by Sheldon Richman, June 11, 2010
It’s a perilous world, as our so-called leaders love to remind us. And for a change they’re right. It is a perilous world. But guess who is most responsible for the peril to Americans? Those very same “leaders” and a long line of predecessors.
Moreover, they — along with anyone else who takes time to examine the matter — know that they create the greatest dangers Americans face. They just don’t care. They have bigger fish to fry than keeping Americans safe. Besides, the dangers they create provide excuses for more power.
Let’s just say what many people already know: the “war on terrorism” produces terrorists. No half-intelligent person could think that U.S. treatment of the Muslim world could have any effect other than to produce violent, vengeful anti-Americanism. Even in the government-friendly mainstream media you will find the facts, though you’ll have to connect the dots yourself.
When you treat people like they are worthless, or help others to treat them that way, some of those people will get mad and vow to get even. If desperate enough they will even be willing to give their lives to the cause.
Isn’t this already obvious? For over 50 years U.S. administrations, for the sake of geopolitical hegemony and preferential access to resources, have treated much of the Muslim world like personal property. They’ve backed brutal dictators, subverted governments, and invaded and occupied countries as it suited their agenda of “world leadership.” The program included defying the will of the Iranian people (1953), backing the repressive Saudi monarchy and the Egyptian and Iraqi dictatorships, financing Israel’s wars against Lebanon and oppression of the Palestinians, and so much more. It was bad enough that England and France had betrayed the trust of the Arabs after World War I and turned the Middle East into a colonial playground, with all the humiliation and repression that implies. The U.S. government then compounded the crime by picking up the mantle of empire after World War II. Power and oil were the reasons. Were the brutalized and mortified people supposed to be grateful to the West?
We kid ourselves when we pretend that history began on Sept. 11, 2001. Can anyone say with a straight face that before that date America was minding its own business according to the noninterventionist guidelines set out by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson? Read some history. Or does American exceptionalism mean not having to know anything before dropping bombs on people and torturing detainees?
The Muslims who wish Americans ill have never been mysterious about their grievances. Osama bin Laden’s fatwa against the United States is online. Read it for yourself. It was issued in 1996, soon after U.S.-financed Israel conducted one of its regular onslaughts against the Lebanese. What are his specific grievances? American troops stationed near Muslim holy places in Saudi Arabia. The 1990s killer U.S. embargo on Iraq. U.S. sponsorship of Israel’s domination of the Palestinians and its neighbors. “Terrorising you, while you are carrying arms on our land, is a legitimate and morally demanded duty,” he wrote.
You don’t need to take bin Laden’s word for it. Bush administration officials acknowledged that U.S. policy creates more terrorists than it kills. Bush strategist Paul Wolfowitz himself said that occupying Iraq permitted U.S. troops to leave Saudi Arabia, where they had created so much hostility to America. Correct: American policy manufactures terrorism.
With impunity the U.S. government fires missiles from pilotless drones into Pakistan, Yemen, and elsewhere, killing innocents. Its occupation forces leave death and misery in their wake. Gen. Stanley McChrystal concedes that in Afghanistan “We’ve shot an amazing number of people and killed a number and, to my knowledge, none has proven to have been a real threat to the force.” And in the latest incident, Israel killed nine aid volunteers (including an American citizen) on the high seas while enforcing a cruel blockade of Gaza, the latest mistreatment of Palestinians. How can this not come back to haunt us, Israel’s financiers?
U.S. policy — no matter who’s in power — couldn’t be better tailored to recruit terrorists. We can keep pretending we are innocent victims. Or we can finally put the responsibility where it belongs: in Washington, D.C.
Sheldon Richman is senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation
PKPolitics Discuss » Current Issues
Terrorism: Made in the U.S.A.
(22 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago on 13 Jun 2010 12:53 #
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nota, sorry, this article is unacceptable for the simple reason that it interprets the 9/11 events the way the US government has presented them, instead of telling the truth about it, i.e. it was a false flag to beat all false flags so that the West could save itself from their coming financial and economic backruptcy. Historically it presents facts fairly enough. Has anyone ever read John Kaminsky on the subject of 9/11? Or try any of the sites below:
http://911truth-sherbrooke.org/
Ifnorant as I am, I myself knew the truth about 9/11 in the week following the events when I read such things as Muhammad Atta took the Quran Sharif to a nightclub, or that his passport and those of others were ever so conveniently found on ground zero and, and, and.
Posted 1 year ago on 13 Jun 2010 13:43 # -
@Mirza Ghalib
All it does is say "We kid ourselves when we pretend that history began on Sept. 11, 2001.". Is he implying that "9/11 events (happened) the way the US government has presented them"? Maybe. But then, is that all there is to the piece?Posted 1 year ago on 13 Jun 2010 14:22 # -
No, I did say, nota, that he presents historical facts fairly. Only any mention of 9/11 without an indication that it was the work of US itself is null and void in the eyes of many of us. Muslims have committed no crimes of any nature against the West. Against themselves, yes, plentifully so. Against the West, none.
