Warfare, the Road to Globalization
Part 5
By Deanna Spingola
4 February 2006

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We are supposedly fighting a “war on terror”. What exactly is 'Terrorism'? Terrorism is defined by the FBI as follows:  “…the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” [i] This definition should apply to every entity, including the United States government in their relationship with their own citizens. The fear Americans felt after 9/11 easily intimidated and coerced us into accepting the Patriot Act 1 and 11. How does our acceptance of that freedom stealing act assist Osama bin Laden and his followers?

Since 9/11 we have been engaged in a war against the “axis of evil” which will never end as terror has no boundaries or limitations. There was no formal congressional declaration of war and we are not fighting an isolated country. Therefore, we will never sign a peace treaty. An open-ended war strongly suggests that the imperial position of commander-in-chief is also a constant with grave implications against the resources and freedoms of every American.

While the United States has declared war on terrorism, we have hypocritically terrorized others through the years. Our definition of terrorism focuses on the acts that are perpetrated against us – our embassies, ships, etc. However, when we behave in a like manner – we call it customary procedures to protect America’s interests.

“If they do it, its terrorism, if we do it, it's fighting for freedom.” - Anthony Quainton, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua, 1984: Source: Off the record response of the Ambassador to a group of concerned U.S. citizens when asked to explain the difference between U.S. government actions in Nicaragua and the violence it condemns as terrorism elsewhere in the world. For an interesting visual see the following: Pirates and Emperors.

Currently, as far as we know, our troops are engaged in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our government will continue to hijack America’s economy by borrowing high interest money in order to wage our interventionist, preemptive war and dot foreign landscapes with military bases. The Iraqi War may ultimately cost as much as $2 trillion in addition to disability payments to a current 16,000 broken and wounded soldiers whose lives will never be the same. [ii] The finances of war notwithstanding, more significant are the thousands of lives that have been lost on both sides. Some sources state that 100,000 Iraqis have perished. [iii] Our government claims that it is only 30,000, more or less. Where is America’s outrage at this killing?

“It is in the nature of imperialism that citizens of the imperial power are always among the last to know--or care--about circumstances in the colonies.” Bertrand Russell. [iv] While Americans become outraged by media allegations of terrorists within our country preparing to use “dirty bombs” we have unquestioningly and thoughtlessly invaded and completely decimated the infrastructure of foreign countries while annihilating their citizens with nuclear weapons. [v] Nuclear bombs have the capability of shredding the flesh right off of a person’s bones – reminiscent of Felipe David, a victim in the basement of the North Tower. [vi]

Apparently there are some American citizens who feel they never have to apologize for our activities. On 2 Aug 1988 the father of our imperial president, George H. W. Bush allegedly said “I will never apologize for the United States, ever. I don’t care what the facts are.” “That we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American Public.” - Theodore Roosevelt

We have used atomic, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons against others. “U.S. Leaders commit war crimes as a matter of institutional necessity, as their imperial role calls for keeping subordinate peoples in their proper place and assuring a “favorable climate of investment” everywhere. They do this by using their economic power, but also ... by supporting Diem, Mobutu, Pinochet, Suharto, Savimbi, Marcos, Fujimori, Salinas, and scores of similar leaders. War crimes also come easily because U.S. Leaders consider themselves to be the vehicles of a higher morality and truth and can operate in violation of law without cost. It is also immensely helpful that their mainstream media agree that their country is above the law and will support and rationalize each and every venture and the commission of war crimes.” By Edward Herman [vii]

Biological and chemical weapons were banned on 17 June 1925 by the signatures acquired at the Geneva Convention. The provisions of the convention were entered into force on 8 February 1928. The U.S. Senate ratified the provisions on 16 December 1974 and the U.S. President ratified them on 22 January 1975.  [viii] These weapons were apparently a viable concern immediately after 9/11 as John Bolton gave a rather hypocritical address at the Biological Weapons Convention on 19 November 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland stating our concern for “terrorists” using biological and chemical weapons. [ix] We have trained many foreigners how to use biological and chemical weapons at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

Interestingly enough there was a bill introduced in the Senate 20 March 1997. The bill summary, with fourteen co-sponsors, states: “A bill to provide criminal and civil penalties for the unlawful acquisition, transfer, or use of any chemical weapon or biological weapon, and to reduce the threat of acts of terrorism or armed aggression involving the use of any such weapon against the United States, its citizens, or Armed Forces, or those of any allied country, and for other purposes.” [x] This bill does not address the consequences of the United States using or encouraging the use of these kinds of weapons against other countries. We have certainly transported, trained and sponsored the use of chemical and biological warfare against others including all the chemical and biological weapons we shipped to Saddam Hussein in the 1980’s.

