| The War on Terror as a Boon | |||
|
|
By: Aruni Mukherjee
March 12, 2005 
FeedbackIs the United States under an armed attack? - Noam Chomsky Evoking Article 51 of the United Nations charter has become fashionable with the left sympathisers of the world, none more evidently than the followers of Noam Chomsky. However, rather than following the spirit of the law, they tend to follow the words as they stand. For instance, armed attack is defined in international law as ‘sudden, overwhelming, instantaneous ongoing attack’. That does not necessarily imply that a nation can resort to force solely as a response to this attack, and not as an anticipation of an inevitable strike. A terrorist strike on a nation leaves a much deeper mental scar than the physical damage it causes. Whatever a government does within the parameters of sanity, and I must stress on whatever, it is forgiven by the citizens as long as a hideous nightmare like 9/11 does not return to haunt them. And I should wholeheartedly support the US government for ensuring that the country is not subjected to further assaults by the Islamic extremists. Have individuals like Noam Chomsky and Michael Moore forgotten the plight of the American people and their insecurities for the future in their vehement criticism of the war on terror? Have they forgotten that the United States is doing the world a favour by eliminating the network of terror that haunts most countries on this planet? Have they not seen the tears of happiness rolling down an exiled Iraqi’s cheeks as he danced on the streets of London, eager to vote in the country’s first general election? To understand the fallacy of the critiques of American foreign policy, Noam Chomsky being the foremost among them, we need to comprehend the direct as well as spin-off benefits of the actions of Washington. We should all note the obvious benefits- exemption from the life of fear and apprehension for the American people. However, the US is indirectly doing the entire civilised world a favour. Before the war on the Taliban, a sophisticated terror network existed through out the Middle East, stretching as far as deep into Pakistan. These are individuals who destroyed the ancient statues of Buddha at Bamiyan, simply because it was apparently incompatible with the absolutist ideals of fundamentalist Islam. The less we speak about their society, the better. Suffice to say that the position of women was as degrading as we in the civilised west can ever imagine, and even among males, the social hierarchy was rigid and oppressive. Moreover, countries in the Middle East were the financiers of terror movements, smuggling mercenaries, arms and weapons to terrorist organisations through out the world. For instance, how does the reign of attacks on civilians continue in Kashmir even though the indigenous separatist movement is peaceful? Terrorist camps based in Pakistan could not have sustained their movement against a much stronger Indian state if it were not for the almost inexhaustible amount of resources bestowed upon them by these rogue nations. Mr. Chomsky should calculate all the suffering that this grand juxtaposition of rogue states and terror network caused to the common, law abiding, God fearing citizens of peaceful democratic states of the world. Does he believe that the Americans are wrong in helping them out? Afghanistan now has a creaky and unstable democracy. But democracy it is. It took England almost 250 years since the publication of John Locke’s Two Treatise of Government to form a democracy compatible to the parameters of modern society. Afghanistan and Iraq are already ahead. No doubt hardship will be rife, and the countries will face many more challenges. But the ball has been rolled at last thanks to the Americans. Saddam Hussein presided over a minority and arbitrary Sunni government in a Shia country. He actively suppressed dissent and oppressed his own people. Minorities like the Kurds were exceptionally targeted. Even if Pentagon made a mistake on the weapons of mass destruction issue, these are reason enough to uplift the people of Iraq, a country with 5,000 years of history, from the dungeons of authoritarian rule. If we were to pay heed to Mr. Chomsky and other anti-war sloganeers, would God forgive us for ignoring the plight of these people? Not only have the people of the world benefited from all that the Americans have done over the past 3 years and 5 months, but there is much more the world can reap if America follows the current path. Iran has yet another despotic regime strangling the spirit of its people. Saudi Arabia held its first elections this month, no doubt as a result of years of American lobbying. The peace process between Israel and Palestine owes much to the Americans who have restrained the often reckless Israel and at the same time chided the Palestinians for failing to contain extremism. Pakistan seems to justify the saying that seems to exemplify American foreign policy, ‘Keep your friends close, your enemies closer’. Sooner or later, this failed state will be compelled to reform itself by the Americans, which will be a boon to its 160 million people and at the same time offer respite to 1 billion people across her border in India, who suffer from this enmity. North Korea, Libya, Zimbabwe, Syria- all of these states have committed atrocities on humanity- and as the world’s sole superpower, the Americans are right to be concerned. If Pentagon was to be held hostage to Chomskytes, billions of people across the world would be condemned to a life of uncertainty and misery tomorrow. And all this for the sake of apparently helping humanity! Once I held respect for the views of the anti-war protestors, Mr. Chomsky being the foremost. One of the main reasons for this was my sympathies with the American soldiers and their families. Now I cannot even hope to have that, courtesy to individuals like George Galloway, no doubt an admirer of Mr. Chomsky. These individuals would go to any extent to prove the infallibility of their beliefs, as Mr. Galloway showed vividly when he called upon the Arab armies to vanquish the western invaders of Iraq. Just imagine had American not acted post-9/11, how many innocent individuals both inside and outside of America would suffer as a result of extremist politics. It seems astounding how Mr. Chomsky can be oblivious to this blatant fact. What started as America’s nightmare would return to haunt as the world’s deadly dream, and I congratulate America for not paying attention to the wolf cries of the left, who would rather spread tyranny and misery around the world than liberty and democracy. Aruni Mukherjee
Send your views to author Do you wish to reach IndiaCause readers? |
Previous
by: Aruni Mukherjee Nepal’s Deadly Dreams February 14, 2005 A Ray of Hope February 11, 2005 Refuting Eurocentricism Part 2 December 25, 2004 Refuting Eurocentricism - Part 1 December 14, 2004 Olympic Success- A Realistic and Necessary Dream October 10, 2004 The Shambles of our Education System August 17, 2004 Resurgence of Bengal Economy: Myths, Reality & Future June 27, 2004 Globalisation: A Comment on Gandhian Perspectives April 12, 2004 Free Trade: Beneficial or Detrimental for Developing... March 19, 2004
|