By Mickey Masterson ’17, Contributor
The devastating bombings at the Brussels airport and metro station are the most recent loss in a long-standing conflict between the West and terrorism. After the tragic attack, leaders from around the world expressed their deepest condolences to the Belgian people. In Cuba at the time, President Obama said “we stand in solidarity with them,” and “we will do whatever is necessary to help our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those responsible.” Since then, ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack. Their actions have only continued to enrage the public against ISIS. Some conservative voices have described the recent increase in terrorist activity as an epidemic, with radical Islamic ideology as the root of the evil. However there are many differing opinions on how to deal with this crisis and how far we should go in the name of security.
Terrorist attacks occur for no other reason than to cause terror. They gain no tactical nor strategic military advantage. They desire to cause chaos and fear. And we certainly are afraid. Drawing on the American people’s feelings on the matter, candidates for the 2016 presidential election have made notably hard stances against terrorism. In response to the Brussels attack, Donald Trump of course has done what he does best: create controversy. He has stated that as President of the United States under such a scenario, he would close the country’s borders to the world’s entire Muslim population. He told CNN that he would ban not just potential immigrants but any Muslim tourists as well. Naturally, this extreme plan of action has met with heavy criticism. Obama’s deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes referred to Mr. Trump’s statement as “totally contrary to our values as Americans.” Additionally Mr. Trump continues to support waterboarding and other torture methods as effective methods of intelligence gathering.
Ted Cruz, though not as extreme as Trump, has likewise stated that he would do his best to destroy ISIS as commander-in-chief. All other candidates agreed that ISIS is a major threat and expressed their condolences to those affected by this tragedy. However the Democrat candidates have stated their aversion to the extreme measures that Trump is willing to take. With this catastrophe fresh in the voters’ minds, it will be interesting to see how this will affect the presidential race.
What is most depressing about this tragedy is that it is not nearly the first time something like this has happened. Ever since 9/11, terrorism has cast an omnipresent shadow over the modern world. This shocking attack on Brussels brings to mind the bombings of Paris, France last November. For terrorists to be able to strike at the heart of a major European city is unsettling to say the least. While these tragic events gain much press and sympathy, it terrorism occurs even more often in the Middle-East. For example, just days before the Brussels bombing, two attacks occurred in Turkey that killed 40 people in total and injured over 100 more.
It is satisfying news to hear that Mohamed Abrini, a major suspect in the Paris bombings and possible suspect for the Brussels bombings, has been arrested in Brussels on April 9. However, despite the demand to retaliate against ISIS and seek justice, it is simply more clear that the war on terror will continue to rage on with no end in sight.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2016-candidates-brussels-attacks_us_56f137ebe4b09bf44a9e5081
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/07/politics/donald-trump-muslim-ban-immigration/
http://usuncut.com/world/brussels-media-ankara-turkey/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/03/22/explosions-rock-brussels-airport/82107254/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obama-addresses-brussels-attacks-during-cuba-trip/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36000407
Image Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/25/europe/brussels-investigation/
