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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-08-23, Page 54 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, August 23, 2006 =CNA TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher Deb Lord — Production Manager Scott Nixon — Editor tirt Published by iroland Printing, Publishing Distributing& Ltd. 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Metroland Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL Won't be won with weapons The revelations that British authorities had thwarted an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound aircraft in the biggest terrorist plot to be uncovered since 9/11 sent law enforce- ment and security agencies around the globe into critical alert status once again. News of the plot, which reportedly involved plans to use common electronic devices to detonate liquid explosives to bring down as many as 10 planes, also served as a reminder that the "War on Terrorism" won't ever be completely won using traditional weapons on actual battlefields. While the Taliban have been driven from power in Afghanistan, they have become "insurgents" who continue to strike and kill those they view as opponents, including Canadian soldiers tasked with job of bringing order to the long -troubled country as part of a NATO force in that region. Ousting Saddam Hussein and his ilk from power in Iraq has, in the view of most analysts, led to a higher level of ter- rorist activity emanating from that country than existed before the American "victory" there. Despite an awesome show of force in Lebanon, a powerful Israeli army appears unable to accomplish its stated goal of eliminating the terrorist threat posed by Hezbollah. A cease- fire agreement implemented this week will create a buffer zone between Israel and the terrorists, but it won't eliminate them. One of the difficulties in battling terrorist organizations, in addition to the problems associated with shooting at moving targets is that the cells of such groups are able to quickly regenerate. Kill or capture the leaders, or even the vast majority of foot soldiers and new followers appear, striking from new locations, utilizing new tactics - each generation more vengeful than the last. The truth staring the world in the face is that the only tool that will ever be effective at diminishing the terrorist threat in the long-term is not destruction, but diplomacy. The current conflicts and terrorist actions occupying the headlines all have their roots in long -unresolved disputes in the Middle East. The Israeli -Palestinian dispute is more than half a century old. Does anyone truly still believe the parties involved, with a bit of American pressure thrown in to keep the pot boiling, will ever work it out satisfactorily? What needs to happen is an effort at the United Nations level to draw the parties together, along with statesman from around the globe to work out a genuine plan for sorting out the boundaries and other issues involved. Impossible? Probably far less so than continuing on the present course for a few more decades. The US needs desperately to get out of Iraq and let the res- idents of that country get more concerned with governing themselves than striking back at occupying forces. Could a global coalition not be formed to effect that transition more smoothly? Afghanistan represents perhaps the thorniest problem of all. The country has either been battling foreign invaders or mired in civil war so long, that even the rule of the extremist Taliban, human rights abuses and all, seemed a respite to the besieged Afghans. Still the very fact that military action there is on-going, five years after the fall of the Taliban, indi- cates a new approach, using words, not weapons, is worth a try. What the world needs at this time are leaders with vision, not venom. Those with the former need to step forward and show the way to those infected with the latter. Only when it becomes clear the root causes of the current clash of cultures are being addressed, will the extremist begin to find a smaller audience for their message and fewer recruits for the cause. Only then, will we begin to win the "War on Terrorism." Editorial Opinion Worse than crying As it has been stated in this space previously, there is almost no excuse for crying, although there is the obvious grandfather clause for Leaf fans, which means you have to be a grandfather to actually have seen them win a cup, so you're allowed to cry. But if there is one emotion tougher to avoid than crying and still more painful, (literally) it's the hug. The hugging rules cover the same ground as the crying ones but varying depending on the family member. The rules for any sort of hugging type contact with the father figure are precise- ly laid out. They are usually only for occa- sions such as coming home from the sea for a period of no less than two years where son dealt with either a) one major storm a week, b) rounded Cape Horn or c) watched other sailors draw lots over him after food ran out. On meeting the father figure, who greets son with a warm, "so you're home then, did they make a man out of you?" (Son ponders long nights at sea under a full moon and star filled skies. He decides not to share with father.) If answered in the affirmative it can be followed by a carefully timed physical contact of no more than 2.2 seconds with both parties stepping briskly back, turning the conversation to anything else, and never speaking of the incident again. If answered in the negative, the conversation ceases, to be followed by years of disapproving scowls and uncomfortable silences until it is worked out at christmas dinner/any funeral/sister's wedding. The rules governing contact with mothers are considerably less strict. It has taken me 40 years to get this comfortable but I can now give mother a warm, full, side by side shoulder hug, as in "how you doing buddy?" Sisters? We're talking, let's be happy at that. And then there are the aunts. The ones that started the problem in the first place. Everybody was the kid at the family func- tion with as many fingers up the nose as you could get and the piece of stolen choco- late cake in the pocket (just me?) and before you knew it, you're surrounded by pant suit wearing women. The type where the pant suit and everything else keeps moving after the aunt stops walking As you are stand feeling like Tuco on a wind swept plain, trying to decide which is the greatest enemy, one of them draws and pulls you into a full on, face to some body part hug. By the time that's done, you're fortunate if you still want to touch yourself, (did that sound right?) It's why we invent- ed handshakes, which by the way should be rigid, short and one handed. And we're still talking handshakes. PAT B BACK 40 VIEW OLEN About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. 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For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Marg Pertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke ext. 206