Key lessons on how not to fight terrorism

This past week, I have been in Washington DC as part of a delegation of parliamentarians from Kenya and several other countries under a study tour on legislative role in budget issues and financial oversight, sponsored by House Democratic Partnership.

As expected in discussions involving politicians, participants are never shy of raising pertinent issues relating to their countries.

The US congressmen had to deal with issues relating to their nation’s policies, which impacted adversely on the economies of several countries in the developing world. These include the war on terror, travel advisories and aid policies among others.

The MPs from Pakistan and Afghanistan in particular had serious concerns on US interventions in their respective countries over the past decade, which destabilised their economic and political status.

More than a decade after the US entered Afghanistan to fight Taliban, with billions of dollars spent, their objective has not been met.

According to the Afghan MPs, the Taliban are still in place, terrorism has not declined, towns are no longer safe and the country’s economic base is destroyed.

The political leaders that the US put in place are engaged in massive corruption, and there is little sign of tangible development to reflect the billions spent in the country.

Even as their forces leave the country, the MPs were concerned that the US government had little trust in the Afghans. Surplus military stocks, equipment, generators had to be taken away or destroyed rather than be left with the ravaged country.

Tanks had their gun turrets destroyed before being left behind. In Pakistan, the situation is not different. Seven years after they were called upon to assist in Afghanistan, it has cost Pakistan’s economy over $150 billion, and ruins.

There is insecurity, terrorism is on the rise and the economy is destroyed! And the US cares less! The MPs poured out their exasperation with the US policies on the war on terror that has made their countries more dangerous than they were before the 9/11. The same is true about Iraq, and the list goes on.

The US parliamentarians were at pains to explain their failed policies that left many nations ruined. I too pointed out the devastating effect of their adverse travel advisories on our economy, yet Kenya too was a partner in the war on terror. Their MPs admit US makes plenty of mistakes in its policies but that they had good intentions.

Thirteen years after 9/11, the terrorist groups they went after are still in place; in fact, more have come up! The latest, ISIS, has the Americans going back to Iraq once again, for the third time! So, have they learnt a lesson?

No! They are calling for new coalitions, using the same script.

Countries such as ours risk similar consequences if we adopt the same script. Shooting down suspects in broad daylight, closing down Islamic schools, arbitrary arrests and profiling of Muslims, collective punishment and similar actions only help to alienate the community and radicalise the youth.

The recent shutdown of immigration offices in Garissa is a similar action that punishes the residents of North Eastern who are the biggest victims of terror attacks in recent years.

It is surprising that even after the change of guard at our intelligence headquarters, it is aluta continua in our security strategies. I do not know why the President prefers military men in these appointments at immigration and intelligence offices but it is likely that we shall continue to see more of brute force than reliance on intelligent investigations.

We must be wary of actions that undermine the constitutional rights of Kenyans and are inimical to the equality of all Kenyans before the law.

We must be smart on the war on terror to avoid collateral damage that will take all of us down in the long term. And there are plenty of lessons around to learn from.