This is terrible timing for criticism, in the wake of the fifth anniversary of 9/11, but how necessary is it for this war to go on? This wanton wasting of human life without accomplishing anything? In a stunning imperialistic move by our country, we invaded one country, "liberated it", invaded another country, and after finalizing our goal, we're still there. And what did we get out of it? Did we find more terrorists? Or did we just attempt to cover up our inefficiency in handling the problem?
An article by Scott Burchill explains how the war on "terrorism" has diverted from normal global conflicts. By this, I mean, there was a cause, certainly — no one's going to argue that we weren't justified for looking for Al-Qaeda after September 11th. But do we still need to be there? Is it not true that our presence has coincided with increased violence in Iraq? Suddenly, we are backing political parties, disrupting the natural balance of a country in order to pick and choose their leadership. Okay, then that's done. We've instated relative political calm in Afghanistan and we're causing more trouble in Iraq than there was before. What's more, as of 2005, 82% of Iraqis disapproved of coalition presence in their country. I call that a vocal majority; as far as those who believe there will be civil war if we leave — whose presence might have started it? For a few weeks, Newsvine ran user-published news under the titles of: Support Our Troops? Why?, The Phony War, and US Officials Throw the Book At Terrorism. These are Americans frowning at the behavior of America.
Despite very different circumstances, motives, struggles and groups, we are told these events are all connected — part of a vast anti-Western plot that we must prosecute as a war. This is a grievous error that avoids the need to address each of these challenges separately using diplomacy, intelligence and law enforcement.
I'm liberal, but I am not a liberal. And I don't choose my politics simply based on this. I'm not old enough to vote yet, and still I don't like the way things are going. With idiotic responses by our president and word of secret prisons — and worse, malicious prison activity — along with the news that our troops may not be coming back home...I don't see how anyone can. An interview by Katie Couric with President Bush stated that most soldiers who had spoken with Katie wished to know when they could come home; to this, the President responded that most soldiers HE talked to were honored to serve, and did not ask the same question.
Neither were they enthusiastically asking how long were they going to get to stay.
Outside of Iraq
With the recent crises between Hezbollah and Israel, one has to wonder why a democratic country like Israel, backed by the US would attack a minority mock-IRA group. Note this: not only did they attack, but they missed. Most casualties in this conflict were on Lebanon's side, from missiles going awry and striking residential complexes. Taking Lebanon's side has been inaccurately related to having anti-Zionist sentiments; disagreeing doesn't make you racist. However, taking Israel's side has caused increased agitation in the Middle East. Concerning democratic involvement in this conflict, Scott Burchill continues:
Canberra and Washington's support for Israel's attack on Lebanon drove Sunni and Shiite Arabs together in a common anti-US and anti-Israel front, significantly boosting Hezbollah's appeal in Lebanon and across the Arab world. By backing Israel, the West undermined the newly democratic Government in Beirut it claimed to be supporting, and further unsettled pro-Western governments in Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
—Scott Burchill (In search of one enemy for the West)
And at home
Here are a few theories for you:
- Race is only an issue as long as people recognize race as a characteristic. Race conveys nothing about a person. Example: being Middle-Eastern does not mean one is dangerous, nor capable of committing terrorism just because of where one was born. The term terrorist refers to ANYONE who can cause terror — take the Oklahoma City bombings for example — and the hysteria that follows.
- Instead of proposing ways to keep immigrants out, what about opening public service positions for immigrants in need and benefit both ways?
We will never be fully at peace, and with new crises we NEED to be concentrating popping up all around us, who really wants to advocate shelling out several hundred billion dollars a year to establish nothing? There's a significant amount of pride when you see a family member being shipped out, but do you really want to be the one watching the news for statistics and knowing that your loved one may never come home again? We need to act now, to show everyone around us that our country is capable of being redeemed. In doing so, maybe the rest of the world will be able to coexist with us without fear; and more importantly, without hatred.
Read 6 comments (Leave a comment?)
Hiko said:
I just find it interesting how we are instilling fear and hatred in an attempt to remove terror. Any 4 year old could tell you thats not likely to ever be possible. It just goes back and forth, ever growing until disaster strikes.
Posted on September 14, 2006 9:39 PM; Permalink
Claudia said:
The war is completely unnessecary. Period. But I fear there will always be someone who doesn’t understand that. Sometimes people are just plain stupid.
Posted on September 15, 2006 4:37 AM; Permalink
Tom said:
9/11 was horrbile, i still cant belive its happened
Posted on September 18, 2006 9:38 AM; Permalink
Ranjani (Biscuitrat) said:
The strange part of that is, it was a freak accident. It happened once and there have been no other events like it in the United States - now, is this a result of our infiltration of terrorist activities or was once just enough?
Posted on September 18, 2006 1:56 PM; Permalink
Honey said:
9/11 was terrible :(
Posted on September 20, 2006 9:01 AM; Permalink
Biscuitrat said:
Update to this: Clinton completely owns Chris Wallace in this transcript, from an interview airing Sunday (today). Likely, it’s going to be cut and Clinton’s words will be butchered, but hey. The media tends to like doing that.
Posted on September 24, 2006 1:43 PM; Permalink