War on terror 'fuelling al-Qaeda'
2007-10-08 09:10
London - Six years after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the "war on terror" is failing and instead fuelling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements, a British think-tank said on Monday.
A report by the Oxford Research Group (ORG) said a "fundamental re-think is required" if the global terrorist network is to be rendered ineffective.
"If the al-Qaeda movement is to be countered, then the roots
of its support must be understood and systematically undercut,"
said Paul Rogers, the report's author and professor of global
peace studies at Bradford University in northern England.
"Combined with conventional policing and security measures,
al-Qaeda can be contained and minimised but this will require a
change in policy at every level."
'Iraq war a disastrous mistake'
He described the US-led invasion of Iraq as a "disastrous
mistake" which had helped establish a "most valued jihadist
combat training zone" for al-Qaeda supporters.
The report - Alternatives to the War on Terror - recommended the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq coupled with intensive diplomatic engagement in the region, including with Iran and Syria.
In Afghanistan, Rogers also called for an immediate scaling
down of military activities, an injection of more civil aid and
negotiations with militia groups aimed at bringing them into the
political process.
If such measures were adopted it would still take "at least
10 years to make up for the mistakes made since 9/11".
"Failure to make the necessary changes could result in the
war on terror lasting decades," the report added.
Rogers also warned of a drift toward conflict with Iran.
"Going to war with Iran", he said, "will make matters far
worse, playing directly into the hands of extreme elements and
adding greatly to the violence across the region. Whatever the
problems with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs."