
perception oI the world would never volunteer to participate in terrorism regardless oI the
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recruiting method used. The second part oI this paper will oIIer solutions Ior how America can
mitigate deIicient members oI society Irom joining terrorist organizations.
Although recruiting new members through religious and political means seem to acquire
the most attention Irom the media, recruitment through less acknowledged and innovative means
such as the internet are also rampant and equally dangerous. When terrorist organizations recruit
using communities, music, games, and videos on the internet, they are oIten targeting their
Western enemies. Generally extremists target young males between the age oI sixteen and
twenty-two, who numbers more than 10.5 million in the United States and spend an average oI
thirty-two hours per month online (Forest 13). This amount oI time will no doubt expose a
percentage oI people to terrorist recruiting sites. Even though terrorist websites may not seem
visible and prominent, Reuters news agency reported on June 5, 2004 that the online group
known as the Commemoration oI Maryrs oI the Global Islamic campaign has 10,000 registered
names willing to carry out martyrdom operations (Forest 58). Additionally in a study that lasted
between January 1998 and July 2004, it was Iound that thousands oI terrorist organizations had
established recruiting websites on the internet (Forest 59). Not only is their presence strong in
numbers, but stumbling onto a terrorist site is not diIIicult. According to a study by the
Department oI Communication at HaiIa University in Israel, major search engines yielded 14
organizations and 16 Internet sites that were legitimate terrorist recruiting sites when
organizations` names and speciIic terrorist-related key words were used (TzIati 320). OI course,
many terrorist sites change URLs, attracting a set amount oI people on a certain day, then
disappearing so as to not raise attention to authorities (TzIati 320). These Iacts exempliIy the
danger oI terrorist organizations. Not only are there a signiIicant amount oI established recruiting
websites, but these sites are visible to the public while being diIIicult Ior authorities to shut down
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or investigate.
Doubters may argue that Western teenagers are suIIiciently indoctrinated with anti-terrorist
belieIs and hold enough common sense not to be recruited by a blatantly evil organization on the
internet. According to a Gallup poll, 84 oI teenagers are to some degree worried Ior their saIety
due to terrorism (Crabtree). With so many teenagers aIraid oI terrorism, it seems unlikely that
they would join a terrorist organization. But even though most teenagers would be able to
recognize a terrorist recruiting website, a minority who experience diIIiculty and angst in the
physical world may be able to be swayed. Since terrorist organizations do not need a large
amount oI members to carry out tremendous damage, the Iew people they recruit may be all they
need. Additionally, terrorist groups do not immediately overwhelm new members with evil ideas;
instead they gradually introduce members, using tools such as games, music, and seemingly
wholesome activities. For example, a website called muslimstudent.org, which can easily be
Iound on a search engine, initially seems to help Muslim students Iind peer groups or student
activities (Forest 18). However, eventually the activities become oriented toward indoctrinating
members. Another website, soldiersoIallah.com, which can be Iound by searching 'soldiers or
'Allah in a major search engine, promotes the hip-hop band Soldiers oI Allah (SOA) and
provides MP3s oI sample songs (Forest 18). The lyrics reIlect Islamic supremacy, anti-Semitism,
and violent and anarchist attitudes. On YouTube, the SOA video Bring Back Islam has over
50,000 views. The top comment on the video reads:
NEVER trust Zionists please NEVER trust American government CIA bastards who send
people who act like Muslims, bomb Mosques and try to divide MUSLIMS! We all Iight
Israel and their Zionist belieIs! Death to Israel! Death to Zionist Government! Death to all
brainwashed idiots who will never understand that Islam is the Truth! Deen oI 7aq is Islam!!
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Send your puppets USA we don`t trust YOU. (QueenShiShi).
There is clear misguided passion in these words. A scan oI the nearly two-hundred other
comments will show that similar violent attitudes, probably Iostered by the song and internet
grooming by terrorist organizations, are prevalent. Video games have also become a relatively
prominent way oI promoting terrorism online. The Iirst computer game developed by a political
Middle Eastern terrorist group was 'Special Force (Forest 21). Launched in 2003, this game
gives players a simulated experience oI military operations against Israeli soldiers. The game
demonized the Zionist enemies and according to Top oIIicials oI Hizballah trains children 'Ior
military conIrontation with their Israeli enemies (Forest 21). By the end oI May 2003, 10,000
copies oI the game had been sold throughout the world. The game`s content was so inappropriate
that Australia banned the game. An Australian Member oI Parliament (MP) stated 'We don`t
need to encourage suicide bombers (Nguyen 29). These words by the MP emphasize the
dangerous behaviors being Iostered in this and similar games. Considering that most children are
not interested by politics or religion, creating games is very eIIective way Ior laying the
groundwork Ior Iuture recruitment.