Hence I don't recognise Muslim terrorism in any form or shape. Neither do I know anything about al-Qaida. It was State terrorism all along. And if now Muslim hands are being used to set off bombs or something (look out for the World Cup. They have promised us a false flag there, too), it still remains State terrorism in my eyes.
Anyway, I don't know where you stand on 9/11. gv and I have had it out, and I know what his position is: conspiracy theory. Fine, I don't argue further with him about it. What is yours, nota?
Posted 1 year ago on 13 Jun 2010 15:28 # -
Not just American policies but mere presence of America or Americans is a cause to terrorism. Any where in the developing world people hate them due to their noble deeds of past and present.
Terrorism is planned in Washington and enacted upon in various countries using a wide variety of lame execuses.Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 4:20 # -
@Mirza Ghalib
"Anyway, I don't know where you stand on 9/11"Well, let me put ti this way: On Sept 27, 2001 I was reading "Algebra of Infinite Justice" by Arundhati Roy and on Sept 27, 2001, Chris Floyd’s prophetic “Panic Attack: A Blank Check for Tyranny.”
So you tell me :)
[Note: For completeness, you might also want to read Chris Floyd's followup pieces 9one a year later and one three years following that: "Into the Dark: The Pentagon Plan to Foment Terrorism " and "Darkness Visible: The Pentagon Plan to Foment Terrorism is Now Operative"]
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 5:34 # -
Shock
Members@semirza
Well, the developing world is not just limited to Pakistan. U.S is hated in the Muslim world in general.
"mere presence of America or Americans is a cause to terrorism."
It is actually the opposite, wherever Pakistanis are there is this spot of terrorism on them. Why do we have to keep living with this ignorance that there is nothing wrong with us. Why don't I see a Vietnamese, or Japanese, or even an Iraqi trying to blow up subways or times Square? If I were you, I would focus on fixing this problem and not waste my time with America, because that is what we have been for I don't know how long. At least since I have opened my eyes. I have never heard anything positive about America. And it is not because they are there, it is because you have to hate somebody or put anger on somebody.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 5:58 # -
Assalam-o-Alaikum-Warahmat-ULLAH ALL,
@Shock: (1) No man on the planet hates America for the sake of hating. They hate America for its policies, its injustice, its terrorism, its bullying other countries, nations.
Your point of hate is invalid as well as misleading.
(2) Don't you mean, mass media worldwide highlights that which Pakistanis' haven't done in the name of Pakistanis', yet hides ALL the crimes of white shoe boys which they DO commit ?
Haven't you seen Gerald Celente's interviews on American mass media ? He's popular with common man in USA.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 6:03 # -
Shock
Members@hariskhan
Why don't we talk about the the bullying, injustice, and terrorism committed by people you support? I am sure you are okay with that.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 7:37 # -
Assalam-o-Alaikum-Warahmat-ULLAH ALL,
@Shock: Whoever among us, who has been unjust should be brought to justice, should be held accountable, regardless of;
(1) who he/she is
(2) what their status is
(3) how much money they have
(4) how much land they have
(5) what colour they are
(6) what affiliations they have
(7) language they speak
(8) what nationality they are of
(9) what designation they hold
(10) what family they belong to
(11) etc etcIn Islam, ALL human beings are equal, regardless. ALLAH ALMIGHTY is the ONLY SOVEREIGN.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 7:58 # -
@shock
America trained Pakistanis and Afghans to fight Americas was with its advarsary USSR.America, true to its nature abandoned its very own trained heros (Taliban were welcomed in Washington)causing dessent and hatred that deepened further when Taliban learnt America treats its so called friends by dumping them after they have no further use.
What America is reaping now is exactly what is sow in a foreign soil. We are reaping too because Pakistan helped America in doing so. We should have stayed away from them.
Now don't blame Pakistan only. Give America it's share too by calling spade, a spade.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:01 # -
Assalam-o-Alaikum-Warahmat-ULLAH ALL,
Mirza sb. We aren't facing anything from Afghan Jihad.
In-fact we are being forced to face that which is not because of Afghan Jihad, but because of foreign financed terrorism, foreign financed oppression, yet its being forcefully labeled as coming from Afghan Jihad to mislead people.
People who fought in Afghan Jihad are no where to be found in the foreign financed/started terrorism that Pakistan is facing.
They want us to malign our own people, in order for Muslims to keep at throats of other Muslims, rather than focusing on Indians of Anglo-Americans who initiated this terrorism, who are continuing to fuel this terrorism.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:04 # -
@shock
America trained Pakistanis and Afghans to fight a war against its enemy USSR.America as true to its nature abandoned its very own trained heroes (Taliban were welcomed in Washington) causing dissent and hatred that deepened further when Taliban learnt America treats its so called friends by dumping them after they have no further use.
What America is reaping now is exactly what it sowed in a foreign soil. We are reaping too because Pakistan helped America in doing so. We should have stayed away from them.Now don't blame Pakistan only. Give America its share too by calling spade, a spade.
