Unleashing The Dogs of War

Up until now, I haven't personally commented on the "war" - the war on terror and the war on Iraq. However, the subject of "war" is saturating the news right now - and to avoid making a comment would be like ignoring an elephant in your living room. And not only that - war has a lot to do with the issue of freedom. No, I'm not talking about war as a means of ensuring freedom - but as a means of losing it.

The following commentary is a piece I wrote a few weeks ago, in response to some heated debate on an Objectivist forum I visit. "Objectivism" being the philosophy of Ayn Rand.

Ever since the lead-up to the Iraq war, I have noted a peculiar phenomenon - the rabid support for that war, and the war on terrorism, by both Objectivists and libertarians. Not all such people, of course, but a disturbing percentage of them.

I say "disturbing" because I'm at a loss to fully explain why those of similar political/philosophical persuasion, can end up at opposite ends of a political argument.

Amongst such pro-war Objectivists and libertarians, there seems to be no scepticism of the official "war" line at all. And to them I posed the following question.

"Do most of you believe everything you read in the papers or see on TV?"

Ah, three cheers for the Ministry of Truth!

This whole Islamic terrorist phenomena is based on two fundamental issues - the continuing non-resolution of the occupation of Palestine by the Israelis, and the ever-present activities of the USA in the Arab world - whether by proxy, or directly.

I'm not even convinced Bin Laden and Al Queda were responsible for the 911 atrocity. He denied it when asked at that time - which seems very odd, as terrorists are never shy in claiming responsibility.

Not only that, the modus operandi of the 911 plot was of a scale and design unseen before or since. I don't see how any rational person can automatically claim it was Al Queda, when there remain so many unanswered questions.

I think Al Queda have let responsibility for the attack settle on them - as it suits their purposes to have others believe they are that powerful.

Think about it. Until 911, terrorism was not a big issue. It is as old as history, and it is always on the margins of society. Only one event raised it to the centre of the world stage — the attack on the World Trade Centre.

At that point a "war on terrorism" was declared. And what a bogus concept it is! We may as well have declared a "war on religion" - as that is what this war certainly is. The terrorists are surely motivated by their religious beliefs.

And where will this religious war end up? In tears for sure. The USA made a fatal mistake in deciding to wage war on Islam. It is a war like no other. War, as we understand it historically, is something waged between nations, with visible territory and military targets.

A war on terrorism, is a war on an idea, a motivation, an ideology. It is a war on a religion. How do you win a war against an idea, with guns and bombs?

Are we asking what, exactly, these terrorists want; what fuels their hatred? What is their purpose? Well, they state it quite clearly. They are Islamic fundamentalists, and they want Americans out of their lands and Israelis out of Palestine. That's what they want — the "infidels" out of the lands of Islam.

Saying Islamic terrorists are motivated by their hatred of our freedoms is a complete crock. And such a false conclusion can only lead to a false solution, which is exactly what we are seeing now, the escalation of violence around the world, with no apparent end in sight.

The solution is quite simple. Mind our own business.

The liberal mindset has taken hold worldwide — constantly wanting to interfere in the affairs of other people — to "help" them, for their own good.

I wonder how many Americans are thinking to themselves, as they watched the news of American citizens being killed, dismembered and dragged though the streets of Falujah, "yes, I want to help those poor Iraqis".

Hogwash!

I say leave everyone alone. Let those whose belief systems and culture cause them to wallow in poverty, disease and violence, simply be left to the consequences of such beliefs and actions. Let them die and rot if they insist. So what?

I've had it with "helping" people who don't even want to help themselves. The whole drive of western, developed nations to want to improve and change the lives of everyone on the planet, (whether they want it or not), is fundamentally flawed.

The world is full of economic and political basket cases. And people get the "politics" they deserve - whether it's because of their religious beliefs, superstitions, cultural habits, or simply fear of revolt. Nothing will change for the better, until and unless such peoples rise out of the ashes of their own despair — by their own volition and will — and make such changes themselves.

The Arab world is a mess? Let it remain so. Let those who live there work out the best way to solve their own problems.

Africa a basket case? Let it be a basket case.

Iraq was under a brutal dictator? Well, let the Iraqis topple him themselves.

By contrast, consider China. Historically, surely a case for international interference. A communist state, with political suppression, human rights violations — the lot. But history is proving that the best way for the Chinese to rise above their own past is to make the changes themselves. Fortunately, for them, they have a practical streak — and this leads them to see the advantage of change. Not only that, they sank to the depths of communist practice — and know it failed them.

Just as an individual alcoholic or drug addict cannot be "helped" by others — but must sink to the bottom, in order to get the will to live, and do something about it - so it is with with groups of people (nations). No amount of external help, pressure, education or force can get people to change their own lives — unless THEY want to.

America has a simple choice. Continue with its foreign policy of open and hidden interference with other countries (military, diplomatic, economic) — or withdraw to its own borders and mind its own business.

I make a prediction. America will lose this "war;" and in losing it, it will expend and ruin its own, "capital," both economic and moral.

Yours in Freedom AND Peace

David MacGregor