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.