In South Africa at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1998 the following testimony was given: “the United States encouraged South Africa’s apartheid regime to develop a CBW program that was aimed at the country’s black population. Dr. Wouter Basson, the South African general who headed the project from its inception in 1981, testified from notes he made of a meeting with US Maj. Gen. William Augerson: “He (Augerson) feels that chemical warfare is an ideal strategic weapon because infrastructure is preserved together with facilities and only living people are killed. The warm climate of Africa is ideal for this type of weapon because the diffusion of the poison is better and the absorption is increased by perspiration and increased blood flow in the persons who are targets.” [xi]

How vulnerable and stricken did we feel on 9/11? Regarding 9/11 Howard Zinn said the following: “The awful scenes of death and suffering we were witnessing on our television screens have been going on in other parts of the world for a long time, and only now can we begin to know what people have gone through, often as a result of our policies.”

On 21 September 2001 Bush said: “Great harm has been done to us. But in our grief and anger, we have found our mission, and our moment.” Bush said. “Freedom and fear are at war. Our nation, this generation, will lift the dark threat of violence from our people.”

What mission, what moment? Was 9/11 the anticipated opportunistic Pearl Harbor shock and awe event that accommodated the Neocon agenda and their financial goals for oil rich countries situated in very strategic locations?

Bush said the following about Afghanistan and the Taliban: “It is not only repressing its own people, it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring, sheltering and supplying terrorists.”

“Now”, Bush said, “the Taliban must face a choice that could define its future. Bin Laden and his associates must be turned over or all al Qaeda camps -- and the Taliban themselves -- will be targeted.”

“Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide in your land," big strong cowboy Bush said. “Close immediately and permanently every terrorist camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate authorities.” These are most likely the same camps that we created with taxpayer funds and CIA trainers.

On 7 October 2001, the United States initiated military action against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which had provided safe-haven to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his followers since 1996. The Taliban had previously made some very specific agricultural changes because of religious reasons – they discontinued poppy seed production, a highly profitable commodity used to manufacture opium and then heroin. Heroin keeps thousands of Americans distracted and addicted while producing big money for major drug traffickers. [xii] “By year’s end, U.S. forces were working with anti-Taliban Afghan fighters to target Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan.” [xiii] And before long, the Taliban was gone and poppy production was reinstated.

Sickly Osama bin Laden was a previous CIA asset and trainee, [xiv] and was probably very close to death within a few months of 9/11. [xv] Bin Laden, the perfect dying patsy is reminiscent of Lee Harvey Oswald, the Warren Commission confirmed but implausible lone gun assassin of John F. Kennedy who wanted to withdraw our troops from Vietnam. Oswald was swiftly eliminated by agent Jack Ruby. Immediately after the Kennedy assassination the war in Vietnam was escalated and lasted for years while enriching the military industrial complex, draining dollars and polarizing America. My, how history repeats itself – only the tragic circumstances change. It was a different country but still there were thousands of dead civilians. There is one obvious constant: the benefactors remain the same.

Without complicity in high places, Bin Laden did not have the technology or the opportunity and what may have been specific nuclear bombs or other demolition skills to accomplish the well orchestrated 9/11 attacks and the subsequent tower toppling. So the vilification job of turning him into the much publicized 9/11 terrorist was left to our media. Among the numerous unanswered questions, four remain: (1) who benefited financially or otherwise (2) who had the power to arrange for an unimpeded attack (3) who controlled the dissemination of media information (4) who controlled the crime scene and could continue an ongoing cover-up?

We cannot bomb people into a peace-loving democracy complete with compassionate, concerned leaders willing to work for the benefit of their country’s citizens. Victors make all the relevant choices no matter what the U.S. press or our government claims. The victorious establish the policies, install American friendly regimes and sponsor American friendly constitutions. War is not a peace producing tactic – it is about control. The best way to liberate Iraq is to withdraw our troops. What is true democracy? “If President Bush really believed in democracy, he’d let Iraqis vote on whether or not American forces should remain in Iraq. What’s more, he would do the same in the U.S., where polls show 60 percent of Americans favor a pullout of our troops.” [xvi]

The inclination to believe substantial evidence of United States government infiltration and corruption is dependent upon one’s comfort level and courage. Recognition of reality requires action! Alternatively, one may continue to be apathetic, gullible, complacent and listlessly attentive to their censored nightly news and brainless situation comedies. The blood of the blameless of Afghanistan, Iraq and every other country that we have invaded to wage senseless warfare stains the soul of every American. When and how are we doing to remove it?

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