One For Their Back Pocket

If Al Qaeda seized control of American cities and streets after 9/11, the uproar and backlash would be quick and excruciatingly severe. Though, let’s be honest, it would never even get that far.

So why are other countries supposed to sit back and accept it when we are the perpetrators?

While the exact count is unknown, it has been estimated that anywhere from 150,000, up to over a million civilians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. While, not all of these are directly caused by U.S./NATO forces,  too many have been the result of deliberate or reckless actions at the hands of our U.S. Military.

Just today, it has been reported, that a U.S. soldier stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan murdered 16 civilians and torched their bodies. This, while the repercussions are still being felt from Quran burnings in the country. And to find other examples, you don’t have to go too far back through news archives to discover the last time innocent Afghanis or Iraqis have been killed and/or desecrated by U.S. soldiers.

These events are unfortunate and result in perpetuating violence in the region. The Taliban has already promised to seek retribution for the murders, and there is sure to be resistance among the general population, as well. However, there is another danger at play. While the Taliban might be ingenuously outraged by a civilian massacre carried out by a U.S. soldier (no one likes competition), it also gives them something to put in their back pocket: a recruiting tool.

What better way to recruit members for your cause, than have to have your enemy kill innocent villagers in cold blood.

I understand that one man doesn’t represent a military of 1.5 million, or a country of over 300 million. However, tell that to a neighborhood of people who just lost sixteen family members to a man sporting a U.S. flag on his uniform. That, in combination with the fact, that these type of occurrences have happened before, and will likely happen again in the future, given our presence in the region, and you have a pretty well-justified argument for anti-American sentiment. (Blowback, anyone?)

Hey, it’s not like Americans have much room to talk on that front. After all, we started wars in two countries and another against a religion of over one billion, for the actions of nineteen.

Regardless, of whether or not this tragedy was carried out by a lone actor, or many, it brings us back to the question: What are we still doing there?           Short answer: More harm than good.

We are sure to see development and debate on this story in coming days.

Strait Into War

The Strait of Hormuz has been a major point of contention, this week, with Iran threatening to close the strategic choke point, a major passageway for the world’s oil supply. Brought on by U.S. imposed sanctions, Iran is threatening to cut off the oil supply, which would have deep diplomatic and economic consequences.

Situated between Iran and Oman, at its narrowest, the strait reaches only thirty-four miles wide. Twelve miles off the shore is the accepted distance to which a country “owns” the right to the waters. However, international law has determined that no one owns the strait. This is vital to the options available to the United States. In the event that Iran starts taking actions to block oil transport, the U.S. will be able to employ international law to justify military intervention.

This week, it was reported, that President Obama sent Iranian officials a “secret letter”, calling for direct talks with Iran’s supreme leader. While it has not been confirmed whether or not these talks will take place, U.S. military chief, Gen. Martin Dempsey, is currently meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, perhaps to gauge Israeli intentions regarding preemptive strikes on Iran.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to appeal to China and Russia to support the U.S. in new sanctions against Iran. Russia and China, however, have both called a move toward war or harsher sanctions against Iran “catastrophic” and “dangerous”.

The source of these tensions revolve around Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has denied allegations it seeks to develop a nuclear bomb, and maintains it is seeking nuclear energy alternatives. This claim is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has determined that at this time, there is no evidence that Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb. Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, along with Iran’s Ambassador to South Korea, Ahmad Masumifar and  Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu have also defended Iran’s nuclear motives.

Opinion:

• Pakistan
• China
• North Korea
• Israel
• France
• Russia
• India
• United States
• United Kingdom
• Belgium**
• Germany**
• Italy**
• Netherlands**
• Turkey**

**Countries engaged in NATO nuclear weapons sharing

Above, is a list of all the countries that currently have possession of nuclear weapons. As you can see, some of the countries on the list are known enemies to the United States, and others we have had, or currently have, strained relations. Four of the countries on this list are in the same region as Iran.

From a logical and moral standpoint, what grounds do western nations have to tell Iran they are not allowed to develop nuclear capabilities, but it’s okay for the west, and others, to possess nuclear weapons? That is like your Home Owner’s Association telling you that it’s okay for everyone else to put up a shed in their backyard, except you. It doesn’t make any fucking sense. You wouldn’t stand for it.

Iran is a sovereign nation, and while, it may not be a “trustworthy” nation or one with the best intentions, like the United States, it demands respect and freedom regarding its internal affairs. As a sovereign nation, Iran should have every right to protect itself, from its borders, as it sees fit, and be allowed the same capabilities afforded to other nations of the world.

What is one reason Iran might want nuclear capabilities? Check out this map, and then tell me whether or not the United States would not want the capabilities to defend itself, should China or Russia have our borders lined with military bases. Our positioning is threatening and telling of our intentions in that region.

With Russia and China as Iranian allies, all we can do is pray that these tensions will not land us into World War III.

Adding to the Terror

The below is a conversation I had via Facebook regarding a link about night raids in Afghanistan. The conversation took place between me and a US soldier.