While recruiting on the internet can be surprisingly eIIective, especially in the West,
recruiting by capitalizing on the low socioeconomic status oI many Middle Eastern people has
been the traditional and most eIIective means oI terrorist recruitment. Hamas, a major and
controversial terrorist group operating in Palestine, is one group that takes advantage oI nearby
peoples` socioeconomic diIIiculty. Palestinians suIIer Irom extensive economic hardship as
proven by an unemployment rate oI 33.5 (Forest 120). Moreover, there are limited career
opportunities and approximately three-Iourths oI the Palestinian population on the West Bank
and Gaza Ialls below the poverty line oI two dollars per day (Forest 120). Health conditions are
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not better. Thirty percent oI Palestinian children have suIIered Irom chronic malnutrition
(Franklin). As psychiatrist and violence expert James Gilligan notes, 'Violent behavior is the
wish to ward oII or eliminate the Ieeling oI shame or humiliation (29). In such an economic
climate where people are unable to support their Iamilies and are witnessing their children
suIIering, providing economic assistance and the opportunity to Iight back in exchange Ior
violence becomes attractive. Hamas is more than eager to Iill desperate people`s needs: giving
economic aid and labeling Jews as the enemy. Investigators oI terrorist organizations have
realized that terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and Hamas have masked their activities using
charities and Ioundations as their supporters (Forest 121). The Hamas dawa is the network oI
charities, social service organizations, mosques, employees, and donors that are run by or support
Hamas. The dawa is extremely eIIective, oIten penetrating into organizations such as sports
clubs, schools, charity committees, medical institutions, and so on. The dawa tends to recruit
Palestinian youth that participate in their services. For example, the Jihad mosque in Hebron has
a soccer team. Despite the team`s merely average athletic talent, it is inIamous Ior producing
several Hamas terrorists responsible Ior a string oI attacks during the Iirst six months oI 2003.
Five oI these attacks were suicide bombings executed by members oI the team. Interrogations oI
jailed Hamas terrorists reveal that these welIare organizations heavily involved 'religious
instructions (Forest 125). According to Palestinian security General Ammar, Hamas recruiters
spots potential members at local mosques. They search Ior people 'looking anxious, worried, and
depressed that come every day (Forest 125). Eventually, the recruiters will approach these
people, asking them about their situation, acting as iI they sincerely cared. Eventually they
discuss the aIterliIe, noting his pain and diIIiculty in this world and saying that volunteering Ior a
suicide bombing will bring his Iamily honor as well as $5,000, wheat, Ilour, sugar, other staples,
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and clothing (Forest 125). For Hamas, buying support is not only Ior recruiting new terrorists,
but it is also a method Ior improving public relations. When Palestinians realize that America is
giving Palestinians little aid and ignoring them while Hamas provides signiIicant aid,
Palestinians will be more willing to assist Hamas in its terrorist agenda rather than help the
United States.
This method oI buying support is extremely eIIective. People who are dependent on a
charity sponsored by Hamas are obliged to assist the organization. The beneIits that Hamas
provides no doubt convince people to adopt anti-government attitudes and support Hamas. For
example, Hamas will give a Iamily 1,200 shekels, a sack oI Ilour, and taxi Iare home (Forest
129). As a mother oI ten children and recipient oI Hamas` economic aid told a reporter, 'All we
know is they |Hamas| are the ones who bring us Iood (Forest 129). The positive appearance
Hamas has established through charitable activities has undoubtedly Iostered a dangerous
attitude in the area: Hamas appears to be an organization oI justice. This inevitably results in
more people being more inclined to participate in terrorist activities.
