Stopping the Onward March of So-Called ‘War On Terror’
The Universe
(May 04, 2003)
The next arena for the US war on terrorism will most likely be in the Philippines on the Islands of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
On April 11, an Indonesian hostage taken by the bandit group Abu Sayyaf was rescued by Filipino soldiers. Yet US troops stood guard outside the hospital in Zamboanga City where he was brought. Local police clearly were not reliable.
These bandits are predominately Filipino Muslims and a target for the US, who link them to al-Qa’eda. But there is no evidence that they are international terrorists.
The only way to end such evil is to first end the corruption by government officials and improve the lot to the people. Some military are accused of accepting bribes from the bandits when and allowing them to escape with impunity. That is perhaps why the US wants to have a direct role in leading the offensive against them.
The corruption and social injustice brought about by misgovernment and US support for dictators, that torture and kill their own citizens with US supplied weapons is what causes poverty, rebellion and spawns terrorists groups.
Overwhelming force will not solve it, only overwhelming pressure to root out corruption. Justice, equality and power sharing is what we need.
In a friendly phone call in April, President George Bush thanked Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her support for the US-led coalition's preemptive strikes against Saddam Hussein. No doubt he also discussed the possibility of the renewal of the joint military action by US troops and Filipino soldiers on Sulu and other islands.
Sulu is unfinished business that the US wants in retaliation for the killing of an American missionary in 2002. Since this campaign was announced there have been more bombings in the Philippines – not less. The cost of war is terrible.
There are thousands of innocent women and children, men and soldiers on both sides wounded or killed. Deadly damage to the authority of the United Nations has been done on the pretext of the threats from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
But none have ever been found. The only weapons seen in Iraq are those rained on the people by the coalition forces.
The US decision to go it alone with the UK and Australia and usher in its own justification for preemptive strike doctrine puts the world one step closer to nuclear preemptive strikes by other nations.
Think of Pakistan and India, sworn enemies with powerful nuclear weapons ready to fire at the least provocation. Where will it end?
This 'gun toting cowboy' approach to settling conflicts in a shoot out can bring the world to the brink of chaos. The declaration of the US to send combat troops into Sulu is one indication of this: it is a violation of the Philippines’ constitution. And not even the president of the Philippines should think she above the constitution.
Wherever the US sees an opportunity to establish its military presence or political influence abroad, either by invasion or by engaging in low intensity conflict, it does so.
We must oppose this and support the efforts to stop the march of imperial America .The new empire builders must be made to know that “Might does not make Right”.
