ISRAEL

ISRAEL

Jerusalem Post, Nov. 10: Since al-Qaida launched its war of civilizations on Sept. 11, 2001, America’s all-volunteer army in Iraq and Afghanistan has suffered 5,000 dead and over 30,000 wounded.

Arlington is located 5 kilometers. from the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, Virginia. It was there that Nidal Hasan — the Muslim-American physician of Palestinian descent who murdered 13 people and wounded 29 last Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas — crossed paths with Nawaf al-Hamzi and Hani Hanjour, two of the 9/11 hijackers.

Foreign forces

The FBI has no evidence that Hasan was part of a larger conspiracy. In the fullness of time he may explain why he carried out this massacre. But it hardly requires prophecy to intuit that he opposed the presence of foreign forces in the Middle East and believed Muslims shouldn’t be killing Muslims on behalf of infidels.

Hassan and Awlaki are further proof that the war of civilizations is radicalizing American-born Muslims.

BRITAIN

Financial Times, London, Nov. 8: When crowds tore down the Berlin Wall 20 years ago ... few participants in that joyously chaotic celebration of freedom foresaw the consequences. But by seizing the moment they made history.

Like the concrete masonry, the 1945 division of Germany and of Europe was removed from the map. The way opened to the end of the cold war, the advance of democracy and free markets into eastern Europe, and the enlargement of the European Union.

Political, economic benefits

Two decades later, it is clear that the world won huge political and economic benefits from the collapse of communism. Despite today’s difficulties with global terrorism, the Middle East and economic crisis, the end of superpower rivalry has made the world safer, freer and richer.

Difficulties remain with completing the economic integration of Germany and of eastern Europe, where living standards remain below western levels. The economic crisis will delay efforts to close the gap. But with hard work it can be done.

NORWAY

Aftenposten, Oslo, Nov. 11: An international presence in Afghanistan will be necessary for many years to come. The security situation there is demanding, and it isn’t improving as we’d hoped. At the same time, it’s essential that Afghans themselves take responsibility for their own security and development.

It’s therefore necessary for international forces in the country to push for the development of Afghan expertise and ownership — so-called Afghanization.

Comprehensive strategy

In order to stabilize Afghanistan, we must have a comprehensive strategy that utilizes political, military and humanitarian tools, as well as the tools of global development. In principle, there’s consensus on this issue in the international community, but unfortunately we’ve not been able to implement such a strategy.

Still, some progress has been made — in education, health care and infrastructure. Last year, the mandate of the U.N.’s mission in Afghanistan was strengthened when it received the resources necessary to coordinate the international effort.