Despite the seemingly eIIective indoctrination methods Hamas utilizes, some scholars
disagree about the actual power oI capitalizing on economic distress. Thomas Hegghammer, a
Ph.D. candidate at the Institut d`Etudes Politiques de Paris and research Iellow at the Norwegian
DeIense Research Establishment in Oslo, claims that there are limits to the socioeconomic
explanations oI terrorist recruitment (Hegghammer 47). He Iurther says that 'going abroad Ior
jihad was always Iramed positively as an act oI altruism toward oppressed Muslims, acting in
the name oI Ianatical belieI is Iar more motivational and eIIective than perIorming Ior economic
gain (Hegghammer 48). However, James Forest, the Director oI Terrorism Studies and Assistant
ProIessor oI Political Science at the U.S. Military Academy, argues diIIerently. He claims that
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Hamas has mathematically determined a cost-beneIit analysis oI providing aid. Hamas donates
two to three million dollars per month to the Iamilies oI people who volunteered Ior a suicide
mission. In addition, millions more are spent on other charitable organizations. According to
Forest, by inIluencing people through money, 'Hamas provides a constant Ilow oI suicide
volunteers, and buttresses a terrorist inIrastructure heavily reliant on moral support oI the
Palestinian populace (Forest 130). Although Forest later acknowledges the signiIicance oI
religion in recruitment, he does not discount the economic Iactor like Hegghammer. Even though
Hegghammer makes a valid point when he claims religious justiIication plays a huge Iactor in
inIluencing people`s decision to perIorm extremist acts, it is incorrect to discount the economic
Iactor. Hamas is one oI the world`s most successIul terrorist organizations. It has spent millions
per month Iunding charitable activities and compensating volunteers Ior a calculated reason.
Helping and penetrating the community establishes a trust that undoubtedly enhances Hamas`
ability to eIIectively Iind recruits.
Hegghammer and Forest have varying opinions on the importance oI religion with
regards to terrorism. Hegghammer states that religion seems to play a tremendous Iactor while
Forest claims that religion is not as signiIicant as perceived. It is important to preIer Forest`s
claim because while being impoverished is an actual reason Ior becoming a terrorist, being
Islamic is not a reason. An associate proIessor at the Naval War College and a program analyst
respectively, Alyssa DeIIenbaugh and Elena Mastors accurately explains this concept.
DeIIenbaugh and Mastors claim that while religion seems to be a widely recognized Iactor
motivating terrorists, religion is not an actual Iactor. Instead DeIIenbaugh and Mastors say that
'religion is the important justiIication used by the recruits Ior their participation (83). Generally
people who join extremist groups have diIIiculty in liIe and are deIicient members oI society.
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These people are oIten depressed, jailed, mentally ill, and so on. When they join terrorist
organizations they are seeking belonging, a way to make themselves meaningIul. Religious
reasons are cited by terrorist recruiters merely to uniIy the group under a meaningIul and
spiritual cause, to prevent terrorists Irom believing they are perIorming immoral acts, and to
sedate people into believing dying is acceptable. For example, according to a testimonial by an
al-Qaeda terrorist, recruiters justiIied anti-Semitism by stating: 'Islam will only be well with the
collapse oI this inIidel, hypocritical, apostate country, which shields Jews and Christians and the
Jews hide behind it (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors 85). Meanwhile, to groom suicide bombers,
recruiters oIten say that those who die in the name oI Allah will be greatly rewarded during the
aIterliIe and bring great Iortune to their Iamilies (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors 85). From this, one can
conclude that religion is not a cause oI terrorism. Instead, terrorists Ialsely manipulate the
Islamic doctrine in order to exploit people`s Iaith, bring meaning to their activities, and convince
people that their actions are justiIied.
A possible counterargument against the peripheral and justiIication role oI religion is the
excessive citing oI religion as a motive among terrorist organizations. It is very common Ior
terrorist groups to cite their actions in the name oI Allah and speak about perIorming violence Ior
the sake oI martyrdomreIer back to Marwan Abu Ubeida, who was discussed in the beginning
oI this paper as an example. In addition, the gateway to terrorism seems to be Islam. In almost all
cases oI recruitment among Middle Eastern terrorist groups, the potential terrorist is either
already Muslim or is taught the religion prior to joining. Since this religion seems to be so
strongly tied to Middle Eastern terrorism, religious Ianaticism appears to be one oI the causes oI
terrorism. The main deIect in this argument is that Islam does not promote violence. Nowhere in
the Qu`ran is there a verse that condones killing others and causing mass terror Ior political
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control. Instead, there are numerous verses criticizing murder and promoting peace. For example,
"You shall not kill: God has made liIe sacred (":ran. The Final Testament 6:151) and 'iI they
leave you alone, reIrain Irom Iighting you, and oIIer you peace, then God gives you no excuse to
Iight them (":ran. The Final Testament 4:90). The Qu`ran blatantly states that under no
condition should one human being kill another, especially iI the other has no desire oI Iighting.
