Telling it Like it Is
Today (January 18th) is the 12th anniversary of the (First) Gulf War.
The New York Times reported on the tearful farewells of US sailors and
soldiers headed to the Gulf region again by the thousands, in a buildup
to a new war. The comments of some of these troops and officers were
revealing. They seemed to fall into two categories:
* We need to make some response to
9/11.
* If the war's really about oil, then so be it.
So much for the Bush "rationale" of rooting out the threat
of chemical warheads.
Even the President hasn't shown any evidence linking Iraq to 9/11.
Clearly he's banking on public support for a militaristic "response,"
though--an itch still unsatisfied by the occupation of Afghanistan.
But nor does the administration admit the real reason for war: US control
of oil in the Middle East. His soldiers know better--or at least, they're
being more honest. Somehow the bald-faced geopolitics
of Kissinger and the think-tanks doesn't make it to the front page
of the mainstream press. Leave it to the grunts to tell it like it is.
The point was made that all the protesters drove to their big anti-war
demonstrations; they don't seem to be "screaming for battery-powered
cars." True enough. But are they ready to go get their old-fashioned
fuel by force?
To lay out one's greed (individual or collective) openly and honestly
is shocking at first--then it's refreshing. There's no more smokescreen,
no more beating around the er--Bush.
Reading the comments admitting the war for oil reminded me of the battle
over watershed logging in my small B.C. community a few years back.
We held a public meeting to air the issues, and Corky Evans, the local
MLA (who had built his reputation favoring "local democracy") showed
up. I sat next to him and turned red with inner rage as he calmly told
us that it didn't matter what we wanted: the government had decided
the trees were going to be logged. They knew best and that was that.
"F------ Fascists!" I thought to myself in the moment. But
a little later I realized how refreshing it was to hear a politician
lay the harsh truth on the line. Honesty was so much more direct and
to the point than the usual liberal fertilizer used to mask destructive
policies.
Today I'm also recalling the prophetic words of a neighbor of mine
a few years before that...in another contentious meeting, about extending
road access through our forested land co-op. He had a succinct comment
on the whole situation: "Oil is
Blood."
At the time--maybe 10, 12 years ago?--I thought Nigel's comment was
silly. Then again, I was in favor of the road because it meant I'd be
able to drive right to my house.
Now his words are still ringing, truer than ever.
That road extension, as it turned out, was never built. The logging
in our watershed proceeded as planned...until the next waves of negotiation
and nonviolent action got in the
way.
Meanwhile, as the troop buildup and war cries continue, I can only
say--
Thanks, Nigel, Corky, and G.I. Joe...for telling it like it is.
--Nowick Gray
18 January 2003
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