War on terror?

This world is divided into two distinct categories: the rich and the poor, master and slave, developed and the under-developed, the powerful and the damned. The former, as a rule, impress themselves upon the latter. From the days of the pharaohs to the times of the Maharajas and The East India Company, from Napoleon to Hitler, from slavery to the battle of the races; history proves that tyrants and dictators, seeking ultimate power, have always existed and gone to the extremes for the eminence and glory they desired. Of course, many may argue that such forces do not exist in today’s world of freedom and equality – the era of democracy. But is there no one, similar in definition, which we know of? They rule our world today, and just like any dictator; desire the one treasure that counts.- The golden liquid - Middle Eastern oil.

America has, since the 1980’s, wanted to build a US led oil and gas pipeline through the Middle East (“The Debate,” 2006 ¶ 1). Their first chance came in 1991, when George H.W. Bush was the President of The US. Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait accusing them of stealing ‘his fuel’. So, together with 30 other nations, the US led an alliance of forces against Iraq and Saddam Hussein, to ‘liberate’ Kuwait and thus execute the historical event known as The Gulf War. The second opportunity came ten years later, in 2001, as millions witnessed two Boeing 767 aircrafts crash into the World Trade Centre. This prospect landed itself in the hands of George W. Bush, who was at that time the 41st President of The US. Bush followed in the footsteps of his father to achieve the realization of a dream, to complete the legacy - and get his pipeline! Bush made elaborate speeches of ‘patriotism’ and vowed to avenge the American citizens. Al Qaeda, a Saudi Arabia funded, terrorist group was held responsible for the crashes and when Al Qaeda along with their leader, Osama bin Laden, were ‘located’ in Afghanistan, Bush didn’t waste time and decided to invade the already rebuilding and shattered Afghanistan. Afghanis were labeled terrorists and guilty of offering amnesty to Osama bin Laden. The result was utter devastation. Bombardment of this country left its people struggling to regain the pieces of their already broken lives. But, no terrorists were found or destroyed. The next target, in 2003, was Saddam Hussein, a cruel dictator and an age-old adversary, who was ‘believed’ to have some involvement with Al Qaeda’s ‘terrorist attacks’ and to be in possession of weapons of mass destruction and biological weapons. America invaded Iraq. Millions cheered Bush as he became victorious against a tyrant and led to the fleeing of Hussein from Iraq. “The issue for these humanitarians is not primarily the brutality of modern Imperial Domination, but how ‘bad’ Saddam Hussein is!” (Pilger, 2002 ¶13)

 America is a ‘super-power,’ a ruling nation; leaders in artillery and technology, but is this what they represent, war, loss and sadness? This picture depicts a soldier at war in some country, it doesn’t matter which, as “all flesh is grass” (Duffy, n.d.). He is an ordinary human being, like you and me. He is not the heartless killing machine that people perceive him to be. No one sees behind his emotionless mask and killing/fighting gear. He is the enemy. His dried blood is proof that he too is vulnerable. He doesn’t kill for pleasure. Does he have a choice? He follows orders. Just like a lawyer’s or a doctor’s, this is his job. This is what he does for a living - kill people! Does that make him less of a human being? How could anyone want to do that? He is tired of the bloodshed, cold and hatred. He’s lonely and wants to be home, with his loved ones whom he finds comfort and peace with. This is not an environmental warning: The more gas your SUV consumes, the more foreigners he has to kill! ‘Now do you get it?’ This is his message! His sad and empty eyes are pleading with you to stop his pain and slavery.

 

The real question - do these politicians care what they do to our world? They pull men away from their families and send them off to fight wars in foreign countries. Men who take oaths to protect their land till their death. But the endless war they must now face is not for national security, instead, for the bank balances and election campaigns of a handful of politicians.49207, 17475, and 25000 – these are not just random numbers, these are the people killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Iraq(during The Gulf War), respectively. Thousands of US soldiers have given their lives for the fuel that runs these politicians. Fuel that is considered more precious than their life and blood. Broken families and shattered dreams; these are the outcomes of war. Nothing more and nothing less. “Freedom is the Almighty god’s gift to every man and woman,” (Bush, 2004). So what makes these foreigners different from Americans? Why must they die?

 

According to The US Federal bureau of Investigation a terrorist act is:

“The unlawful use of force of violence against a person or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (Wikipedia). This world has been plunged into a dark pit of hatred and depression due to these wars but there is none to take the blame. Is America really under a terrorist attack? Who is responsible? Who is the terrorist now: Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, who killed thousands on 9th September 2001 or Saddam Hussein, who was cruel but also ruler of the world’s largest source of Oil or is it George W. Bush, who decided to invade Iraq on April 2001, 6 months before 9/11, for the simple reason of having better access to Iraqi Oil?