Religious Iervency is not a reason Ior terrorism. People with true knowledge about Islam would
realize that the Qu`ran does not promote terrorist actions, and thus would not be able to be
swayed by the lies terrorist recruiters utilize to sedate potential members.
Instead oI religion, oIten Ilawed ideology and motivations not related to religion are the
reasons why people join. Vengeance is occasionally one oI these Ilawed ideologies. When people
personally experience the mistreatment oI Iamily and Iriends, they immediately Ieel angry and
turn to a group that will help them exact their vengeance. People living in the Middle East may
believe that the Western Democracies are at Iault Ior the turmoil they are experiencing, and
thereIore choose to perIorm horrible missions that result in the deaths oI their 'enemy. This
cultural alienation due to negative experiences is very risky because such people no longer Ieel
pride or a connection with America, thus they become sympathetic towards terrorists. In many
cases these people have also had diIIicult Iamily lives. Due to this background oI negative
experiences, they seek to make others just as miserable. For example, in 2006, prisoners at New
Folsom State Prison (a maximum-security prison outside Sacramento, CaliIornia) gained contact
with Middle Eastern terrorists and were easily recruited. They began plotting terrorist attacks
against three National Guard Iacilities, an Israeli consulate, and several synagogues in the Los
Angeles area (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors 130). Although these plans were discovered and
prevented, it is signiIicant to note the Iact that people who Ieel unIairly treated in the West and
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Ieel disappointed with their lives are very susceptible to recruitment because such people must be
paid particular attention to, when searching Ior potential terrorists.
Flawed ideologies do not necessarily derive solely Irom personal experience, group
interactions has also proven to be a major Iactor that pressures people. Some people join to Iind
camaraderie in their lonely lives. According to ProIessor Elena DeIIenbaugh and analyst Alyssa
Mastors, people who were lonely are Iar more likely to go along with groups and Iriends in order
to avoid being ostracized (69). Camaraderie can be especially harmIul when the group in
discussion is Iamily. It is extremely diIIicult to go against one`s Iamily, especially in Middle
Eastern Culture. Family is so important that Arabic honoriIic names are oIten used in preIerence
to given names. For example, 'a man may be called Ibn ("son oI") Iollowed by his Iather's name
or Abu ("Iather oI") Iollowed by his child's name (GriIIiths). With such strong connections,
disobeying one`s Iamily would bring great dishonor to oneselI. Take the case oI Shalali bin
Shalali`s Iamily as an example oI a terrorist Iamily. In June 2001, U.S. Iorces captured his son,
Murad, Ior an attempted terrorist mission. His son was detained in Guantanamo Bay. Shalali is
known Ior his outspoken political views and support oI terrorist organizations. Eventually,
another oI Shalali`s sons was identiIied as being a member oI al-Qaeda (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors
74). In another example, Ali GuIron (a.k.a. Mukhlas) recruited several oI the thirty-Iour
individuals involved in the bombings Irom his Iamily (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors 74). Recruitment
due to parental belieIs is extremely unIortunate and eIIective. Children born into these have little
chance oI avoiding the liIe oI a terrorist and because oI the Iamilial nature oI this eIIect: the
children oI these children will also be convinced into terrorism, thus resulting in a vicious cycle.
It is truly unIortunate that generations oI a particular Iamily could be dragged into
terrorism. However, this cycle oI recruitment can be stopped or at least mitigated not only Ior
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Iamilies dragged into terrorism but Ior individuals who have not yet been plummeted into violent
despair oI terrorism. Up until this point, this paper has analyzed the methods terrorist
organizations use to recruit new members and the reasons Ior which people join. Now with these
methods and causes in mind, there are strategies that the United States can take to minimize the
eIIectiveness oI recruitment strategies. Currently, the United States is physically combating
terrorist organizations. As previously cited, 94 oI $1.283 trillion dollars has been spent on this
method (Belasco 1). The problem with this method is that new terrorists will rise up to replace
the ones America has terminated. II America instead acts impartial to Middle Eastern countries,
especially in the case oI Israel and Palestine, avoid stereotyping Muslims, respect Middle Eastern
rights and thus portray a better image, and take steps towards regulating the internet, then
America would be perceived more positively among Middle Easterners, Middle Easterners
would have less oI a reason to become terrorists, ideological diIIerences would not Iuel hatred,
and less recruitment would occur online.
