Letters: Fight terrorism -- by changing U.S. foreign policy

Re “Future terrorists,” Opinion, Jan. 6

Former Democratic Rep. Jane Harman believes that “articulating the narrative about what the United States stands for” will help deter future terrorists, and that our problem is that we aren’t doing a good job of that.

Given that actions speak louder than words, I believe the U.S. has been far too adept at showing what it stands for.

The U.S. has created quagmires in two strategic regions, inaugurated a CIA-led drone war, ignored coups in Egypt and Honduras, sent billions to Israel despite violations of international law, and devised trade policies that permit U.S. corporations to tamper with the economies of developing nations. Those are only the most egregious examples.

My brother-in-law was at work in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001; I take threats of terrorism seriously. But if wannabe jihadhists are to turn away from extremism, the best course would be for the U.S. to amend its foreign policy.

Sarah S. Forth

Los Angeles

Terrorism is not limited to any one ethnicity, political ideology or religion, and neither should be the means taken to combat it. When we focus on one group, we make it easier for others to carry out attacks.

Last January, the U.S. Military Academy’s Combating Terrorism Center reported that since the 9/11 attacks, individuals associated with or inspired by Al Qaeda or similar groups have committed 37 murders in the U.S. out of the roughly 180,000 total.

The disparity between actual terrorist attacks committed by Muslim extremists and the number of Muslims monitored and arrested speaks to blatant discrimination and misguided policy.

Common counter-terrorism measures, such as blanket surveillance and religious and racial profiling, are costly, ineffective and foster mistrust between local law enforcement and the Muslim community. If we are serious about boosting our national security, we must employ counter-terrorism measures that profile people based on criminality, not religion.

Yasmin Nouh

Anaheim

The writer is the communications coordinator for the L.A.-area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

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