Think about the answers to these questions: Does every militant recruited truly fight for the cause set forth by the Taliban elite? Did every suicide bomber give his life to lay with seventy virgins in Heaven? Does their hatred really stem from the idea that we are all un-Islamic? If you thought yes, then you are very mistaken. The militants' actions are not religiously motivated, and anyone who can look beyond the terrorist stereotype set by the Western media can see that. The real reason is the failure of governments, past and present, to improve the socio-economic conditions in the region while the rest of us live in luxury; a form of oppression in itself. We dream of Bentleys, touchscreen computers, and 5000 square yard houses; they dream of three meals a day, homes that don't collapse from unpleasant weather, and being able to leave those homes without being raped or killed. So tell me, what do people do when they're oppressed? They stand up and fight back.

We say that advancing on militants and taking down their leaders is progress, but thats not their driving force. We then say that we'll reopen schools, but they never worked in the first place. Gunning down a militant is not defeating a terrorist, but is killing someone's brother, husband, or father; a man fighting for their rights. So why wouldn't more people take up arms for the sake of their deceased loved ones? If the government wont make their lives better, they have to fight for it; the cycle continues.

For those of you living privileged lives who think they know more about Islam than the militants, tell me this: would the Holy Prophet send troops to massacre his own people, simply because they fought for their basic human rights? I hope you all said no. Therefore, I believe the only solution is to allocate a chunk of our budget, taking whatever aid we can get, to drastically improve infrastructure in the region. Investment in the agricultural and industrial sectors will provide more jobs. Carefully monitored schools will increase opportunities for coming generations, as well as increase awareness. Recreational facilities, such as football pitches, parks, and playgrounds, will also greatly improve the general standard of living. Most importantly however, an efficient, organized, and fully trained police force composed of locals rather than outside military men will instill a much stronger feeling of security in the long run. With all these factors in effect, there is no need for military involvement at all.