“So do you condemn terrorism or not?” a young, immature journalist asked me with a mix of agitation and sarcasm. I never answered.

I refused to answer. I told him that I hated the pretentious, tainted term: “terrorism.” He thought it was a poor attempt to escape this ritual condemnation of terrorism, which has now become a code, we all have to condemn if we wish to be accepted into civil societies, especially in the West.

But of course, I condemn terrorism, if terrorism means the murder of innocent people for the sake of gaining political clout, to punish or to simply stress a point. I condemn all kinds of terrorism, that of a state, no matter how mighty, and that of a lonely sniper gunning down innocent men and women.

But I avoid using the term. For one, I am not a judge. But even if I was, I would refrain from this cultic, routine condemnation of a concept committed daily by powerful countries in the name of democracy, but it is only the powerless who receive retribution for it.

“Terrorism” is only seen in one context, the effect, but never the cause, as if suicide bombings, the Moscow theater hostage crisis, the Kurdish rebels’ frequent attacks on the Turkish army and more, are born in a vacuum.

In an interview with a local National Public Radio station somewhere in the US, two months after the deadly attacks of Sep. 11, I reiterated to a thoughtful host, “we must try to see through the pain of the innocent thousands killed on that dreadful day. We cannot be so blinded by our anger to the point that we fail to see how violence begets violence. If we are keenly interested in bringing terrorism to a halt, we must have the courage to examine its roots.”

Growing up to become a suicide bomber is simply not part of a normal human anatomy and genetic structure. Leaving your children behind in Grozny to seize hundreds of people at gunpoint in a Moscow theater, is not born out of the Chechen natural hate for Russian music, nor have the Kurds fought for over 15 years simply because they are in some mysterious way, bad folk.

I sunk into my chair in disbelief when I heard the number of people poisoned by the Russian army’s gas in Moscow as a result of the violent hostage taking. I said, there must be a mistake. There was none. But I admit it, I also lamented at the death of the 50 rebels. Condemn me if you wish, but I couldn’t help my tears when I saw over ten Chechen women, clearly young, crouching on their knees, some gazing at heaven, all gassed to death.

Traditionally, we are not programmed to pity these people, after all they are the ones who initiated the violence, they are the insurgents, the rebels, the terrorists. All that we must do is condemn them, and dare not ask questions.

But I do dare, and I will ask questions. When rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International call for an international investigation of Russia’s actions in Chechnya, Why have the United Nations, the American Administration and other Western governments not pressed the issue? Why is Russia allowed a free hand in Chechnya? Why have the Chechens endured many massacres at the hands of the Russian army, year after year, invasion after invasion, and no tears were shed for Grozney’s victims, no condemnations?

Was it a coincidence that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was the first world leader to congratulate the Russian government on its “victory” after the tragic end of the hostage crisis? Many other governments, certainly more humane than Mr. Sharon simply condemned the rebels. Now, we can only hope that Moscow would recover from its nightmare and return to normalcy. But Grozny won’t. The Russian army is still there. The fighting, the occupation, the puppet government, the daily terror, mass arrests, rape and torture are all still going on in Chechnya. Human Rights Watch, “the only foreign organization to conduct exhaustive probes of human rights abuses in Chechnya,” according to the Washington Post continues with its routine updates on the crimes committed against the civilian population. But who has time to read? 

The Chechen suffering doesn’t excuse the violent hostage taking, but it explains it. We can stick our heads in the sand like ostriches and scream aloud, “nothing justifies terrorism.” We can block our ears, our brains and accuse those who disagree with us of being “sympathetic with the terrorists” even of being traitors. But that shall change nothing. Moscow will likely find itself a victim of many desperate Chechen attacks, the unilateral ceasefire of the Kurds in Turkey is likely to be provoked by the Turkish army’s violence against the Kurdish population, and suicide bombings, may subside or change style or targets, but they will not cease. It’s a proven fact.

“Fighting terror” is now the new trend, where aggressive, powerful countries crush their weaker foes, deprive them of freedom, of humanity even, terrorize them, degrade them, mass arrest them, test there latest weapons on them, but continue to blame them for all the wrongs of the world.

And we, the people of this world who mean well but fail to act, are expected to believe everything we are told. Israel is defending itself. As if it was the Palestinians who occupy Israeli territories, besiege the entire Israeli people, blow up their homes, steal their land and gun down their children. We are expected to hate the Kurdish rebels and deny any feelings of sympathy toward the Chechen’s, because the powerful set the tone of the battle, the definitions, what deserves to be condemned and what is regarded as a victory.

Sharon called the Massacre of Gaza a few months ago where Israeli warplanes bombed a residential neighborhood a “great success,” the gassing of the Russian and Chechens, a “victory.” We too are expected to laud the achievements, to gloat over the world’s legitimate “war on terror.” And we should always refrain from asking questions.

Maybe it serves Mr. Sharon, Putin, Bush and all others to construct the world and all the concepts in contains, according to their own policies. But we, the good people of this earth, why are we so afraid to condemn the real terrorism? When will we treasure the lives of all nations on an equal level, whether American, Afghani, Iraqi, Israeli, Palestinian, Turkish, Kurdish, Russian, Chechen, and all others?

How long will we remain blinded by empty slogans, unexplained hatred and pretentious condemnations?

Ramzy Baroud is the editor-in-chief of The Palestine Chronicle, a web magazine focusing on the plight of Palestinian refugees. Launched in August 14, 2001, The Palestine Chronicle is today considered one of the primary sources for online news and information on the Palestinian issue.  

This article was originally published in The Palestine Chronicle. 

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