Lessons to Be Learnt from Night of Terror and Fear in Paris

The new world today is a world of communication and interdependence. Aerial mail only remains in our memories and what could be transferred through letters within a week twenty years ago can now be transferred while one is walking in the park and using smart phone applications. Widespread and uncontrollable communications is only one of the aspects of the new world. Information is available to all at all times. One can find any information necessary through a simple search on the internet and this is only one to ten percent of the internet’s capability. Ninety to ninety nine percent of the internet, called the black internet, is filled with information. This information is related to illegal measures and law enforcement in different countries.

Under such conditions, an excited, uninformed and inexperienced young individual is only a few steps away from becoming a terrorist. He could acquire all of his needed items through the internet in the shortest possible time and be supported by the advocates of these terrorist groups.

In such a world, borders have lost their meaning and organized terrorism and violence is a global issue. This is an issue from which even its founders are not protected. It is naïve to think that Britain, France and the United States assume that they would be protected from the terrorist attacks of the first terrorist state of the Middle East which they supported in 1948. It is naïve that reactionary regional and extra-regional supporters of terrorism and ISIS would remain safe from the terrorist attacks of this group.

It would have been naïve for Mr. Hollande to assume that only the people of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan would be the victims of terrorism and Paris would remain safe and glorious.

Last night’s tragedy in Paris is painful and sends warnings. It gives warning to those who were asleep until now. A war has begun between terrorism and civilization. All civilized countries are targets of terrorist attacks. No country is safe and no border would be able to stop terrorism from entering. This assumption that one could play with terrorism or export it to other countries and be immune from it by wearing anti-terrorism gloves and masks is stupid.

Today’s world needs to realize that terrorism is a serious threat against the civilized world. Borders have lost their preventive role and serious determination and new security doctrines with an extra-national outlook are needed in the fight against terrorism.

Naturally, Iran, which has been the victim of terrorism for three decades and has valuable experiences in this regard, could have serious impacts in this fight if the world realizes its capabilities.