T

he world’s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden has been killed by the US troops in Pakistan. However, would his death make the world safer?

Terrorism is still a threat to world peace and the world will be safe only after the hotbeds of terrorism are eliminated and terrorist organizations are collapsed.

During the 9/11 attack, I had made a point that the world was not safe, so did the US. I meant that there would be breeding grounds of terrorism all around the world particularly when the Muslim world was full of instabilities. Meanwhile, the US, being regarded as an oppressor, would continue being attacked.

In recent years, there were fewer attacks launched against the US. It is not because al-Qaeda has become weaker, but the US has strengthened its defense. If there are security loopholes, the US might have to suffer another tragedy.

Even though Osama is dead, his successors will continue launching terrorist attacks. The Americans have to be aware of al-Qaeda’s reprisal when they go overseas. Therefore, the fundamental strategy is to eradicate the hotbeds of terrorism and cut off its sources to get new and young members with pressure of the Muslim world.

The growth and expansion of terrorism has its historical reasons. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in 1991 has led to a geopolitical vacuum in Central Asia. It was followed by the outbreak of racial, religious and cultural conflicts, forming a hotbed of international terrorism.

Former US president George W. Bush’s inappropriate Middle East policy and unilateralism did not only destroy the peace process of Middle East but as well triggered hatred of fanatical Muslims.

To retaliate after the 9/11 attack, Bush sent troops to Afghanistan and invaded Iraq. Also, the failure of the Allied Forces to find weapons of mass destructive in Iraq has further provoked the Muslim world. Another mistake of Bush was to alienate Muslim countries.

After Barack Obama took over the office, he made an announcement to abolish unilateralism and adjusted Bush’s stand of bias toward Israel. He also introduced a new Middle East policy and reopened dialogues with the Muslim world. Obama has even gradually withdrawn troops from Iraq, restored stability to the Middle East and ensured the safety of Americans.

However, in addition to foreign policy adjustments and strengthened communication, Western countries need to empathize with Muslims instead of viewing the issue only from the Western perspective.

Only by establishing the spirit of understanding, frictions between religions and the values of Western and Eastern can be eliminated.

Poverty in Muslim countries is another hotbed of terrorism. Corruption and dictatorship of those in power have caused unemployed young people to be more hostile toward the US, which is assisting their governments. Some Muslim countries rely on free education provided by religious schools. However, some of these schools promote fundamentalist indoctrination that could drive young people into religious fanaticism and eventually, they join al-Qaeda.

The Middle East Jasmine Revolution erupted in 2011 and Libya has been trapped in a civil war. The US has learned a lesson and does not interfere this time. However, it must still beware of al-Qaeda’s swoop. If the situation goes out of hand and the people have to suffer hardships, terrorism would find its breeding grounds in more places.