A peaceful war on Isis terrorists? Not a hope
THE decision of the United Nations security council to approve a combined effort for the nations of the free world to eradicate the safe havens of ISIS’s strongholds must concern us all.
While this decision in itself is not a full declaration of war, it is feasible to interpret it as being the next best thing. Should that be the case then it would be inevitable that there would be a colossal loss of life on a scale that this planet has never before experienced.
Now terrorist wars, like that carried out in Paris, are the most difficult to contain, as here the people of this island of Ireland, know full well.
There is no such thing as a peaceful war, as the very word of war signifies death, irrespective of how it was caused. HARRY STEPHENSON,
Kircubbin, Co. Down. EVERY time there is a terrorist attack, the media refer to the ringleader as a mastermind. While some of these attacks might take a certain amount of twisted genius, most do not and could be organised by any cold-blooded killer with an average level of intelligence.
A mastermind, other than someone possessing a superior mind, is often a term used to describe someone who is behind a complex or daring plan.
I don’t think someone who organises or has control over a group of unstable individuals to massacre groups of innocent people, either by sustained automatic rifle fire or suicide bombing, qualifies as a mastermind. They would, however, qualify as a mindless murderer. To some people the term ‘mastermind’ might sound dangerously close to a term like ‘superstar’ or ‘superhuman’.
There are people, who for one rea- son or another, crave attention and want to be admired. The idea of being referred to as a mastermind, I’d imagine, would be very attractive to these type of people – especially if they were unconcerned as to how they achieved the status.
Why don’t the media just refer to these people as terrorist leaders? At least this would get rid of any aura of superiority that might attract certain types of people to support these evil causes.
JOHN WILLOUGHBY, Carlow. I COULDN’T believe the leading Muslim cleric criticising the Irish government for not helping in the fight against ISIS. He claims that Irish youngsters are being radicalised. Well, it’s not the Irish Government that’s turning them.
Their parents are the first people who need to be asked what they are doing about the problem. If my son suddenly stopped going to clubs, gave up having a pint and started reading the Bible, and then vanished for a few months to Syria for a training course, I think I might be a bit concerned.
MARTIN STRINGER, Barnacogue, Co. Mayo. I WAS really proud as an Irish music fan in the way an Irish band flew the Irish flag in Paris on the evening of November 18. A legendary band from the Emerald Isle stood on stage in a rock club in the face of fear, in the face of terror, in a city that is the epicentre of the world’s anxiety.
This group sang rousing anthems about war and peace, about bridging ancient hostilities caused by ignorance, about loving your fellow man even if their religion is one you were raised to hate.
This foursome used the power of simple rhythms and soaring vocals to bravely raise the flag of hope and brotherhood. U2 had the opportunity to make possibly the grandest and most meaningful gesture of their careers. But they didn’t.
That band I speak about of course were Stiff Little Fingers from Belfast who performed as scheduled in Paris three days after the horrendous events.
U2, on the other hand, cancelled concerts in Paris this past weekend in the wake of the terror attacks which is fair enough considering the size of their gigs.
But the very least that U2 could have done as a grand gesture was open the gig for Stiff Little Fingers and not the tacky gesture we got from a U2 band member, Adam Clayton, who wore a Stiff Little Fingers T- shirt during the recent Belfast gigs as a solidarity nod to SLF. Pathetic to say the least. This was not U2’s finest hour.
MEL DEVLIN, Lucan, Co. Dublin