editorial

Toon Today: Stop...

The horror in the United States of America drives home the devious minds of extremists.

We have been led to believe that the perpetrators are fundamentalist Moslems.

They probably are.

Their planning and organisation cannot be underestimated. It was the mind of a genius and the US, with all its paraphernalia of gathering information, failed to detect any signs.

The American’s hold on technology is undisputed but their apparent disregard for the mind of fundamentalists was evident.

As television transmitted live images of carnage and suffering we could fully understand why the US and its allies are calling for reprisals.

Everyone in their right senses dreams of revenge.

But is this is the solution?

Conveniently everyone forgets the morals that guide us and retribution takes over.

The bombing or reprisals that will follow will not rout out all the roots of extremism.

But America has not only been bruised but humiliated.

A network of terrorists, using knowledge and simple methods, have managed to create mayhem in the world’s most powerful nation.

Let us not for one minute be misunderstood. The pain and suffering meted out by these terrorists is awfully wrong.

But in finding a solution one must look at the long-term, the solution will not be found in more money in arms and military, but more energy in instilling more freedom, democracy and prosperity. The solution is not in bombing Afghanistan.

Moderation and peace and just policies will give the extremists little room for manoeuvre.
One cannot imagine the US not taking action, but it must look to the future.

Malta has an interest in promoting stability in this region, if conflict in the Middle East and beyond continues, we are the ones to suffer.

We must act in our little way to promote policies that are not built on perilous and baseless policies that treat people in conflicting ways.

Economic strife has led to suffering, deprivation and poverty.

The US has a long history of ignoring these realities. Of late it has taken a more humane approach, it no longer applauds rogue states, but it still lends a hand to lopsided nation states. Israel is a case in point.

If it continues to be seen as the father of oppressive states, the extremists will continue to single it out

.11 September was the reaction by a frustrated, angry, cruel group who could see no future for themselves and their brethren.

The dockyards

This newspaper has never had a soft spot for the Dockyard workers. Yet, this does not stop us from observing how one tackles a problem.

The statement by the Prime Minister on Wednesday night after a violent spree by some Dockyard workers was not unexpected.

The Prime Minister announced that the subsidies would be removed but he offered no option, no solution and no alternative. The Dockyard is so unpopular that shooting at it is a plus for any politician.

The Union retaliated by saying that the Prime Minister was being unfair, The Union did not support the violence.

Let us separate the two issues:

The Union is objecting to contracts for foreign experts. They have every right to object, but in doing so they are creating more problems for the Dockyard.

The Government reacted to the violence by taking out its one and only trump card: the subsidies.

What will happen next?

Difficult to tell, but does the Government want to take the matter to the limit?

Are we willing to precipitate the issue even further?

This country is in no mood for a battle.

And this country does not need a fight right now.