One oI the main issues motivating Ilawed ideologies is the United States` policy towards
the Middle East. The most signiIicant problem is the United States` perceived unlimited support
Ior Israel. Despite the plight oI the Palestinians being broadcast and discussed widely, the United
States unwaveringly supports Israel and its media outlets attempt to portray Palestinians as evil
terrorists. Fox news calling Palestinians 'homicide bombers may be able to persuade American
viewers to believe Palestinians are the instigators, but those in the Middle East are blatantly
aware oI the oppression oI the Palestinians at the hands oI the Israelis (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors
132). In Iact, a survey by Birzeit University (the leading university in the West Bank area)
revealed that 90 oI Palestinians perceive the U.S. as being biased towards Israel. This bias is
well-supported since the U.S. has spent $114 Billion on direct aid to Israel, which is more than
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any other Middle Eastern country, and the U.S. has blatantly announced its support and alliance
with Israel (McArthur 10). Although some may argue that the Middle East has historically been
known Ior anti-Semitism and that without such support Israel would be overwhelmed, blatantly
ignoring the injusticessuch as checkpoints, denying medical services, pushing Palestinians oII
their land, and so onthat the Israelis are committing against the Palestinians Iuels hatred
against Israel and the United States. Such hatred will undoubtedly result in a desire Ior
vengeance and possibly involvement in a terrorist group like Hamas to enact revenge.
When religion comes up, the argument becomes even more volatile. American actions
taken aIter the September 11 attacks against the Middle East has been widely perceived as an
attack against Islam rather than just terrorist organizationsthis belieI is held by 88 oI the
population (Prados 8). Especially when groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda are providing social
services to their environment, more Middle Eastern people are likely to believe terrorist
organizations than the seemingly narcissistic and abusive Americans. Because oI this it is critical
that the war against terror is truly perceived as a war against terrorists and not a war against the
Middle East or a war against Islam. To do this, the United States should not perIorm any
sacrilegious acts against Islam. Despite this seemingly obvious tenet, the United States` popular
media continues to portray Islam negatively and associate it with Islam terrorism. For example,
in 2005 there were pictures oI detainee abuse in Guantanamo Bay and accusations oI a Holy
Qu`ran being Ilushed down a toilet in a ewsweek article (DeIIenbaugh & Mastors 133). AIter
ewsweek retracted the article, a series oI Iollowing articles accused the U.S. government oI
pressuring the magazine to retract the article. This series oI events led to violent riots, resulting
in the death oI sixteen people and greatly strengthened al-Qaeda`s claim oI Islamic oppression at
the hands oI Americans. Also, popular media Iigures such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Benny
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Hinn, V.S. Naipaul, and Ann Coulter have made statements portraying Islam as a destructive
ideology (Fatany). For example, Jerry Falwell on Min:tes said "I think Muhammad |the
prophet| was a terrorist" (Fatany). These statements against Islam must be stopped. As argued
beIore, Islam is not the reason Ior terrorism. By blaming Islam as the cause Ior terrorism,
Americans are only increasing enmity towards itselI and heightening the volatility oI the Middle
East. These are situations terrorist organizations can take capitalize on.
The main issue with stopping statements against Islam is the First Amendment, regarding
Ireedom oI speech and press. The government is not allowed to control the media and thus it is
impossible Ior it to stop statements against Islam. However, what can be done is counteracting
these negative statements about Islam with positive statements and situations. Eventually,
discrimination against Islam would become just as unpopular as racist and sexist statements on
the media today. For example, the ABC network show What Wo:ld Yo: Do Ieatured an episode
where a Muslim woman was banned Irom a store and called a terrorist by a clerk because she
was wearing a shawl (MrArabic1). In the episode, people were Iilmed admonishing the clerk and
encouraging the woman to come back in (MrArabic1). These types oI positive messages help
disassociate Islam Irom terrorism and prevent additional rancor Irom the Muslim community.
Another issue is that the United is perceived as being selIish and irresponsible.
