I sense, however, that there is a need now - a real,
>primary need like the need to piss. I share it with millions; to deny it
>would poison us all. If you refuse to call it a need for justice, I'll
>call it a need for vengeance. I'm willing to live with that, and for
>others to die for it.
I am not one of those who thinks that the US should do nothing. However,
it seems to me rather crucial that if the US acts, it acts wisely.
Putting thousands of Western troops into Pakistan, already inflamed with
anti-US passions, under the "carrot and stick" philosophy being used to
coerce various nations seems to me extremely dangerous, in the context of
the Kashmir conflict and the radical Hinduism now in India (who is
naturally disgruntled that an accident of geography means its policy of
being a US friend is so rewarded, "help" with the Kashmiri conflict being
part of the Pakistan deal). Between these two countries, the millions
slaughtered during the nightmare of Partition has not been forgotten, even
if it has by the rest of the world. It has rather the air of throwing a
stick of dynamite into a rocket fuel factory. Put that with Sharon's
transparent designs to evade dialogue with Palestine, and it's not looking
good.
If the US shows no understanding of the Middle East concerns about its
policies there, and relies on its military strength and wealth to carry the
day instead, it is sowing further trouble for itself. It seems to me that
the one possible good out of this could be a little introspection from the
US about the real effects it has had on other parts of the world, under the
name of US interests. There are incidents which have never been dealt with
by the US - its navy shooting down a civilian Iranian airliner with the
deaths of all on baord, for example, after which the commander of the ship
concerned was promoted. Such an incident, and the US's response to it,
shows that "innocent" in certain quarters is a very relative term. This is
where the rhetoric of "good" and "evil" is particularly useless. To
Islamic Fundamentalists, America is Satan. If America holds up an
ideological mirror, the only possible result is going to be ongoing
bloodshed. The Oresteia is quite a good model for this kind of thinking.
The need for revenge is what is fuelling terrorism. A primary need, you
say, like the need to piss. What hits me more and more is how few voices
of women are being heard: just phalanxes of men, Muslim, Christian or
military. There are many other primary needs: the needs for example of the
millions of Afghanis who now have to get through winter with one bag of
flour, the millions displaced into refugee camps all around the world.
Best
Alison
Alison Croggon
Home page
http://users.bigpond.com/acroggon/
Masthead
http://au.geocities.com/masthead_2/
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