If Al Queda got its way, would all the violence stop?
Over the last 24 hours, local television has been reporting that the bomb in Madrid was probably placed there by Al Queda rather than the ETA as first suspected. Now, the anti-war movement gearing up its machinery again, this time in Spain, pushing to have the leaders of the unjust war in Iraq removed.
The Spanish government, who from what I can read, seems to have been facing domestic terrorism for many years recognised the large and looming threat that organised terrorism posed to the western world. So did the Russians. So did the British. And so did a number of smaller east European countries during the war on Iraq.
The anti-war movement – the anti-globalisation – anti-capitialism crowd – organised numerous protests around the world for “peace.” Millions of people marched and protested this “war for oil.” I was in Paris for the 2 million person march not because I was protesting the war but because I had just gotten engaged over Valentines Day 2003 and saw the crowds, and I even saw who was participating. Your everyday citizen they weren’t. These were the same people protesting at the G8/7 meetings and once upon a time rooted for the Soviets in the Cold War.
Despite all the protests, all the marches, and all the media coverage the coalition of forces the war went forward. The coalition won the war relatively quickly and even found Saddam Hussein within the year. Did the US focus on Iraq because we needed a patsy to beat up on after 9-11 and since we had the military maps and planning in place from Gulf War I decide to invade there instead of Iran or Syria? Yeah, probably. A war of Gray it is most certainly.
The fact of the matter is that the US government, President Bush to be specific, recognised that there is a large, looming threat of organised global terrorism hell bent on not just evening the score with the peagan Americans (read anyone who isn’t them) but on destroying all that they (Al Queda) believe is wrong with the modern western world. Education of women, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the freedom to choose any unique cultural aspects one chooses (read: if you want the American way of life, like so many people around the word, then all that needs to be done is to live their way) are all high on the list of things that Al Queda dislikes and is willing to destroy in the west.
It appears with this last round of bombings that Al Queda is now back in action acting like a terrorist consulting group for smaller and isolated terrorists around the world.
What if Al Queda’s new objective is to create death and destruction on the countries that participated in the Iraq war so each countries’ people turned on the leadership and voted them out of power? Essentially, using democracy as a way of helping their own agenda.
Al Queda bombs innocent people in each country while the anti-war movement argues to throw the bums out of office. The international and local media pick up on the story and start reporting the deaths and building a really nice case for removing the leadership involved in the war on Iraq.
What happens if the leaders for these countries are removed? Then what? Does Al Queda send out a press release saying that they have reached their goal and will no resume their old jobs?
If Al Queda’s goal is destroying the United States then having Kerry in the White House or a new leader in Spain is merely an objective not their end goal. Have your enemies place a weak leader at the top and the battle should be easier. In business terms, it’s like writing a recommendation letter for a bad employee. The employee leaves for your competition then you win both ways. Stronger staff on our side and weaker staff on their side.
Please don’t take this entry as a defense against some of the tactics or things done during the “War on Terror” because I think that history will show them to be incorrect. What I am saying is this battle means more to Al Queda than it does to the general population who elects our leaders in the west and if we do not stay focused on Al Queda’s real goal they may manipulate the leadership game to give them an unfair advantage.
