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War and Terror: Ghosts of Slavery & Colonialism
Posted on Sunday, March 09 @ 18:14:40 UTC
Topic: Bushfire
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 by Ben Roberts
NEO-COLONIALISM STALK UN SECURITY COUNCIL
When George Bush announced in his press conference this week that he would
be calling for a vote on another resolution for action on Iraq, he was upping the
ante, and unleashing the ghosts of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on
the United Nations Security Council in an effort to ensure triumph for America
and its Anglo Saxon twin Britain. In the wake of the September 11 disaster, Bush
gave a speech in Uzbekistan where he took nations to task for not doing enough
to help America in its war on terrorism. He demanded that they stand up and be
counted, and threatened that those who did not side with America would be
remembered. It was the equivalent of the threat we hear commonly, even in jest,
'We know where you live.' However, in this instance, as in his press conference,
Bush was not joking. It was the threat of a desperate man willing to resort to
anything to have things go his way in his desire to attack Iraq. Why such tenacity
and a pulling out of all the stops you ask? That is a long answer. But here it is:
The Bush presidential election, September 11, the Enron fueled US stock market
plunge, and the initiation of a war on terrorism, are all extraordinary events that
have forever changed the world. We are witness to something the equivalent of
geography where continental plates fuse or break apart. In this case it is history,
and the continental plates are not fusing but rather rapidly splitting apart. Bush is
the man using a combination of threats, misinformation, deception, and pieces of
silver as a kind of glue to try to hold things together. This is ironic since he is the
man who initiated and presided over the unraveling in the first place. The Bush
election debacle in Florida sullied America in a huge way in the eyes of the rest
of the world. People the world over exalt the American electoral process and
hold it as a gold standard, even in their own countries where they often resort to
employing American observers as election officials to ensure the democratic
process. The anything-goes, pull-a-rabbit-out-of-hat nature of that election that
put Bush in the White House drastically sapped the faith of the world beyond
American shores, causing this country to lose a lot of capital and respect.
If that were not enough, we were promptly visited with the shocking tragedy of
September 11, with huge loss of life at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Both targets unquestionably sent jitters around the world. However, the
Pentagon attack most assuredly had smaller client nations worldwide seriously
rethinking their perception of America as their omnipotent protector, when it was
struck at the heart of its own supposedly infallible defense. There is no doubt
that American prestige took a tumble with this event. Phew. Now we are over the
unraveling at this point. Think so? Think again. Immediately Enron, and the stock
market pillaging cast a pall over America. And not only that. Indications were that
the President had close connections to the highway robbers. Once again the
result had to have been a definite loss of faith in America. This time in its fiscal
omnipotence as this disaster sent the American stock market plunging, taking
with it the economies of other nations. Mixed right in with this was the war on
terror, complete with nations on a nuclear targeting list, claims of an axis of evil,
the articulation of a policy of preemptive strike, and the threat of 'we will nuke
you...' Imagine the consternation, shock, and terror smaller nations must have
experienced with this unbridled behavior by the world's most powerful nation.
Such conduct surely caused them to mistrust and lose faith in this nation's ability
to lead, and guarantee peace and security in the world. In essence, the events
outlined represent not one pebble thrown into a pond and causing upsetting
ripples throughout the pond, but rather four pebbles with greatly magnified effect.
This is the backdrop that brings us to our situation today. These pebbles have
unleashed a shift in power and alignment like we have not seen since America's
meteoric rise to prominence after World War ll. Nations, their confidence shot in
America, are fleeing as fast as their feet can carry them. The stampede began
because of, guess who? Saddam Hussein. He got dangerously out of line not for
weapons of mass destruction or any such nonsense, but rather for dissociating
his oil reserves and productivity from the mighty US dollar, and linking it to the
European currency, the Euro, which has stunningly risen 17% against the dollar.
In so doing Iraq's oil for food account at the UN has grown by millions. This is the
sin that the crafty Hussein has committed against America, and that is why they
want to stop him, because he is setting a bad example. Now Iran has partially
linked its oil production to the Euro, and Chavez in Venezuela has implemented
trading oil to Cuba for its excellent education and health assistance.
Turkey voted against American troops on its soil mainly because that nation
desperately wants to join the European Union. The Euro looks very appealing for
them, and they see little advantage in alignment with America. There is now a
pervasive lack of confidence in America. A shocking turnaround from confidence
in 'the full faith and credit of the United States,' that this country has enjoyed for
decades. So what to do about it? The Administration has decided that making
an example of Saddam will set things straight. But its not that easy, and hence
America and Britain are unleashing the ghosts of slavery, colonialism, and
neo-colonialism on the UN in an effort to ensure victory. In this vote Britain with
all its connections with nations voting who once made up its slave colonial
empire is saying 'we are partners as far as the Commonwealth goes, but the
grant-in-aid, technical assistance, and immigration perks I provide says I am still
your lord and master, so do as I say.' American neo-colonialism is saying, 'all that
aid, security, propping up money, and preferential treatment I give you is now
due. I dare you to defy me.' And we thought slavery and colonialism were dead.
Ben Roberts is a newsletter editor, freelance writer and published author. His book, Jackals of Samarra, was published in January 2001. Ben can be contacted by email at: grandt730@aol.com
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