There is a quote in the novel “Dune”, whose characters are very similar to the people we are involved with today as a nation; the quote from this book is the central core of the novel’s premise; “Fear is the mind killer”. Frank Herbert, the author of this great sci-fi book hit the nail right on the head. Americans must realize, and realize soon, that fear is indeed “The Mind-Killer”. Fear is at the very core of this administration’s policies. Since 9/11 we have been bombarded with messages of fear. Every time this nation’s alert status goes up, George W. Bush’s popularity rating rises 3 or 4%. It is no wonder that we were in “alert status orange” prior to the 2004 election.
Don’t let Bush and his minions destroy your faith in this country, and its power to protect American citizens. We don’t need to march around the world invading nations that are no threat to us as we did in Iraq. We have wasted over 3,800 lives and Iraq is still a quagmire. The Bush administration wants you to believe that the escalation of force that we call a “surge” is a rousing success. I’m hear to tell you that according to many, the militias in Iraq are just laying low, waiting for the troop levels to go back to pre-surge levels expected in the Summer of 2008. The Sadr Militia especially is tolerating American attacks of its forces in Baghdad and not firing back. They don’t want to provoke a fight with the Americans right now. According to Pepe’ Escobar who has an extensive knowledge of Iraq from traveling “un-embedded” with Sunni militia forces, says the Sadr Militia is forming a “Hezbollah” structure and is planning to go to war with the Badr Militia in the South and then to take control of the Central Government.
The Western part of the country, run by Sunni Militias under the name of the Islamic Republic of Iraq is now engaged with the help of American forces, to eliminate the mostly foreign fighters of al Qaeda. Out of 72,000 militia fighters that are present there, over 42,000 are being paid and supplied by America. These people want to be in the mostly Shiite government in Baghdad. If they are not welcomed in the capital, there will be more sectarian bloodshed. This isn’t the only problem, most sources’ say that the Islamic Republic Forces in al Anbar Province are also waiting for the elimination of al Qaeda and the troop surge to die down before making any plans. They are basically opposed to the occupation.
This gives rise to America’s number one nightmare; a breakout in Sectarian violence like has never been seen before. This will more than likely coincide with the new American President taking office. This is just another thing the legacy of George W. Bush, the “Decider” has left us. We need to pull out of Iraq yesterday. We have left the infrastructure of Iraq in a shambles and Lancet has reported that over 600,000 Iraqi citizens have been killed in this “American experiment in nation building”. The city of Baghdad according to people coming back, looks much like Dresden did after World War II. Have you ever wondered why we have never seen “fly-over” photo’s of the Iraqi capital? This nation of ours has decimated the country and over a million of its citizens’ have fled to Syria, Jordan and other nations. We “celebrate” when two hundred families come back to Baghdad because Syria is starting to throw Iraqi’s out. This government of George W. Bush takes any opportunity to “spin” the facts. Baghdad was one a predominately Sunni city, now due to ethnic cleansing it is 85% Shiite. The families that have come back are not able to return to their homes, they are now in Shiite hands; they must now live in walled-off ghetto’s that America has cordoned off.
Is this a war on global terrorism? Does what we have wrought in Iraq give any American family more comfort or security? The answer is that it has only heightened the hate that every Iraqi now holds for America. Does George W. Bush’s attempt to rely on America’s fear after 9/11 alleviate the fear of another terrorist attack? The answer is no, we have only made the situation worse. Iraq is a quagmire that we have entered into willingly for the sake of profits and to seize the Iraqi oil field’s that according to most experts; rival the Saudi oil fields with the 2nd largest proven oil reserves in the world. This is not fighting for America’s security, far from it: it only increases the hatred and contempt of the Muslim world and leaves us a prime target for more attacks. September 11th, 2001 could have been averted if the President had called the air defense grid up and tracked the planes that had their responders turned off. This is an elementary procedure that anyone with knowledge of air defense knows. Why he didn’t, instead of reading a goat book to a group of schoolchildren is beyond my comprehension. This is the “The Decider”? Sure, I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.
How can we fight a “War on Terror”? Terror and terrorists will always exist on this planet. This is akin to fighting the “War on Drugs”. Drugs will always be here and this too is a never-ending battle, both brought to us by the Republicans. At least the “War on Drugs” is almost a self-sustaining effort that is somewhat financed through seized property. Many people have made this phony war their ticket to an entire career with the government, mostly on your dollar. We will never stop the drug trade, just as we will never completely eliminate terrorism in all of its many forms. The government now wants to pass S 1959 the so-called “Thought Control Bill” that will censure what anyone may say that can be construed as an “attack” on America that may lead some people to become “violent” and therefore become a “security threat”. This is outrageous and stands against everything that this nation stands for! To take our voices away from the people is a crime in itself! If someone becomes violent after reading what someone writes, if it’s the truth than maybe the situation should be changed, not the right to express our opinion!
Benjamin Franklin said that “Those who would give up their freedom for security will have neither security nor freedom”. Americans must realize that a police state will prove no more capable to stop terrorist attacks or any other form of violence than a nation that values their liberties. Franklin D. Roosevelt said it best; “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. Think about that the next time Bush and Cheney try to push something through Congress that will extinguish your liberty.
That’s the way I see it.
