Cameron and Obama Show Unity on Afghanistan - Essay Example

Hoffman describes the terrorist groups as “rational actors” who are terrorizing for gaining political power. The same was exercized by Israel in 1946 to get a separate homeland from Palestinians. They massacred 91 people and terrorized them to seek political power. Today, although the president Obama is much stick on his footings to take tough measures against Iran for its nuclear programme but what keeps him bound is the approaching elections. Because US is not yet ready to trigger guns against Iran because she has a strong opinion from the public that they should not opt for any war further after the bitter experience of Afghanistan and Iraq.

US is holding back its terrorist policies yet for the gain of political power as it can turn the masses against him. The game that every terrorist plays is for the gain of power and politics, so are doing the big political powers like US and Britain. The expression of totalitarianism in Afghanistan and Libya has been a phenomenon of much concern for the world. Because the power US and its allies have expressed in terms of gaining world peace is outrageous. But definitely the definition of terrorism differs for every one.

Although the USA is showing terror in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya but it is not viewed as terrorist in that critical term of terror as Al-Qaeda or Osama bin Laden is being viewed. The meeting between US and Britain affirm that Hoffman was right in explaing the terorism as a ‘globalized factor’. It has emerged from its historial roots to contemporay dilemma. 9/11 attacks, existence of Al-Qaeda and nuclear programme of Iran have united the globe against terrorists who are moving ahead to get their objectives.

Hoffman is of the idea that the fears disseminated and political gains of terrorist have enabled the two adversaries of the past to merge together. British once set white house at fire, today US and Britain are allies against their common adversaries like Al-Qaeda who attacked US on 9/11 and Britain on 7/7. Terrorism was once a tool for only some small terrorist organizations but today it has gained popularity on state level. Now states like US, Britain, France are waging wars against the groups like Al-Qaeda etc.

Hoffman gives one of the definitions of terrorism as, “the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change (p.40). It seems quite fit to the current political situations where nation states are working for their specific political gains and change policy. As United States policy on Libya and Syria differs. The US used all possible means and measures to bring the political change in Libya while with reference to Syria; we see a clear cut diversion in US policies.

The use of violence and threat that was exercised in Libya, completely complies with the new definitions of terrorism by Hoffman. The states use the tools of threat and violence to get political changes of their own choices. “When we see what’s happening on television, our natural instinct is to act” was the statement by Obama that enables us to relate the link between terrorism and media as viewed by Hoffman who said, “