Approximately 86.5 oI Palestinians agreed with the statement that the United States gets 'rich
at the expense oI poor nations (Prados 6). For example, a Yemen scientist said 'when you go
there, you really love the United States...You are treated like a human being, much better than in
your own country. But when you go back home, you Iind the US applies justice and Iairness to
its own people, but not abroad (Ford 10). The issue is that Middle Easterners perceive the
United States as violating their human rights by excessively intervening in their aIIairs and
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occupying their land. There is no doubt that Americans would be outraged iI a Ioreign Iorce with
drastically diIIerent belieIs occupied America. This is how Middle Easterners Ieel: around 66.5
oI Middle Easterners believe that the United States respect their citizens` human rights, however,
a much lower percentage believes the United States respects Middle Easterners` human rights
(Prados 8). By appearing unIair, the United States accumulates enemies, who may become
terrorists targeting the United States. The United States should minimize involvement in the
Middle East and allow the Middle East to deal with its own problems.
One oI the ways America could help make the Middle East selI-sustainable is by assisting
the Middle Eastern Economy. America has spent over a trillion dollars on the war on terror,
however had this money been on improving the inIrastructure oI the Middle East, then not only
would more progress be made, but the Middle East would perceive America with a much more
positive light (Belasco 1). As previously noted, groups such as Hamas and al-Qaeda have such
strong terrorist presences because they support the community and provide basic needs to the
people in time oI diIIiculty. DeIIenbaugh and Mastors argue that since unemployment and
underemployment are such huge Iactors in why Middle Easterners join terrorist groups, creating
scholarships and public works project would be extremely eIIective Ior discouraging people Irom
joining terrorist organizations (81). II more was spent oI improving inIrastructure, then less
Middle Easterners would be likely to involve themselves with terrorist groups since Americans
would be perceived with more positive connotations and there would be less ground Ior terrorist
organizations to manipulate people using money and social services. OI course, the major
argument against these policies is that Middle Eastern countries are in Iar too much turmoil and
thus the only Ieasible solution is direct combat against the terrorists. While this may seem
somewhat logical, keep in mind that America has spent nearly one trillion dollars on this method.
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Physically eliminating terrorists is very ineIIective because new ones will rise in their place. It is
Iar better to attack the root oI the problem. While some combat is necessary to prevent current
terrorists Irom causing too much damage, this must be combined with measures that prevent new
terrorists Irom appearing.
Finally, America must Iind a way to mitigate terrorist recruitment not only in Middle
Eastern land but in its land as well. Even though physical terrorist recruitment in the Middle East
seems to be more dangerous and likely, recruits Irom Western countries due to the internet can
cause tremendous damage since they are less suspect. This can be an arduous task since internet
regulation is a Iairly recent necessity and thus little is known about it. Currently, the most
eIIective method would be to inIorm the children oI America through health classes or the like.
Emphasizing internet saIety and teaching children saIe versus dangerous sites would be a decent
method and probably the best available. Although many would argue that health classes are oIten
ineIIective and not all children pay attention to the lessons, this is by Iar the best method
available. As noted beIore, terrorists do not need large numbers oI operatives to perIorm
tremendously violent acts. Preventing a decent number oI children who would have become
terrorists due to internet interaction would mean that the program was a success. Additionally,
other methods such as censorship oI such sites and monitoring internet users may be applied, but
the diIIiculty with these methods is that they go against the Iirst amendment, regarding Ireedom
oI speech, and laws about privacy. Not only that, but terrorist sites are oIten diIIicult to track
since they tend to change domain names regularly.
These solutions are important to implement because as previously discussed, terrorists
use very eIIective methods such as internet recruiting, economic manipulation, preaching Ialse
religious justiIication, and capitalizing on people Ilawed ideologies in order to recruit new
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members. It is really unIortunate when people like Marwan could be so brainwashed by terrorist
groups that he says 'The only person who matters is Allah--and the only question he will ask me
is 'How many inIidels did you kill? (Ghosh 6). Americans are undoubtedly able to assist in
mitigating terrorist recruitment. By being less ignorant about the suIIering state oI many Middle
Eastern countries like Palestine, being impartial to the Middle Eastern countries, respecting
Islam, improving the Middle East`s inIrastructure and economy, and preventing impressionable
people Irom being recruited on the American mainland, true progress, not meaningless combat,
will be made.















Saputra 18

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Saputra 19

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