By Don Asdel
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Photo by Jessica Ryden

In the wake of the bloodiest day on U.S. soil since the Civil War, Americans are forced to confront the crippling realities of terrorism.

The scope of the damage goes beyond any physical assessment. The true pain festers in the wounds inflicted on the American psyche. Americans no longer feel isolated from the dangers of terrorism. The country in which we work, play and raise our families is not as safe as we once thought.

The terrorists, whose aim it was to cripple, corrupt, demoralize and create chaos, were somewhat successful in their actions. Like a prizefighter being dealt an early-round, standing eight count, Americans have to face the reality that the fight plan has changed.

In years past, terrorist acts predominately occurred outside the United States. Car bombs and hijackings were problems overseas that we learned about through news agencies. Whether it was the 1972 Olympic massacre in Munich, the 1976 Air France hijacking that lead Israeli commandos to Entebbe, Uganda, or the 1981 Iran hostage situation, Americans were often entangled in violence as innocent bystanders or collateral damage.

Recently, Americans have become direct targets of terrorist organizations. The federal building bombing in Oklahoma City, the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center building, the attack on the USS Cole, and the latest attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center are vehement examples of terrorism directly aimed at this country.

The internal conflict we now feel stems from our quest to find rational solutions to an irrational problem or to use conventional tactics to battle an unconventional adversary. As Americans, we tend to over simplify things in our demand for immediacy. Our interpretation is often cut and dry, right and wrong, or good and bad. In reality, the world is more complex than we often imagine.

The war declared on terrorism is a long-term action, and Americans are often short-term thinkers. Political and military officials are calling for a new style of combat. In a recent radio address, President Bush called for a war "without battlefields or beachheads." This departure from traditional tactics requires Americans to embrace new challenges in their thinking.

If Americans are expecting another Persian Gulf War, they will be quickly disappointed. According to our nation's leaders, a 100-day war with limited casualties is not in the perceivable future. Any conventional assault on the rugged terrain of Afghanistan is extremely difficult. Just ask officials from the former Soviet Union who waged war in that remote region of the world for a decade.

Recently, the American military has realized several inadequacies fighting terrorism. Both Somali warlord Muhammad Farah Aidid and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein escaped our military's grasp. Terrorists are historically hard to find; that is why officials have turned their attention to holding those that support terrorism accountable.

According to the State Department, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba and North Korea are all on the list of nations that support terrorism.

Americans will pay a higher price for the war on terrorism than the $40 billion initially allocated by our government. Economically, we will see continued inflation in our defense spending and airline security. Emotionally, we will have to come to grips with the continued loss of American lives and the personal sacrifices of our individual freedom.

We are confronted with the challenges of maneuvering through an uncharted battlefield and squaring off against a foe proficient in alternative combat tactics. As a nation, we take pride in our military strength. It is our patriotism coupled with a competitive sprit that pushes us toward invincible arrogance. In order to successfully navigate this perilous time in history, Americans must re-define their sense of victory and confront the possibility of an endless conflict.

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