A decade later - Fundação Luso-Americana

RUI OChÔA
concept of terrorism brings with it is not
only the willingness to kill, but a willingness
to die on the part of those who have
given their lives to a cause, and will gladly
take thousands of innocent victims along
with them. Portugal’s former minister discussed
what a shock the attacks had been
for him and indeed for everyone. At first,
when he had heard about the strike, he
considered finishing lunch before honoring
the prime minister’s request to go
immediately to the presidential palace at
Belém. Only after seeing the images on
TV, did he realize the impact the event
would have on the world.
Teixeira added that terrorism, which is an
age-old strategy in the history of humankind,
is now carried out by networks, using
a wide range of means and random targets.
Essential values have been called into question,
which has made it necessary to coordinate
domestic with external security. In
the name of these values, a number of freedoms
have been forfeited in the attempt to
halt a faceless enemy.
For Teixeira, the recent killing of bin
Laden is essentially symbolic, since the
9/11
A decade later
horizontal structure of Al-Qaeda will allow
it to continue functioning autonomously.
Mitchell Cohen agreed, while stating that
the leaders left to fill the vacuum do not
have bin Laden’s charisma. Now that he
is dead, Cohen adds, he will be deemed
a martyr, and a used as a symbol to inspire
future followers.
The American political essayist also
warns of possible reprisals by Al-Qaeda,
which has vowed to avenge its leader’s
death. But he also acknowledges that we
are unlikely to know what the future
holds in store: “They (the terrorists) don’t
care what I’m saying,” he wryly answered
one of the participants in the debate,
which was attended by students in
Communications and Political Science
from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
But what conceptual model is to be used
in dealing with terrorism: should it be
considered a criminal act to be dealt with
by the justice system or should a strategic
model based on warfare be used? Since the
war on terror will inevitably continue, such
issues must be examined and discussed.
Cohen also remarked that President
political science professor mitchell cohen (left) and nuno severiano Teixeira, professor at universidade nova,
exchange ideas at the conference on the War on Terrorism.
Obama’s approach has distinguished
between Al-Qaeda and the Arab and
Islamic world to which he “extended his
hand” in the now-famous speech he gave
in Cairo. And the American President’s
popularity soared during the days following
the execution of bin Laden.
However, the US political theorist also
believes that domestic issues and the nature
of the response to any retaliation can cloud
the path to Obama’s reelection. Recent
events and the way the administration deals
with this new brand of global, network
terrorism may end up being what determines
Barack Obama’s political future.
Bin Laden may be dead, but Al-Qaeda is
not. The most recognizable face behind
the war on terror has disappeared, but
what form this shapeless, dark war -
whose end is nowhere in sight – will take
is now the main issue. A decade after 9/11
the questions still outweigh the answers.
And in New York, the barren ground left
by the two towers is still as visible as on
that fateful September morning.
* Freshmen in Communications Science, at the Faculty of
Social and Human Sciences, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Parallel no. 6 | FALL | WINTER 2011 21