A word of advice to you. You may have reasons of your own favoring America and its noble deeds of state terrorism all over the world. We don't and never will. No body is able or will ever be able to influence our opinions through false and baseless propaganda/propagandists, conspiracy theories and by paid apologists active on the net.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:11 # -
I agree with you hariskhan. Those who fought Afghan Jihad would be a surving few because of old age. Not the young trained and paid mercenaries shown on TV as Taliban.
And still the stupids think we would believe them. Not any more.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:14 # -
Well, I'm glad we're finally having this one out. Where we all stand on 9/11 is key to it all. Amd see how well brought up we all our. No one yet has thought to use the J word. Let's carry on leaving them out of the verbal picture, but carrying them in the forefront of our minds.
nota, all clear, thanks. And Arundathi Roy is a great militant and a Kashmir for Muslims supporter. No West stooge, she. She always tells it the way it really is. And Chris Floyd is also that rare thing, an honest west journalist.
Moderator sahib, you have widened the debate as usual. As is only right. Have a look at their latest victim. The Muslim people of Kyrgyzstan. CIA written all over their present problems, after they failed with Iran last year. And, strange, but true, they'll fail with each and every Muslim country in the same way, so solid is the basis of our own special ideology.
Shock, you have some way to go before you'll understand the workings of the world in general and the West in particular. We hope the knowledge when it does come won't shock you into a trance of self-detestation. The people "we support" are our own. The people you seem to be supporting are your enemies, however much wealth and self-confidence they may flaunt in your face today.
And HK, you're turning into a real master of the ironic statement.
"2) Don't you mean, mass media worldwide highlights that which Pakistanis haven't done in the name of Pakistanis', yet hides ALL the crimes of white shoe boys which they DO commit ?" That was really well put. Thanks.Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:15 # -
Assalam-o-Alaikum-Warahmat-ULLAH ALL,
@Shock: Btw, did you watch Mere Mutabiq - 24 October, 2009 ?
(sarcasm) They also had great wealth, great power, great palaces, equality, freedom (/sarcasm)
Do you know what happened to those nations, civilizations ?
P.S. I agree with brother Mirza Ghalib, you have much to learn.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:18 # -
Russia sends troops to Kyrgyzstan - 13.6.10
A battalion of Russian paratroopers has arrived in southern Kyrgyzstan on the third day of deadly ethnic violence in the former Soviet Union republic.
Russian security officials said Sunday that the troops are only to help protect Russian military facilities in Kyrgyzstan and have no plans to intervene.
"The mission of the force that has landed is to reinforce the defense of Russian military facilities and ensure security of Russian military servicemen and their families," Interfax quoted a security source as saying.
Kyrgyzstan's interim government had already called on Russia to send troops to help contain the ethnic clashes in the country's south.
The violence between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek ethnic groups has killed over one hundred people and injured over 1,200 more. Tens of thousands of ethnic Uzbeks have fled their homes.
The political situation in Kyrgyzstan has been shaky since the revolt that overthrew former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April.http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130256§ionid=351020406
(Forget Afghanistan and the Taliban for a minute. Here we have the beginnings of a heavyweight versus heavyweight match in the making. Ironic in the extreme. Russia is taking on US on our behalf? Lovely! Please, never to forget, Russia has a Muslim majority army.)
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:46 # -
Assalam-o-Alaikum-Warahmat-ULLAH ALL,
To me, Russia is not a friend. Its essentially an enemy.
Russia is not doing it for us. They are protecting their own interests, by shoving USA out of this region. They are protecting their own borders.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 8:58 # -
HK, You're not quite right there. Russia is our friend by default because it's the enemy of our leading enemy. And also because Russia is the probably the first west country which will have a Muslim majority before too long.
You keep talking about the Taliban above and leave me bemused. I'll tell you one thing in return. The biggest CIA asset in Russia are the Chechens. The times of the great warrior Dudayev are passed. Hasn't anyone noticed that? The times of the great atheist Russia are passed. Hasn't anyone noticed that? Russia is fighting for survival just as we are. That's what binds us.
But, I fear, you will all remain nicely US-bound in your hearts, whatever you say. And ignorant of the facts of what is really going on in the world, i.e. the 10% of mankind = West (US, Canada, EU, Australia, N. Zealand, Israel) against the rest of the 90% of us all.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 9:11 # -
Shock
Members@hariskhan
Yeah, and what happened to the Islamic Empire? The so called greatest empire. What did these khalifah do to each other? So much of this brotherhood.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 9:12 # -
Shock
Members@semirza
So you agree that we should have stayed away from this Afghan Jihad. America provided the material support, not the training. We could have asked other countries to send their troops instead of randomly calling people to just come to Pakistan and go crazy in Afghanistan. Lets finish off these terrorist, and dealing with America would not be a problem.
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 9:15 # -
Yeah, and what happened to the Islamic Empire? The so called greatest empire. What did these khalifah do to each other? So much of this brotherhood.
This is history, When u go up then there is always down???
and yes the khalifa fight why when they leave the true message of Islam??
If u strictly follow Islam than it is impossible that u become loser???
Posted 1 year ago on 14 Jun 2010 9:19 #
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