…is kindness. A poll last month in Pakistan (conducted by Terror Free Tomorrow) makes even more clear a notion that we have alluded to before on a couple of occasions [1,2]. If the U.S. wants a cost effective way of attacking terrorism at its root, then kill them with kindness. Just look at what happened when we decided to divert a few helicopters from Afghanistan to the quake ravaged regions of Pakistan. New America Media reports on the poll results:
So much for the popularly peddled view that anti-Americanism in the Muslim world is so pervasive and deep-rooted it might take generations to alter. A new poll from Pakistan, one of the most critical front lines in the war on terror, paints a very different picture — by revealing a sea change in public opinion in recent months.Long a stronghold for Islamic extremists and the world’s second most populous Muslim nation, Pakistanis now hold a more favorable opinion of the US than at any time since 9/11, while support for al Qaeda in its home base has dropped to its lowest level since then. The direct cause for this dramatic shift in Muslim opinion is clear: American humanitarian assistance for Pakistani victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake that killed at least 87,000. The US pledged $510 million for earthquake relief in Pakistan and American soldiers are playing a prominent role in rescuing victims from remote mountainous villages.
Key Findings of Terror Free Tomorrow Poll in Pakistan [partial list]:
73% of Pakistanis surveyed now believe suicide terrorist attacks are never justified, up from 46% just last May.
Support for Osama Bin Laden has declined significantly (51% favorable in May 2005 to just 33% in November), while those who oppose him rose from 23% to 41%.
US favorabilty among Pakistanis has doubled from 23% in May to more than 46% now, while the percentage of Pakistanis with very unfavorable views declined from 48% to 28%.
For the first time since 9/11, more Pakistanis are now favorable to the United States than unfavorable.
78% of Pakistanis have a more favorable opinion of the United States because of the American response to the earthquake, with the strongest support among those under 35.
The full poll has additional key findings and what the pollsters feel are the critical implications of the results. We now have two dramatic data points in less than a year. When America went in after the tsunami our reputation skyrocketed with the Indonesian people, and now this news from Pakistan.
This is not say that simply being kind is all it takes to stamp out terrorism. Action, military action even, will always be needed. But this poll points toward a clear and non-duplicitous strategy to undercut the support of terrorism. The world thinks that American foreign policy and where it diverts resources is only in pursuit of oil. If I were in charge of foreign policy I would make sure that for every action in pursuit of oil we take two on humanitarian grounds that have no oil motive. Without a reason to focus their anger on America, populations could be focused on trying to change their own corrupt governments.
In an op-ed piece about this poll in the Wall Street Journal there was one additional point that seems quite important. Cut out the middle-men. Let the people we bring aid to interact directly with Americans:
The important point is that direct contact with Americans on a humanitarian mission, including military personnel, clearly has a positive impact on how Muslims view America. In Pakistan, 78% of those surveyed said that American assistance has made them feel more favorable to the United States. America also fared much better in the opinion of ordinary Pakistanis than the other Western countries that also provided aid, or even local radical Islamist groups that made a much-publicized effort to provide earthquake relief…But the overall message from Pakistan, pointing towards a potential trend in the Muslim world in general, is a positive one. By cutting out the middle men who all too often portray a poisonous image of the U.S., direct American engagement in humanitarian assistance not only ensures its aid reaches those in need but can also play a powerful role in marginalizing the foot soldiers for bin Laden and other supporters of extremist Islamic causes. [Link]
