The Common Denominator
What are we fighting for? It must be the oil. We depend on it, and they have it. For national security reasons it’s better to have two suppliers than one. But we don’t loot the oil, we buy it. So why are we fighting? If there was a lesson learned in the twentieth century,It is that there are more effective ways to conquer in the long run than waging war.
While history shows a long line of empires, all have failed in the end because there is a conflict of interest between the people beeing conquered and their subjugators. This friction is the main force that cuts the rope. In the end, it is always the same, either independence or submision.
But America is not the classic imperialistic power, where territory expansion and subduing other peoples is the main source of income. This country profits from trade. But there is a catch; trading is by definition, beneficial to both parties. So there is no apparent conflict of interest. In theory, this is the dawn of a great era. So why are we at war?
For millennia wars were waged throwing everything at the enemy, salaries of soldiers came from the spoils, rape and murder were a given, and the options were total annihilation or submission. In today’s war, societies in the west pay with taxes thier wages, and condemn if civilians are murdered intentionally. Islamic fundamentalism sees this as foreign. The evolution of thought went two separate ways in the west and in the Middle East.
The fact that religion and politics are intertwined in so many countries in the Middle East, by it self is shouting at us that the enlightment era has not started in this part of the world. Most of the moral codes, we have adopted regarding the use of force, are seen as signs of weaknesses.
The Arab leadership has a very good grip on its people. Religion, politics, censorship and corruption have become ares of expertise. Those lessons were learned in the west roughly 300 years ago, when societies thought that mixing government and church was not such a good idea. Islamic leadership will not cede power with out a fight. It will justify unthinkable actions in order to achieve its goals.
The colision of moral, between East and West could be condesned in to a value. Arab leaders have no problem with the trade part, the problem is liberty; the grip that religion and politics have is quite strong, Liberty brings democracy in its wake, and that concept has the rulling class a bit scared. So in basic terms, Arab leadership feels threatened by liberty, they have pushed fundamental Islam, and passed the point of no return. Like a wild beast it starts attacking, it hides in every single nation that has a reasonable Islamic population, and now we need to defend our selves. We are the big Satan.
All too many times, has mankind fallen into the path of killing in the name of God. Lets just hope that this time Arab society picks up its tab before it’s to late.
While history shows a long line of empires, all have failed in the end because there is a conflict of interest between the people beeing conquered and their subjugators. This friction is the main force that cuts the rope. In the end, it is always the same, either independence or submision.
But America is not the classic imperialistic power, where territory expansion and subduing other peoples is the main source of income. This country profits from trade. But there is a catch; trading is by definition, beneficial to both parties. So there is no apparent conflict of interest. In theory, this is the dawn of a great era. So why are we at war?
For millennia wars were waged throwing everything at the enemy, salaries of soldiers came from the spoils, rape and murder were a given, and the options were total annihilation or submission. In today’s war, societies in the west pay with taxes thier wages, and condemn if civilians are murdered intentionally. Islamic fundamentalism sees this as foreign. The evolution of thought went two separate ways in the west and in the Middle East.
The fact that religion and politics are intertwined in so many countries in the Middle East, by it self is shouting at us that the enlightment era has not started in this part of the world. Most of the moral codes, we have adopted regarding the use of force, are seen as signs of weaknesses.
The Arab leadership has a very good grip on its people. Religion, politics, censorship and corruption have become ares of expertise. Those lessons were learned in the west roughly 300 years ago, when societies thought that mixing government and church was not such a good idea. Islamic leadership will not cede power with out a fight. It will justify unthinkable actions in order to achieve its goals.
The colision of moral, between East and West could be condesned in to a value. Arab leaders have no problem with the trade part, the problem is liberty; the grip that religion and politics have is quite strong, Liberty brings democracy in its wake, and that concept has the rulling class a bit scared. So in basic terms, Arab leadership feels threatened by liberty, they have pushed fundamental Islam, and passed the point of no return. Like a wild beast it starts attacking, it hides in every single nation that has a reasonable Islamic population, and now we need to defend our selves. We are the big Satan.
All too many times, has mankind fallen into the path of killing in the name of God. Lets just hope that this time Arab society picks up its tab before it’s to late.
posted by Moisesmn at 4:39 PM
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