Terrorism and War

It is estimated that the cost of the Iraq war in direct U.S. spending is approximately
$180 179 000 000.00. I cannot help but wonder what would happen if we spent this much money on direct assistance to the people who are being brainwashed by the terrorists.

I am not talking about aid money being given to corrupt governments. I am talking about dropping (via parachute) food, seeds, books, medicines, tools, etc. directly into small, poor, middle eastern communities. Imagine the work necessary to combat this form of attack on Islamic fundamentalism; each night trying to stop the people from getting access to the material falling from the sky, and each day trying to convince the people that the free food, free tools, and Levi jeans are all gifts from the devil.

I can see the villagers busy planting their gardens, hooking up their new portable generators, working on their homes with their new tools, and watching 'The Price is Right' on their new T.V.'s and fighting with their governments and religious leaders for greater access to the 'good life'.

The terrorists would be facing their worst nightmares. Rampant westernization on the village streets; a young generation inundated with Pepsi, MP3 players and crop tops. Communities that showed the most acceptance of western ideals would be highly rewarded with increased access to foriegn trade and western goods. Celebrities, Walmarts and other icons of America and Europe would storm the area, inviting neighboring communities to 'come on down'.

This will be seen by some as a radical, simplistic idea. I would argue that the approach being followed by the U.S., at this time, is not working. Maybe it is time for a radical new idea.

In a sane world intelligent world leaders would take a 'brain over brawn' approach to solving the world's problems. I do not believe that Bush and Rumsfeld are leaders capable of applying a 'brains over brawn' approach and hold out hope that there will be some positive change in the future.

Mourning the Dead

It would be easy to use the London bombings as another excuse to rant about the continuing evil that has come from George W's illegal war on Iraq. The Downing Street Memo(s) are all the evidence one needs to understand that Bush had no reason to attack Iraq and Saddam, other than to finish what his father had started. At a time when we are all mourning the innocent victims in Britain, it is not really an appropriate time to join the 'Dissident Voice' http://www.dissidentvoice.org/June05/Zeese0615.htm in vilifying Bush and Blair. It is, however, a time for reflection and contemplation.

When Tony Blair made the decision to involve Britain in the Iraq war he did so, knowing the facts as clearly as anyone outside of Washington could have. He likely met with his own advisors, political and military, and after much thought, decided that it was in Britain's best, long term interests to join Bush's coallition. He is a seemingly intelligent man who would have understood that he was opening up his citizens to an increased risk of terrorist attack and yet he still believed he was persuing a course that would be in the best interests of these same people.

No amount of second guessing can change history. The people of England are a hearty lot. They have survived a great deal of cruelty during their history and they will survive these attacks with a resolute determination to move forward. History will come to judge Blair's actions based on the long term consequences of the Iraq experiment in democratization, forced by Bush and Blair.

It is a time to mourn the dead. We must consider the innocent people of Iraq, Spain, and Britain who have died as a result of George W's actions. We must also consider the lives of the soldiers who have died for their devotion to country and their leaders. The war is, it exists regardless of one's opinion of its validity.

In a sane world we analyse a situation, consider a number of possible actions and then begin to set about to make positive change. Bush has created a mess that has escalated beyond his control. Terrorism is as much, if not more, of a threat then before his presidency. These are the facts we face. It is past time for the peace makers of this world to forcefully involve ourselves in this situation. We, and the terrorists, can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Bush's reign will end and, with luck, prayer, and some careful support, sanity will return to Washington. Those countries who were not members of the coallition created by Bush must work harder to find solutions for the middle east that allow for peaceful coexistence. If we spend as much of our time, money and human resources working for peace as Bush has spent creating war, we can succeed.

We must succeed.

I am a Canadian. I consider myself to be a moderate, centrist, in the area of public policy and politics. I hope that this site becomes a place of positive, intelligent exchanges on the political issues of the day.

My postings will examine how Canadians percieve their political leaders and parties and on how national and international events affect the lives of Canadians.

My goal will be to present rational, sane observations and conclusions, and I invite comments and reactions focussed on constructive answers to important issues.