Behind the Flames of Terrorism: Reparations versus retribution
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development. Copyright © 2002 Society for International Development. SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi), 1011-6370 (200206) 45:2; 36–39; 024385. NB When citing this article please use both volume and issue numbers.
Thematic Section
Behind the Flames of Terrorism: Reparations versus retribution1 ALI A. MAZRUI, ALBERT LUTHULI AND ANDREW D. WHITE
ABSTRACT Ali A. Mazrui, Albert Luthuli and Andrew D. White argue that international terrorism is one more area of intermingling between the policies of the Middle East and the politics of Africa. Before the end of colonialism and the end of apartheid in Africa, what was described as ‘terrorism’ was as common in Africa as in the Middle East. They explore why, since the collapse of political apartheid in the 1990s, the term ‘terrorism’ has more narrowly been focused on the politics of the Middle East. KEYWORDS anthrax; Durban; HIV-AIDS; imperalism; pay back; September 11th
Terrorism as a type of warfare Much of the old anti-colonial and anti-apartheid terrorism in Africa in the second half of the 20th century was targeted against Europeans and the colonial powers. Much of the Middle Eastern terrorism of more recent times has been targeted against the USA and Israel. In the retrospect of history Africa gained from its own guerrilla movements and terrorist activities against European powers. The Mau Mau war in Kenya did result in Kenya’s independence in 1963; the Algerian revolution did result in the liberation of Algeria in 1962; the anti-colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau did destroy the Portuguese empire in 1974; the antiUDI struggle in Zimbabwe ended Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence; and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa finally triumphed against the racial order. Terrorism and guerrilla war by Africans against European powers did yield positive results. Terrorism was a form of warfare, and had to be judged in its total political and moral context, and by its ultimate results. What is more, all forms of warfare kill overwhelmingly more civilians than combatants. The American war in Vietnam killed some 4,000,000 Vietnamese civilians, against less than 60,000 American combatants.
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Mazrui, Luthuli and White: Behind the Flames of Terrorism However, if anti-European and anti-colonial terrorism in Africa had produced good results in the end for Africa, anti-American and anti-Zionist terrorism in the Middle East has not yet found its moment of triumph. Both the Middle East and Africa have been paying a price for anti-American terrorism. The violent price that the Middle East is paying is obvious, especially in Palestine, Iraq and in neighbouring Afghanistan. What is the price which Africa is paying for terrorism against the USA? First, there is the issue of being caught in the crossfire. Africa has been the victim of violent action intended by the terrorists for the USA; Africa has also been a victim of violent action taken by the USA
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