Military Power Alone Cannot Defeat Terrorism – US

R-L. Former Prime Minister of Spain, Jose R. Zapatero, Special United Nations Envoy, Mohamed Ibn Chamber, former Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles, former President of Ghana, John Kufuor, Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, MP, House of Commons, Eric Joyce, former Prime Minister of France, Francois Charles Fillon, former President of Poland, Lech Walesa and Consul General, People Republic of China, during the Energy Evironment and Investment Forum in Port Harcourt, recently.

The United States of America has said that it wants Nigeria to win the war against terrorism in the North-Eastern part of the country and other areas where Boko Haram is disrupting the socio-economic life of the citizens.
It stated that defeating terrorism required more than just military power, noting that it entails protecting civilian populations despite terrorists’ disregard for human life in their campaign to wage war on the state, working to develop impoverished areas where extremism takes root, and making education accessible to all.
The US also insisted that winning the war against terrorism required empowering a free and fair press to report openly and without fear of reprisal, among other things.
Speaking at the 238th Independence Day anniversary of the US in Abuja on Friday, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, described Nigeria as America’s long term partner, adding that the US will continue to support Nigeria to succeed against insurgency and insecurity.
He said, “Defeating terrorism required more than just military power. It requires protecting civilian populations despite terrorists’ disregard for human life in their campaign to wage war on the state; It requires working to develop impoverished areas where extremism takes root.
“It requires ensuring that education is accessible to all, it requires empowering a free and fair press to report openly and without fear of reprisal. And, perhaps most importantly, it requires engaging the growing youth populations that are being swayed towards extremism due to lack of economic opportunities, education, and trust in government.”
The envoy explained that security partnership was at the forefront of its assistance to Nigeria against the backdrop of the recent spate of kidnappings, bombings, and other despicable acts of terrorism by Boko Haram.
Speaking further, he averred that winning the war against terrorism required a comprehensive, “whole-of-government approach and the work we’re doing with the Nigerian government and people addresses all of these needs.”
He said, “Let me be clear, we want Nigeria to win its war on terrorism. And we are here to support you in that effort. It may seem that we suddenly sprang to Nigeria’s aid in the wake of the Chibok kidnappings, but the truth is we’ve been providing support for a long time. You’re our partners, and we’re going to continue this journey together.
“As we stand with Nigeria on its democratic journey, I want to make it clear that the assistance that we have offered over the years is in the same spirit as that offered to us by other nations as we began our democratic journey.
“You have many friends and partners who want Nigeria to succeed, and the United States stands at the front of that line.”
He added that his country was deeply committed to helping Nigeria ensure that elections, particularly the national ones in 2015, are free, fair, peaceful, and credible.
According to him, the Ekiti elections were an excellent example of what happens when all players, the government, citizens, security forces, and political parties commit to ensuring respect for the electoral process and for one another.
The ambassador expressed optimism about the unity of Nigeria, saying he was struck by the fact that what united Nigerians was more than what separates them, adding that every citizen wanted to participate in a strong, active democracy, they all want better roads, better schools, and more access to basic services like clean water and electricity, as well as more economic opportunity for themselves and their families.
Entwistle identified the role of partnership in improving democracy stressing that the democratic experiment in the United States would not have been possible without the influence and support of its international partners.
He said when America’s Founding Fathers authored their Declaration of Independence, they were inspired by British and French philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Charles Montesquieu with the building blocks of their democracy derived from the thoughts of individuals from other nations.
“As our fledgling democracy grew, we relied on security assistance from a number of international partners. As time went on, our democratic ideals began to inspire the rest of the world. Through diplomacy and cultural exchanges, an idea took root that changed human history,” Entwistle said.
He added that the idea that humans are all created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, combined with the belief that governments derived their authority from the consent of the governed, became a source of inspiration to the world.
The envoy also pointed out that the US did not get to where it is by itself but took international partnership, diplomacy, an effective military, and government representatives who responsibly exercised their power to develop and improve their democracy with some coming from within the character of the American people while some came as inspiration or direct support from their partners.